| For cattle and horse ranch owners, the animals | | | | bring an animal home if it is lost or stolen. Several |
| that they own generate income for them, and | | | | states have brand registries where rancher's |
| therefore, generate livelihood. Since cattle and | | | | brands are permanently recorded. If someone |
| horses are grazing, sometimes over hundreds of | | | | finds a branded animal, they can identify who the |
| acres in very remote parts of the country, it is | | | | animal belongs to and return it to its proper |
| important that animals are branded. | | | | owner. |
| The branding of animals can be traced back to | | | | People brand animals that are valuable to them so |
| ancient Egypt. There is evidence that ancient | | | | it makes good sense to brand personal belongings |
| Egyptians branded their Oxen. This is shown on | | | | that are also valuable. For horseman there is |
| hieroglyphs that are painted on pyramid walls. | | | | always risk that their high quality tack and |
| Romans and Greeks even had slaves marked | | | | equipment could be lost or stolen. Using miniature |
| with irons. Brands were brought to the New | | | | branding irons to permanently mark one's personal |
| World from Spain, when Cortez brought some of | | | | belongings will lessen the risk of theft. In the |
| his own cattle. The cattle were branded with the | | | | event that a branded piece of equipment is lost, |
| symbol of three crosses. Brands are the only | | | | chances are much more likely that it will be |
| affordable, permanent way that ranchers can | | | | returned to the owner as it can now be easily |
| mark animals as their own. Cattle brands are | | | | identified. Branding your personal belongings with |
| most commonly located on the right or left hip or | | | | miniature brands is not only practical, it's also fun! |
| rib area. The most popular locations for brands on | | | | In fact, many crafty people choose to |
| horses are the left or right hip and shoulder. Horse | | | | incorporate branded items into their western |
| brands can also be seen on the rear of the horse | | | | home decor. It can be much more fun and cost |
| next to the tail, on top of the hip area and even | | | | effective to personalize your home decor items |
| the jaw. Original brands that came from Spain | | | | by branding them as opposed to buying items |
| were large and very ornate. Early American | | | | already featuring miscellaneous brands. Some |
| brands were more simple, but still hard to | | | | individuals choose to brand steaks and pancakes |
| duplicate. Brands can vary in size from large to | | | | to give a meal an authentic western twist! So |
| small, one inch brands. | | | | have fun and get creative - brand your steaks, |
| The most important purpose of a brand is to | | | | chicken, pancakes and even desserts! |