We freeze Brand our horses and hot brand our cattle.
We like the freeze brand on the horse for it actually stands out better. We brand for two reasons. First is incase of theft. Second is for advertisement factor. People see the brand and know that it is from our outfit.
To learn to Freeze branding you should contact someone (like your brand inspector) to find out all the details for your state or province. Shave area and spray with isopropanol (rubbing alchol) to clean and prevent iron from sticking. Then hold iron on a certain amount of time.
To get the iron made is your most expensive item for it must be cold bent and not ever heated. Then look around in your area where you can get liquid nitrogen. Last item needed is a branding stove (container to put your iron and the liquid nitrogen to cool the iron.)
As I said before we like the freeze branding for our horses. On cattle we still hot brand for it is a lot faster process.
Here is our brand on two of the mares