US brands on horses shoulders

[paul9thky]

I've seen this in countless movies and heard people say that they were going to paint one on their horse for authenticity.

I'm just curious if this was accually done. That I recall I havn't seen any photos showing this. Anyone have any info on the subject?

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

A cursory check of images of officers' horses, a surprisingly popular photographic genre, reveals no such markings. I don't know if things were different for the teeming masses of cavalry horses, though.

[VaTrooper]

If my memory serves me theres a dug CS brand in one Ken Knopps books. I doubt it was a common thing but worthy of noting.

[tmattimore]

All horses and mules purchased were to be branded. When unfit for service the U.S. was covered with a C for condemd. Officers purchased their own mounts as they were not provided by the govt. Forage was alloted to officers based on rank.

[H. L. Hanger]

Tom is certainly correct regarding U.S. cavalry horses.

On the other hand, why would any southern cavalryman have a C.S. branded horse? They furnished their own horses!

On the third hand (?), were the army teams branded? Hmmmm.