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Quarter Horse Brand Search

121K views 111 replies 11 participants last post by  FGRanch 
#1 ·
Hey guys,
So I've one maybe someone can help with. I have a QH that was pulled from a kill pen at an auction in Dallas,TX in 2010. She was 3, and the people that pulled her, were told they could only do so if they signed a contract saying that they would never tell who was selling them to the kill pen. By doing this, they were allowed to save horses from each group before they were sent to the kill pen. That being said, I have NO information on where she came from. I'm assuming she's 100% QH. Not sure though, she might even be registered, but I might never know if I can't figure out these brands! I'll post pictures below, but essentially, here is what she has:
A 7 on her left butt cheek
A 16 on her near shoulder
And what is either waves, or two half/quarter circles on her near hip.

That being said, if anyone looks at her and sees something other than QH...that helps a little too. Because then I know what else I might be looking for. My theory is that whoever branded her, clearly valued her as something, and they're likely not the people that wanted to unload her to the kill pen. So if I can find the people that first bred her, maybe I can find out if she's registered, where she came from, and possibly let them know that her life was spared.
There's a theory that the 16 on her near shoulder identifies which mare she was born to/what number foal she was. And also that the 7 designates the year she was born (2007), which would be accurate. But I also read somewhere that they put the mare/offspring number on the off shoulder. The near shoulder is usually a ranch brand when it comes to Quarter Horses.
She was born in 2007, according to the dentist, she'll be 6 this year. So that lines up. But if anyone can offer any guidance to the rest of it (or if the 16 is indeed a ranch brand)..or if even these brands aren't exactly what I thought and they're not a 7, but an upside down L...etc.. Or even a confirmation about what to call the waves lol
I need some fresh outlooks. So here we go. Pictures.

(The first picture is the from the day I bought her. She'd never been touched except to get a rope halter on her, and to be branded 3 times. So grooming was out of the question at that point.)

 
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#29 ·
Oh and she looks almost identical to the mare that I have. Blaze faced and no other chrome. Mine was sent through the auction near dallas also.
i bet they came fromt he same place. Millie is well trained though. She also promptly delivered a foal.
their stories sound awfully similar. Shalom
 
#32 ·
You pretty much covered what 'kill pen' refers to. At Candiac and Yorkton SK there are two buyers that everyone knows buy any horses that don't get bid on. They also buy for other people. You'll see them on the phone and describing a horse to someone. Not everything they buy goes to the feed lots.
Now, on the other hand, there are people (like the people who raised Ruby) who don't even give the horse a run through the auction. They were shipping 30 plus head of QH, Paint, Appy, and Morgan cross horses straight to the kill pen. Perfectly fine horses that just needed a bit of time to get gentle.
 
#33 ·
thanks for excusing my ignorance and explaining what a kill pen is.
i doubt that the numbered brands on either of our mares will ever be proven to belong to a ranch.
As someone has posted those numbers probably relate who the mares are by and what year they were foaled.
Just seems odd that both of us have mares sold through an auction near Dallas and branded with numbers instead of ranch inspired brands. Both foaled and look very similar.
glad both of them are safe and have good homes. Shalom
 
#35 ·
I am not from Texas, but it is very common to number brand our breeding stock here. Usually the buttock brand is done when they are babies (it is definitely a seven, and possibly it is a year brand). Number brands on hips and shoulders are usually only done to brood mares. That would explain why she hasn't been handled. Number branding is more common with fairly big breeders - in the US that would be a fairly certain sign that she is a Quarter Horse. Or Paint ... but you already assume that ...

The ranch brand is, unfortunately, not very good readable - however, there must have been a brand inspection when she was sold, I am surprised that this is not available? I do not see two waves but a "quarter circle holding water" over ... lazy lightning bolt? Do you possibly have a close up of the hip brand?

Whereever she comes from - looks like a VERY nice horse, you did well! :)
 
#36 ·
Thank you very much! I always have to almost laugh when people compliment her, or me on finding her, because I really didn't buy her on any standards except I managed to get her to sniff me twice in one day. The quarter circle holding water is interesting..as is the lazy lightning bolt. It's amazing how just two lines can be explained so many different ways, and also a headache lol. It's worse than abstract art.
I have no way whatsoever of getting her brand inspection papers, because it's also muddy water whether she came from a kill pen at an auction, or a group of horses being sold directly to a kill buyer. So it's hard to even know if they exist.
I don't know if I have a close up, but I can see what I can find..and if not, maybe I can use the originals of the pictures I posted to bring it in a little more (the originals are huge)
 
