Significant progress has been made on recommendations to improve horse traceability and welfare in Ireland – but without all-island integration, the system “will always have holes”.

The Irish government department of agriculture, food and the marine (DAFM) has published a report on its action plan to deliver the recommendations from the Wall report (news, 27 March). Patrick Wall, a professor of public health, vet, medical doctor and food safety expert, was commissioned by DAFM to review its equine traceability system after an RTÉ documentary titled Horses – Making a Killing, showed the failures of the current system.

Professor Wall found weaknesses throughout the system, including in recording ownership changes and horses’ deaths, and said “comprehensive reforms are necessary”.

This spring, DAFM published a plan to address the issues, and it has now released an update on the 37 proposed actions. These come under five headings; ensure owner accountability through better traceability, stricter enforcement of equine identification and registration legislation, highest level of protection for horses at end of life, maximising the benefits of scientific and technology innovation and strong communication and influence.

“The status report shows that all 37 actions have been advanced with particular progress made towards a new IT system to support the proposed changes, as well as the initiatives on education and grant aid for modernisation,” a DAFM spokesperson said, adding that DAFM minister Martin Heydon stressed that horse welfare is the key driver of the project.

“Traceability is essential to the protection of horses,” he said. “Gaps in traceability allow for neglect and mistreatment without accountability. I am committed to implementing a new equine traceability system which will ensure our horses’ health and welfare are protected throughout their lives. The progress evidenced in the status report is the result of close cooperation and consultation with equine stakeholders and I would like to thank them for the positivity with which they have engaged with this reform.”

Equine census data

Mr Heydon said the new IT system for traceability is on track to be complete by the end of the year, based on the 2024 equine census data, which will “allow high levels of traceability while providing flexibility” for horse movement.

DAFM said measures to progress end-of-life welfare are progressing, and that “stricter enforcement is being actioned through a new inspection regime for equine holdings which is near conclusion”. The department is committed to establishing a new equine slaughterhouse; there had been an increase in export for slaughter since Ireland’s only abattoir that took horses closed. Other progress includes a pilot project using smart trackers and a new booklet outlining owner responsibilities.

Professor Wall told H&H that although the DAFM update is welcome, “the reality is this”. “Reforms in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) will not be effective in isolation,” he said. “Without parallel systems and cooperation in Northern Ireland (NI), the potential for loopholes and exploitation remains dangerously wide open.

“A core message in the report, and a reality not fully addressed in the minister’s announcement, is that without a fully integrated all-island system, the traceability net will always have holes.”

Prof Wall’s report makes clear that horse movement between the ROI and NI is “largely seamless” and untracked in real time. Horses can then move unrecorded to Britain.

“There is no equine census in NI, no equine premises numbers (EPNs) and very limited interoperability between the UK’s Central Equine Database and the ROI’s national database,” he said. “Horses can move across the border and vanish from traceability systems altogether.”

The report warns that “any solutions adopted in the ROI must be mirrored in NI to be effective”.

Legal export to slaughter

“Horses legally exported for slaughter can be described as moving for leisure, evading scrutiny,” Prof Wall said. “Without real-time data sharing and harmonised systems, this kind of regulatory arbitrage is not only possible, it’s already happening.”

The report found potential for fraud owing to poor cross-border data-sharing; people reportedly alter horses’ identities in false passports.

“For real reform, NI authorities must introduce EPNs, an equine census, and real-time integration with ROI’s central database,” Prof Wall said. “Horses that cross the border must have movements logged, identities verified, and food chain status consistent. The horse does not recognise political borders, and neither does fraud.

“In the spirit of cooperation that followed the 2013 horse meat scandal, and the Brexit arrangements, it is time for a truly joint approach to equine traceability and welfare. Otherwise, the ROI’s reforms risk becoming a one-sided firewall, unable to contain a cross-border problem.”

A spokesperson for northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) told H&H DAERA officials are aware of the findings and recommendations in the Wall report, and “continue to work very closely with officials in DAFM on matters arising from the report”.

