Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

The Scottish Government has announced that hot branding of horses and ponies will be banned. Currently hot branding can only be carried out where specific permission is given but no more authorisations are to be granted.

New regulations will be laid in the Scottish Parliament in September to remove the exemption which allows the hot branding of equine animals to take place.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said, "There is no place for hot branding in a country which prides itself on its high animal welfare credentials. This process is painful and involves burning and scaring sensitive tissue which can clearly cause animals unnecessary stress and pain.

"The main function of branding is to identify horses and ponies but the legal requirement to microchip all equines now means that it is no longer required.

"The belief that branding is unjustifiable is shared among the vast majority of veterinary and animal welfare organisations.

"The proposals will be taken forward in the next session of Parliament, marking a major step forward for equine health."

The proposal to ban this practice was widely supported by veterinary, equine and animal welfare organisations. A submission from the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) said, "The BEVA believe that hot branding is a technique that is no longer justifiable on welfare grounds. The production of a hot brand requires the efficient destruction by burning of the superficial skin layers, leaving essentially a distinct scar. One of the problems with horses and ponies identified by hot brand is the great variation in the degree of this scaring.

The procedure is undoubtedly painful and reactions to branding vary from the apparently stoic to quite violent. This is based on the direct experience of BEVA Council members, a review of additional video evidence and reports from others."

You can find out more on the Scottish Government website.