Sarge (2)

[MustangAppy]

I don't know what the \ means, because it could be the symbol representing the branding organization, ranch, or club he is from. Two vertical parallel lines would mean number 1, but there is only one line, and it is a slash, it is not vertical, so it must stand for something else. The BLM, for example, uses the alpha angle system, but it is not exclusive to them. They do have their own unique symbol, as do many other organizations and ranches, which is always the first mark preceding the rest of the brand. Since he was a patrol horse, I would think that the first mark would be specific to the unit he was used in. The alpha angle system is used for all kinds of freeze branding, since the angles can be read more clearly longer than numbers. Each angle represents a number. Most probably the angles in this brand represent the number 95. Don't know if it means 95th horse in the unit, or 95th Precinct, but that is my best guess.

[ljbrooks]

Thank you. That is really interesting... :-)

[rocky]

Today is Friday, after work I zipped up to Sarge. Stall cleaning...well his is a pen actually and after grooming madness out we went into the rain. Again, just rode him bareback with a halter and lead for 30 minutes. Saturday will try the snaffle and we might go out along the powerlines for a walk. I have a nice jumpimg saddle that I know will fit him (high withers) but a girl at the barn offered me up her all purpose soooo we will see. Carlina looked at Sarge's teeth today and she thinks he is between 15 and 20 so hopefully we will have many great years together. Wel,l that is all for now!! Rocky

[ljbrooks]

I am glad you two are riding. Someone should be!

[nalasmom]

What does the letter of his tattoo look like? If its a U he is 16. Thats what my TB's is and he and my TB remind me soo much of eachother! I bet they are related!

[rocky]

I think Lisa knows!!

[tireddog]

Rocky, thank you for the updates! Sarge and Oscar (now Phileas Max) rode together with their escort, Lisa, home to her place. Phileas lives with us, but he and Sarge shared a special bond, I believe. Sarge will always hold a very special place in my heart.

And yes, I think I am your body double. Unfortunately, however, if you are in the film industry, I won't be able to serve as a stunt double as I am a scaredy-cat and wimp. Sorry! I wish I could find the photo of me in my hat (that looks exactly like yours), my red jacket (that looks exactly like yours) and my pants (that look exactly like yours). I think that day I was wearing my Mucks and not riding boots, so those don't match. But we look an awful lot alike - it's amazing!

[ljbrooks]

The first letter of the tattoo, to me, looks like an I. I'll see if I can find my info on it somewhere.

MTA: From a previous post of mine - Got a good look at his tat while sedated for teeth. It looks like an I4033 and then can't read the last letter/number?

[ljbrooks]

More pics from Rocky today. ;D He's so pretty all dolled up.

[nalasmom]

He looks great!!

I=1979~~seems a bit to old for him...ummm

Rocky, you can take pictures of it and put them in different tones to see the tattoo better. If you want to you can take pictures and e-mail them to me and I can try to help you!

Here is the list of letter and year of birth:
A=1971
B=1972
C=1973
D=1974
E=1975
F=1976
G=1977
H=1978
I=1979
J=1980
K=1981
L=1982
M=1983
N=1984
O=1985
P=1986
Q=1987
R=1988
S=1989
T=1990
U=1991
V=1992
W=1993
X=1994
Y=1995
Z=1996
A=1997
B=1998
C=1999
D=2000
E=2001

[rocky]

nalasmom Hi, I've had him for a whole 6 days now!! The trainer at the barn looked at his teeth and said that he was 15-20 but not over. I will explore his mouth soon!! Still getting to know him. Thanks for the I.D. offer. Rocky

[rocky]

Lisa, do you think it was a "T" ?

[ljbrooks]

That's why I felt so confused about his age. It looked like an "I", but that puts him WAY older than anyone thinks he actually is. Could be a "T", but the vet and I studied it for several minutes while he was sedated and we both came back with "I". Is it possible that there is another letter at the front and the "I" is a 1/one? Maybe the whole letter at the front is gone/unreadable? I know there was supposed to be another letter/number at the end, but we couldn't read it. Maybe this isn't a racing tattoo at all, and an identifying mark from something else?

I didn't have my camera at the vet's office when he was sedated. I'm kicking myself for that right now.

[rocky]

It might be a #1 to match the #1 on his rear!!

[nalasmom]

you really have to look in the upper left corner(your left, their right) to get the letter sometimes its way over there. I will try to get of my tbs to show ya.

[crum]

It is always possible that he was a racing Quarter Horse. They have an entirely different schema. How many digits are in his tattoo?

[cvl]

Isn't he a former police horse? Do they tattoo their horses?