“New domestic legislation is being prepared which will provide DAERA with enforcement powers to implement the EU animal health law [Regulation (EU) 2016/429], which provides the framework for an equine traceability system,” she said.

“On 21 July 2025, Minister Muir announced the mandatory requirement to register all equine establishments in Northern Ireland and that from 1 February 2026, it will not be possible to apply for, or update, an equine passport without providing a valid equine establishment number (EEN). DAERA officials have been engaging with the equine sector throughout 2025 on the new requirements and continue to work very closely with DAFM officials on equine traceability issues on the island of Ireland.”

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“Is there horse meat in your lasagne? Don’t know.”

This was the message to the Government and public at the National Equine Forum (6 March), as industry leaders tried to hammer home the need for a robust, effective, digital-first equine identification system.

The Defra minister of the day is always invited to the forum, to take part in a session on “the equine industry in a changing world”, which usually includes an update on equine ID.

Under the last government, Defra carried out a consultation on the ID system and its plans to improve it, the outcome of which, in late 2022, was expected to be new legislation and a digital-first system.

But since Labour took power, work on such a system has been put on hold.

Opening the NEF session, Defra minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said: “Let me assure you that the Government recognises the importance of equine identification and traceability to equine health and welfare and to public health, biosecurity and trade.

“The Government wants to see a robust and streamlined system for digitising equine identification. But we have paused work in this critical area while we tackle the very real challenges around public finances.

“My officials continue to engage with the British Horse Council (BHC) to explore ways equine ID and traceability can be improved within resourcing constraints. A very positive meeting took place last week, at which the creation of an industry/Defra co-design project was agreed, to explore a way ahead with this.”

The next speaker was Richard Newton, director of epidemiology and disease surveillance at the University of Cambridge, on protecting our horses’ health, which he described as a “team effort”.

He said all involved have a part to play, urging vets to report disease outbreaks and owners of horses and yards to improve biosecurity. And he explained the work of the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance group, which he established.

“We, as a small group based in Cambridge, provide important surveillance outputs to try to give the industry what they want,” he said. “We support industry bodies; in 2021 after the major equine herpes outbreak in Valencia, we had to get horses back to competing. But our surveillance disease response activities are reliant on funding from the thoroughbred industry.

“That’s the sole support we get. I think it’s time, if we’re going to improve the scope and sustainability of what we do in protecting the equine industry in terms of infectious disease, we broaden the contributions we receive from different parts of the industry, not just the thoroughbreds.”

Dr Newton moved on to the threat of exotic equine disease emerging in the UK, adding that Defra and the Animal Plant and Health Agency do a “fantastic job”.

“But have they got everything they need to do the best job possible?” he said. “I believe no, they don’t. We come back to equine ID and traceability. Accurate data is required to enhance disease surveillance and improve disease outbreak control.

“Effective disease control requires prompt identification of affected and at-risk animals, tracing animals promptly that may be at risk from disease. The UK urgently needs an update to digital equine ID and traceability regulations. Should we get these emerging diseases, vector-borne diseases, we need to deal with them.”

Red tape, money and the law

BHC chair David Mountford then covered “red tape, money and the law”.

He said he was pleased to hear the minister understands the need for a good equine ID system, as this is “the foundation stone for the industry”.

“It’s going to enable the industry to grow, to flourish,” he said. “It benefits the trade. It benefits welfare. It stops fraud. We’ve heard from Richard very eloquently about how it provides the opportunity to control infectious disease, particularly in the face of an increased risk. But an important aspect is food security.”

Mr Mountford explained that after the horse meat scandal of 2013, the BHC was “urgently” invited by the then Defra secretary, who asked how such an issue could be avoided.

“We said, ‘Digital equine ID and traceability, that’ll do it,’” he said. “He said, ‘Yes’ and then he left. Over the last 12 years, every single minister we’ve met has said it’s a no-brainer; digital ID is the answer. Let’s do it. None of them have done it.

“Last year, it looked as if we were going to hit the mark. Draft legislation had been put together. It was with the lawyers – then we had a change in government and spending reviews, which has put things on pause again. It’s great to hear we’re going again; I hope, Minister, you’ll be the one who gets us over the line.”

