i have made enquiries of a leading freezebranding company as to the cost of freezemarking four ponies...cost for each pony is £47.95..total should my grey cells serve me right is 191.80p

you then have to have membership at £12.95p per animal  per year by DD.. total...£51.80p....OR make a payment of four years membership at £38.85p per animal...total £155.40p

TOTAL i believe is  ..£243.60p OR  £347.20P..

now ,you may say,well that's not so much really to help secure our equines,and after the initial payout it can be budgeted for  for the future,but it is still one huge amount to find in one go...add to that we would like them micro chipped..vet charges £20 per pony plus call out fee plus the jolly old VAT ..shan't write the total down,hubby is already looking considerably pale !!!! 

SO...i suppose the credit card kept for emergencies will have to come out,the ponies safety is paramount,what does worry me are the equines stolen that are never seen again even though these efforts have been made..and those owners whose credit cards are stretched already.this is when i realize that micro chipping all foals from this year is such a good idea..OTWS...

HAVE JUST FOUND MORE INFO -....

FARMKEY charge just for the freezebranding,membership is free for the first year which is a great help,and the more equines done in the yard at one time,the price comes down.so not quite so bad after all..OTWS..