[djrepp]

Wow! Best wishes to Sarge and Rocky. He really cleaned up nicely.

[agilitygal]

Wow. He's gorgeous. He looks quite happy with his situation. Wishing you both many happy years and adventures together.

[crum]

I had another thought. Is it possible his lip tattoo is J4033 and is the inside of his left hind coronet white? Or if the number could be J4039 and he has no white that appears to be a possibility as well. If it is a J at the beginning it looks like it makes him 17.

modified to fix the tattoo number and the math. My fingers had a mind of their own.

modified to add that I'm thinking he may be a standardbred. The J for them designates being born in 1990. Of course there are so many bay standardbred geldings from that year that if you are not sure of the tattoo number you wouldn't be able to say which one he is.

[rocky]

Do I have to think and groom at the same time?? Thank you for all the input. You girls are amazing!! You can step in anytime Lisa.....

[ljbrooks]

Hi Crum, I was only able to get I4033 on his upper lip. I think TB's are supposed to have another digit which is why I was so confused. I don't remember if we just couldn't read the last digit or if it just wasn't there. Rocky, you'll have to check into that one for us. As far as white on the left hind coronet...I don't remember there being any and now I'll have to go scan through my pics to check. If it wasn't injured, it didn't get attention!

cvl, yes, he is supposedly the ex-police horse. No one knows for sure, that's just what the FLO said. I just think with the brands (2) and the tattoo, we should be able to find out, but I don't want to dig and cause problems either. I know he's happy as he is.

Oh and Crum...thanks for opening a whole other path to follow with those Racing QH and Standardbred posts. ;D JK

Found it. Nothing on the inside left hind coronet. That horizontal white line you see above it is probably a scar grown back white. It is a perfect horizontal line. That ringing a bell with anyone? Does a certain breed of horse get surgery there routinely? I know that's wacko, but thought I'd throw it out there.



MTA: Rocky. Yes, you do have to groom and think at the same time. And...I love his mane pulled like that. I keep forgetting to tell you!

[rocky]

Dear God, Please let him be a throughbred, Thank you. Your friend, Rocky

[ljbrooks]

rocky said:

Dear God, Please let him be a throughbred, Thank you. Your friend, Rocky

Funny. Very funny.

[rocky]

Hi Everyone, yesterday, a few of us rode out on some very short (darn) power line trails. Sarge was up for the ride but I feel he wasn't ridden on trails in his past. He was very good with the other horses and loves to be with the group. He is very calm, confident and willing. He is also very well trained just alittle "rusty". From the little I have seen I am sure he was used as a Police Mount. Lisa might post the "ride" pix's I sent her?

[ljbrooks]

Sarge on his ride with Rocky yesterday. ;D

[tireddog]

What a fun ride, Rocky! I think Sarge looks kind of self-conscious in the first photo - really darling! And I think he couldn't be anything but a TB. That's what Phileas told me anyway. When Phileas arrived home, he told me all about the beautiful thoroughbred man named Sarge who used to be a police horse and was blind in one eye, asking if my dad could help his eye possibly and could we visit him some time. I think Phileas felt really safe when he was with Sarge, who I am eternally grateful to for watching over my perpetually scared boy.

[nalasmom]

great pics and I agree def a TB!!

[rocky]

Worming today!! Lisa tells me Sarge is a head tosser. Any suggestions.....

[crum]

If you had not already purchased deworming materials I would have suggested using one of the on feed dewormers until you have him behaving about accepting a tube in his mouth. Not the daily dewormers, but the iverease or liquicare-p or safe-bits or some other on feed version of whichever active chemical you are going for.

It is good to have them acclimated to the tube deworming process as well of course especially if you ever need to give oral medications.

I know I've had good results with using Ttouch techniques around the nose and mouth prior to and after deworming with the tubes. I can deworm my own with a tube without even having a halter on them. I have also used the Tteam training methods to teach head lowering and such.

Make sure you get the tube dewormer far enough back on the tongue. This is a big mistake I've seen some people make that ends up with their horses being difficult to deworm. It is harder for them to spit out when it is far enough back and more importantly it touches different tastebuds than at the front so it isn't as unpleasant for them. Apparently the tastebuds at the front are more sensitive to the flavor of the dewormer ( I was told this by a vet but I've never found literature or any studies to back that part up)

I have also heard that proceeding or following the dewormer with a tube of applesauce has helped some people.

Of course almost all of these methods help the most if you can begin working with them well before the day you do the initial deworming. That way you don't have a fight during the actual deworming.

modified to add the part about tastebuds.