Mr Mountford noted that £500m has been earmarked for a similar scheme in livestock, but the equine system would need less than half a per cent of this and would be an ideal pilot as we are much further ahead.

“The final point I want to make is that there is a risk,” he said. “In 2013, the horse meat scandal didn’t appear for no reason. It appeared because beef prices were high, there was high demand and beef supply was limited. Horse meat supply was plentiful and it was cheap. That situation is recurring now.

“So the triggers that made the problem happen in 2013 are there now and is there horse meat in your lasagne? Don’t know. Nobody’s tested it but it’s a distinct possibility. When we look back, the recommendations from everyone involved in 2013 were digital ID and traceability. Let’s hope the progress we make pre-empts and stops us buying horse meat in our next batch of ready prepared food.”

In a discussion afterwards, Baroness Hayman reiterated that she appreciates the importance of ID and traceability and that resources are limited, but she welcomes suggestions on how we can “move forward with this”.

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Concerns have been raised that Irish breeders’ reputations are being “destroyed” over foal passport delays.

This summer Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) launched its new online passport system, HorseSource, to replace paper registration. HSI said the system, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine (DAFM), was “designed to simplify and enhance the process” and would be “a significant leap forward”.

But months on, breeders have told H&H the system is not working – and they are unable to proceed with sales as they are waiting for passports.

On 15 November HSI confirmed 5,765 foal passport applications had been received through HorseSource including full pedigree (which require DNA samples) and non-pedigree. Of those, 1,268 passports have been issued.

Breeder Emily Cooper submitted two applications at the end of July but the passports had not arrived by 15 November. She told H&H that for one foal, she was asked to submit DNA three times.

“Both my foals are sold, but they have to stay with me because I can’t legally send them anywhere,” she said.

“I’ve called HSI every week and had no real explanation of when I might expect my passports. I can’t book transport, I can’t do anything – it’s unfair on the purchaser. If you were an international buyer, wouldn’t you start hesitating to buy here? There’s a global market, they don’t have to rely on Ireland – and this is destroying our reputation.

“A clear plan is urgently needed with ongoing communication, specific timelines and regular updates to regain trust.”

Breeder Ronan Rothwell told H&H he is waiting for more than 20 passports for 2024 foals. He said problems existed before the new system, and he is still waiting for one passport from 2023.

“Last September I ran an online auction and foals sold abroad couldn’t travel until I received the passports, and I still had foals here waiting in April,” he said.

“All I could say was ‘I don’t have the passports’ – but I couldn’t say when I would have them. The same clients bought at the auction again this year, and I explained there was a new online system and things would be different – now they have two foals ready to go and I’m waiting on the passports.”

Walter Kent, chairman of the Stallion Owners Society, has called on DAFM to look into the situation.

“We were assured by HSI the new system would work, but now breeders are being blamed for sending their applications and DNA too quickly. Why start this system at the start of the breeding season – the backlog was always going to be there, HSI should have known.”

An HSI spokesperson told H&H the organisation “understands the concerns” and staff are “working tirelessly” clearing the backlog. He said it was necessary to pause applications under the old system while 500,000 records migrated to HorseSource – and this exacerbated the volume of applications received in the first few weeks of the new system, which has taken “longer to work through than anticipated”.

“There was an underestimation on the part of HSI as to the number of breeders instantly migrating to the new system. We apologise to breeders and want to assure them that we are working hard on completing these applications as quickly as possible,” he said.

The spokesperson said it was not possible to comment on individual cases without knowing specific application details, but “in keeping with usual processing”, a small number of applications have been asked to resubmit DNA samples as the laboratory could not verify parentage from the sample.

He added that there are a “very small number” of 2023 applications being processed – and HSI is working with the breeders to resolve these.

The spokesperson said HSI provided an update on timelines on 6 November through HorseSource – and will be providing updated application figures fortnightly.

H&H has contacted DAFM for comment.

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A ban on trail-hunting, equine ID and horse and rider road safety are among the issues to be considered by equestrians in the general election tomorrow (4 July).