#38 ·
Okay guys,
I think I did it. I went through county by county in the texas brand registry, and e-mailed every ranch in every county that I found something similar. I didn't e-mail the ranch she came from, but I DID find someone who knew the guy I was looking for.
I haven't talked to him yet, but he's Larry Holder of Holder Quarter Horses in Knox City, TX. Looking at all the horses pictured on the site, they all have the number in the same spot on the shoulder and the butt, and only one number on the shoulder. There's also at least one horse (beware, they're terrible quality)

where you can see the wavy things. I'm still not sure what they're called...but it's the only thing I've seen so far that looks identical.
And guess what guys, ALL his horses are registered.
I was also told, if I could just get her registered name (or hopefully her number), I can call the AQHA and ask them for an Application for Duplicate Registry for a lost registration. So I could get her papers. Now. I just have to muster up the courage to call him. I wish he did e-mail, but he seems like the old gruff and tough cowboy who probably doesn't even know how to use a computer lol
 
#41 ·
It looks like the stallions have a slightly different brand (most likely to identify them from far away as stallions vs. mares. But I was just looking at a 16/1 mare, and she's red roan.. which depending what the 16 means, she could be a sibling to my girl (if this is the guy) and red roan isn't too far off from solid red..right?
I'm trying to muster the right words to ask when I call. Because I've never done this before, and I'm just really nervous.
 
#44 ·
I'm trying to muster the right words to ask when I call. Because I've never done this before, and I'm just really nervous.
First tell them how much you like the horse, how well build she is, what a great disposition, how smart, ... breeders love when they hear good things about their horses, and it makes them much more willing to help with uncommon requests! :)
 
#42 ·
The red roan stallion could be daddy .. I think she's shaped like him.. and he's a cow pony bred top and bottom ...

(This is kinda exciting .. like opening presents on Christmas morning) ..

Maybe when you talk to him you can just say "I think I ended up with one of your horses and I was wondering if you could tell me who she is?" ..
 
#47 ·
Well, someone, dbarabians just brought up a good point, that maybe I should mail him by snail mail instead. If he's not computer savvy (which, he's older and doesn't have an e-mail, then he probably isn't) and if he's not computer savvy, he's probably even less so phone/picture messaging savvy, then there's no way to send him pictures to find out lol. So it makes for an awkward conversation. Unless he can instantly remember a 16/7 sorrel filly.. which he has so many, I think that's a long shot.
So I may mail him a letter with some pictures, and I will be sure to say how much I love her and how many compliments I get on her, as you suggested caljane..because she deserves to be bragged about. And I'll leave him the option to call me back once he reads it : )
 
#48 ·
Well. Scratch that idea. I guess phone call it is, and then address. All I can find on the site is his name, city, state and zip code. I could mail and hope, but I really do need a street address. Unless someone else is feeling google-savvy lol... I think I've to call.
 
#49 ·
Silberxx, I am sorry to bust your b***, but this is not going to happen. Really, I work a lot together with old time breeders - they will never take the time in their busy lives to react on snail mail. Call - take all your guts and call. Chances are very high that he will remember this filly. He breeds color and does not have many sorrels. Chances are actually very high that she is the filly in the picture with the bay roan 16/1 mare. The seven on her bud is obviously a year brand (makes her a 2007 model), and I assume that the shoulder brand get's carried down from the mare. My gelding has a number brand 14, came from his mom (unfortunately, it is a very ugly brand on him :-( ).
Call. Now! :)
 
#56 ·
Knox City is pretty small and he probably doesnt have a street address.
All you have to do where I live is wright my name and city and state and the local post office will deliver the mail. Less than 700 people live near me in the closest town. Shalom
You do this in my town (389 people) and the post master will give you a sermon about proper addressed mail :D
 
#53 ·
Just looked on the map and yes I ahve been through knox city it is on the way to Amarillo on highway 82 way past Witchita Falls and Childress. Out in ranching country. His name city and zip code will probably work if you address the letter that way. Not very many people live out there. His ranch lies among some of the largest in this country. famous ones too. Shalom
 
#55 ·
So, got ahold of him, and he said she might be out of Bonnie Blue Holder if she's his. Gave me his address to send pictures. I'm hoping, guys. Cross your fingers! He asked about her and I said I had no idea what her name was, he said he had no idea if she's his. But he was really nice and he's definitely the old cowboy without the computer lol. So, I'm gonna get some pictures printed at the pharmacy and go from there. I need all the luck I can get right now!
 
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