H&H has reported that Labour was likely to pledge to ban trail-hunting, and this was included in the party’s manifesto. A spokesperson for the party told H&H: “The next Labour government will strengthen the Hunting Act to close loopholes and end trail-hunting that is used as a smokescreen for the illegal hunting of foxes, deer and hares.”

Labour will not ban drag-hunting as the party does not believe it is a “loophole used as a cover for illegal foxhunting”. But the hunting community has strongly refuted the claims about trail-hunting.

“They have made that statement, but where is their evidence?” British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) managing director Oliver Hughes told H&H. “Since the hunting ban in 2004, there have been about 250,000 days’ hunting, and about 600-700 convictions; 0.2% of which were down to what are now BHSA accredited hunts. That shows that the Hunting Act works; we are hunting within the law.

“Our main responsibility now as a hunting community is to prove to politicians, police, the press and the public that trail-hunting is legal, legitimate and well regulated, and there’s no need for any interference or further legislation. On 14 September, our national trail-hunting day will be the day to demonstrate that; it will be 30 venues rather than one, but it will be the 2024 equivalent of the Countryside March.”

Countryside Alliance CEO Tim Bonner told H&H that Labour’s decision to put hunting legislation at the top of its rural agenda again is “completely unjustified and out of touch with the priorities of rural people”.

“If it is determined to bring forward legislation it must be absolutely certain that any new law does not impact on hunts that are operating legitimately in exactly the way the Labour government told them to when it passed its original prejudiced legislation,” he said.

The British Horse Council (BHC) has set out its priorities for the next Government, in three questions sent to candidates (see below).

BHC chairman David Mountford told H&H the BHC has spent years working on key issues with the Government, and has built up good relationships with the relevant departments.

“We don’t know yet how the new Government will progress the issues we’ve been working hard on such as equine ID,” he said. “The next steps will be to start building relationships with newly elected politicians; we have established relationships with civil servants.

“The purpose is to wake potential MPs up to why the equestrian industry is important, and some of the critical issues that need addressing.”

Mr Mountford said the first question highlights the size of the sector, and the issues it faces, in particular equine ID, the second its diversity and the importance of making equestrianism available. “And finally, road safety for horses and riders, to help make sure riding is safe and accessible for as many people as possible.”

Labour did not comment on the BHC questions but a Conservative spokesperson told H&H: “We want to work with the sector to implement digital horse ID, in a way that works for all. We also want to ensure that our business rates regime doesn’t restrict anyone in having access to horse riding facilities.

“We have already implemented changes to the Highway Code to specifically give greater protection to vulnerable road users, like horse riders. We will continue to push public education, and where necessary, police enforcement.

“While the Labour Party wants to concrete over our green belt, we Conservatives want everyone to be within 15 minutes of green space. We will work with land managers to increase access for everyone, including horse riders.”

A spokesperson for the Lib Dems told H&H: “Horses are a vital part of British history and culture and the horse industry makes a crucial contribution to our economy.

“Liberal Democrats stand ready to work with the sector and seek solutions to concerns around equine identification. It is also our long-standing commitment to fundamentally reform the broken business rates system to alleviate pressures and remove barriers to investment.

“Too many horses and riders are losing their lives on our roads. Liberal Democrats want to see increased awareness of the Highway Code’s provisions for safe driving around horses, and we are committed to significantly increasing the amount of accessible green space, giving riders and the public more access to a healthy natural environment.”

Questions to candidates

1) The horse industry is worth £9bn a year to the UK but faces ever-growing challenges that require an effective horse identification system. What will you do to implement digital horse ID?

2) More women, over-45s and disabled people ride than take part in other physical activity, yet unfair business rates are restricting access to riding. What will you do to ensure this activity remains available for everyone?

3) Last year 66 horses were killed on the roads and the situation is getting worse, while access to-off road riding is becoming more limited. What will you do to keep horses and riders safe?

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Britain’s first census of thoroughbreds will help traceability of former racehorses – and the sustainability of equestrian sport, it is hoped.

British racing’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB), with Hartpury University, is encouraging all owners of former racehorses to complete the census, which launched on 28 June, before 31 December.

The main aim is to help improve traceability of thoroughbreds after they have retired from racing, to “know where they are, throughout their lives”. It is part of the HWB’s five-year welfare strategy “A Life Well Lived”, which committed to improving the lives of all horses bred for racing, from birth until death. Those behind the project want to make connections and work with bodies across the industry.

“The nice thing about this is the message of the industry joining hands, beyond racing,” HWB programme director Helena Flynn told H&H. “This is something fundamentally different and bigger; there are a lot of surveys in the industry, but this is a census, and this is a call for action to be involved.”

The census, in partnership with Retraining of Racehorses and supported by World Horse Welfare and Weatherbys, also focuses on responsible ownership, including ensuring all horses’ passports and ownership details are up to date. This is ensured “meticulously” by Weatherbys but declines once horses retire and go into private ownership. This issue applies across the industry.

Participants will be asked for horses’ passport and microchip numbers, age, residence, second career and more, to “provide a robust view of the 2023 British retired racehorse population”.

Hartpury head of research Jane Williams said: “We’re delighted to be part of this proactive initiative as Hartpury is committed to supporting the sector to improve the quality of life of the horses we all love.

The census is an opportunity to understand more about lifetime care of thoroughbreds, generate evidence to safeguard against disease outbreaks, and show the huge benefits thoroughbreds bring to so many people.”

Take part in the census

All owners of former British-trained racehorses will be encouraged to register them, free, with RoR.

The charity’s managing director David Catlow said: “The ‘social licence’ for the use of horses in sport is under increasing scrutiny and what happens to former racehorses after they retire is identified as a particular concern. This is a significant step towards ensuring thoroughbreds enjoy a healthy and caring existence and will provide the racing industry with the relevant data to guide future decisions”.

Ms Flynn agreed, adding: “This is how we can play a part in ensuring the sustainability of this industry and sport. This is fundamental to that. Aftercare is an emotive subject, and if we can have greater understanding of that, it will make a huge difference.”

The census can be completed online, and at major equestrian events.

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said: “This is an excellent initiative along the road of improving traceability for all thoroughbreds. Full traceability lasts a lifetime as a horse bred for racing will always be a racehorse in the eyes of the public, and they rightly hold the industry responsible for them throughout their lives.

“There really is a collective responsibility to make this work towards the much-needed goal of full traceability, both for the sake of the horses and the reputation of the industry.”

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REFORM of equine identification in England has reached a “watershed moment” – but the industry must support the system for it to work.

Defra has published the outcome and its response to its consultation on equine traceability and ID, the aim of which was to seek views on its plans to improve the system.

New legislation is expected to be introduced, but all the indicators are that it will be a digital-first system, which campaigners have welcomed as the way forward.

In the past, UK horses had vaccination certificates, and separate pedigree documents. To comply with EU law, these were brought together in passports, and a number of passport-issuing organisations (PIOs) were set up. The horsemeat scandal of 2013 made the UK Government “sit up and take notice” of problems in the system, British Horse Council (BHC) chairman David Mountford told H&H, but under EU laws, it was not possible to make the changes needed to address this country’s unique issues.

“We’ve been saying for years that for an equine ID system to work, it needs to be frictionless to the end user,” Mr Mountford said. “It needs to be easy to deal with, and there needs to be some carrot and some stick. We feel it’s been lacking both carrot and stick as it’s not enforced, and people feel there’s no benefit to putting in administrative and financial effort, and no penalty for not doing it.

“We’ve been banging on and the Government has always said ‘we’re in the EU so we can’t do anything’ but having come out, and acknowledged the system is a complete Horlicks, the Government had no excuse to do nothing.”

Defra’s consultation launched this spring, after an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee report into moving animals across borders post-Brexit condemned Britain’s “not fit for purpose” equine identification system. Almost 400 people and organisations responded, and more than 3,400 to a BHC survey run at the same time, with Defra’s support, and designed to be easier to understand.

There was strong support for a digital-led system; respondents felt the process of updating passports by returning them to PIOs was costly, time-consuming and inefficient, and that a paper document-based system is open to fraud. Many were not aware they had to keep passport details updated.

Mr Mountford said the council had thought more people might want to keep the status quo.

“But respondents were very broad-minded about understanding that it is the way forward,” BHC director Jan Rogers told H&H. “There were some reservations – people are attached to paper passports and the status quo – but one statistic was that 87% of people feared paper passports’ being lost in the post.”

Benefits of a digital-first system, with horses’ and owners’ details stored on the Central Equine Database (CED) include traceability – if horses are lost or stolen, this can be flagged on the system immediately, for example – and disease control. If there was an exotic disease incursion, or a flu epidemic, and a horse was at risk, its owner could be notified. Benefits to welfare include the fact owners will be accountable for their animals. There may well also be future benefits that help smooth the passage of horses across borders, such as uploading proof of vaccinations and health checks to the CED before travel, so horses do not have to wait at borders to be checked, or returned home if the paperwork is incorrect.

“The survey respondents and the BHC see the importance of paper documents to evidence pedigree, and that they will be needed for the time being to cross borders,” Mr Mountford said. “This does not prevent a digital record being the primary form of equine ID. Digital is the way forward and if we can lead with a digital system, others will follow.

“It’s a no-brainer but someone’s got to take the first step and it would be nice if that was the UK.”

One issue long raised is that there is little effective enforcement of the current system.

“People are less likely to comply if there are no consequences,” Ms Rogers said, adding that a central system means more opportunity for checking, and issuing fines for non-compliance, which will build confidence in the system.

But also, if there is perceived extra value to a horse that is properly registered, and if it is cheap and easy to be compliant, there is more chance more horses’ details will be uploaded.

“This is a watershed moment,” Ms Rogers said. “If this happens, so many other things will happen because of it.”

Mr Mountford added that although legislative changes take time, there are actions the Government can take without changing the law, more quickly. He said the BHC and Defra have a good working relationship, and that the former will be “holding their feet to the fire to make sure they make things better”.

“But we need the industry to be supportive,” he said. “The Government can put the legislation in place but the industry needs to make sure the system works by supporting it.”

A Defra spokesman told H&H the consultation response indicates the policy direction for improvements to equine identification and traceability in England, “including increased digitisation of the system so it’s easier for owners to access and record details of equines”.

“We will continue to engage with industry on developing the policy proposals, as indicated in the report, including digital identification for equines, whilst retaining paper passports for those that will require them for zootechnical or international travel purposes,” he said.

“Some of the changes will require new legislation, which is expected to be implemented in 2023. Changes will better prioritise equine health and welfare, whilst supporting stronger traceability in the case of equine welfare concerns or disease outbreaks.”

You might also be interested in:

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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A GOVERNMENT consultation on the equine ID system is a “fantastic opportunity to get it right”, and a rare chance to change legislation for the better.

Defra’s public consultation on its proposals to improve equine identification and traceability has been welcomed by World Horse Welfare as “of pivotal importance”.

H&H reported last year that Defra planned to consult, after an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee report into moving animals across borders post-Brexit condemned Britain’s “not fit for purpose” equine identification system.

The report stated that the scale and causes of the illegal movement of horses across borders should urgently be investigated by Defra, and that the current equine identification system is “not fit for purpose”, adding that its “outdated and fragmented paper systems enable fraud” (news, 21 October).

Jan Rogers of the British Horse Council (BHC), who is also head of research and policy at the Horse Trust, told H&H the consultation is welcome.

She added that the Government questionnaire is long and very technical, so the BHC has created a more accessible version, responses to which it will collate and feed into the main consultation.

Have your say online now

“The survey invites people who may not have great understanding of law, or great engagement with passport-issuing organisations for their views, on what would make it easier for them to keep their records up to date,” she said.

Defra acknowledges in the consultation that the data on the Central Equine Database, which should contain up-to-date details of all equines who live in the UK, is inaccurate and incomplete, for reasons including the fact equine passports are paper-based.

Among its proposals is to allow horse keepers to update their horses’ passport details online or via an app, free.

Ms Rogers said current equine ID regulations were brought in in 2015, after the horsemeat scandal, and based on food-chain safety. Since Brexit, Defra is now looking at prioritising welfare and traceability, and disease prevention.

“But we can only do that if we know where horses are,” she said. “They’re trying to find out what the system needs to do to meet these requirements.

“This is so important. We don’t have many opportunities to change legislation for the better and if we don’t get this right, it will be a long time before we get another chance.”

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said the horsemeat scandal highlighted the need for major change to the ID system.

“The current system is simply not working and having a simple, effective digital system is vital to underpin many aspects of the enforcement of animal health and welfare regulations, not least being able to trace a horse suffering from poor welfare back to the person responsible for it,” he said.

“Defra now has a fantastic window of opportunity to get it right and we encourage anyone connected to horses to take part in the consultation. By so doing, you will have your voice heard and be contributing to a change for the better for horse welfare.”

The consultation also seeks broader views on all aspects of equine ID and traceability.

A Defra spokesman told H&H: “We are proposing changes to equine identification and traceability in England with the aim of improving the health and welfare of horses.”

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A public consultation on equine ID laws is due to be launched in the near future — as the Government makes attempts to streamline international movement of horses.

Defra parliamentary under-secretary of state Lord Benyon gave an update from the Government on equestrian matters at the National Equine Forum yesterday (3 March).

He cited the effect the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit have had on the industry, and said he has discussed equine ID and traceability, and moving animals across borders, with the British Horse Council.

“In relation to this, I’m very pleased to confirm that I have agreed my stage of the formal process to prepare for a 12-week public consultation on equine identification and traceability to shape the future in this area,” he said. “There are a few more approval steps but I expect these to be completed very shortly.”

Proposals include those designed to make it easier to update records on the Central Equine Database (CED), which he believes will “greatly improve the accuracy of the data we hold on equines to support traceability for welfare and biosecurity purposes”.

Lord Benyon added: “Other proposals include the recording of a horse’s habitual location and possibly temporary locations to assist with handling and containing disease outbreaks.

“There is also the possibility of introducing temporary identification for certain situations, such as emergency care for abandoned horses.”

The Government will also seek the public’s views on links to other databases, and digitisation to “speed up processes”, but Lord Benyon added that although this consultation will focus on England, and “we are keen to significantly increase the digitisation of identification”, there are “constraints on our scope to do this”.

“Any changes we make must take account of the position of those countries where we move our horses most often; the EU, Northern Ireland and our devolved administrations of Wales and Scotland,” he said. “Alongside the issue of increase digitisation of equine ID, we are exploring with the EU the scope for the digital transfer of export health certificates, to streamline the movement of equines across borders.”

Lord Benyon said the CED and its digital stable are being developed to support an e-certification system for international horse movements, and that the Government is working with groups including the FEI, Weatherbys and World Horse Welfare to ensure once the ban on live exports for slaughter comes into force, there is a “robust mechanism for only bona fide movements, ie for racing, competition, sales and breeding with high standards of health and welfare”.

“From a Government perspective, ID and traceability, the movement of equines and the enhancements to regulation of our import and export trade are all key elements of this important initiative to support equine welfare, the equine landscape and the circa 27m people in Britain with an interest in the equestrian industry,” he said.

“With all the important work the Government is doing, in collaboration with the industry, to enhance equine trade, improve equine welfare and protect equine health and our national herd, we can all be proud to be part of that.”

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New laws surrounding equine identification came into force in England today (1 October).

Defra’s new equine identification regulations legally require every horse, pony and donkey to be microchipped and possess a valid UK passport, with details stored in the Central Equine Database (CED).

All horses born after 30 June 2009 are already required to be microchipped. Owners of horses born before this date will have two years from today to get their equines microchipped.

Any changes in a horse’s ownership or status — for example, if they are put down, lost, stolen or signed out of the food chain — will need to be notified to the passport-issuing organisation. The organisation will then have 24 hours to update the CED.

The British Horse Council has welcomed the new regulations, hoping they will deter theft and fraudulent sales as well as being helpful in managing disease outbrakes, mapping the horse population and ensuring rapid communication with owners.

“Previous legislation has been half-baked but the new regulations are not only positive for horse owners, but are a significant boost for equine health and welfare,” said British Horse Council chairman Jeanette Allen.

“Having all up-to-date data recorded on the CED will help us better protect our equine population in the event of a disease outbreak, as well as providing essential tools to help owners find their horses in the event of theft or straying.

“It should also give owners confidence that horses which have previously been signed out of the human food chain never end up in the abattoir.

“However whilst this legislation has huge potential to benefit all of England’s horses, its success is critically dependent on horse owners along with law enforcers recognising that, without them playing their part, our horses will continue to face totally unnecessary risks.”

British Equine Veterinary Association chairman David Mountford added he hopes the regulations will ensure essential equine medicines remain available to vets.

“Certain veterinary medicines can only be administered to a horse if it can be identified, if treatment is recorded in the passport and/or if we can see that it is signed out of the human food chain,” said Mr Mountford.

“If the passport is not readily available at the point of care then the treatment options are limited, errors in medicines records are possible and the authorities will seek to restrict medicines availability.

“Under the new ID regulations vets will be able to positively identify the horse, check its status online and therefore use the most appropriate medicine with confidence. Vets want to do what is best for the horse and the new regulations will help ensure this is possible.”

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers added the ability to accurately link every horse to an owner is the “cornerstone of responsible ownership”.

“It increases traceability and ensures owners can be held accountable in the case of welfare problems or abandonment, rather than simply discarding their unwanted animals with no consequences,” he said.

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“Welfare organisations and local authorities will now be more able to tackle the problem of unidentified horses and ponies, and local authorities should be better placed to enforce the legislation as they can now issue civil sanctions, such as fixed penalty notices, for non-compliance.

“It will also help ensure that any horses that have been illegally taken into another’s possession can be identified and returned to their rightful owner.

“For the first time, the CED will give a clear and accurate picture of England’s equine population which will help the industry to ensure equines are properly recognised and their welfare protected by Government through policy and legislation.”

Thoroughbred Breeders Association chief executive Claire Sheppard also welcomed the news.

“A robust system of identification for all the UK’s horses and ponies will underpin traceability, equine welfare and protection from disease,” she said.

“Whether this is for the largest thoroughbred stud or the owner of a single horse or pony, we will all benefit.”

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A gypsy cob dealer from Wales has appeared in court to answer horse passport charges.

Tom Price, of Glamorgan Horse Traders Ltd, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on 10 December, where he pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of failing to return equine identification documents.

A trial is due to take place at the same court on 29 April.

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The mother of a young showjumper, whose pony was falsely accused of being a ringer, is now taking legal advice.

British Showjumping (BS) took DNA from Cisco Bay II, ridden by Faye Adams, in June, following a claim that the pony was actually Graham Gillespie’s former ride Smirnoff Des Bruyeres.

The BS investigation is now over and on 23 November a spokesman announced: “After an extensive investigation, we can now confirm that British Showjumping is entirely satisfied that Cisco Bay is not the same pony as Smirnoff Des Bruyeres.”

Faye’s mother Julie told H&H: “BS has not explained why the process has taken so long, but we are relieved that it’s finally done and dusted. It’s been really stressful, especially for Faye, who is only 14.

“We have had the pony for 16 months — now we can get on and enjoy him.”

But she added that the family was taking legal advice and wanted to find out who had made the unfounded claim.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (6 December 2012)

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“Malicious, unfounded gossip” is how the mother at the centre of a pony identity investigation has described the situation.

British Showjumping (BS) is investigating whether Cisco Bay II, ridden by Faye Adams from the West Midlands, is in fact Graham Gillespie’s former ride Smirnoff Des Bruyeres.

It follows an official complaint by an unnamed rider.

Cisco Bay, owned by Sarah Billings, qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) newcomers and Foxhunter at Field House EC, Staffs (19-20 May).

Faye’s mother Julie feels this was the spur for the complaint.

“There is a lot of nastiness in showjumping and as soon as you start to do any good, people want to knock you down,” said Mrs Adams.

“They wanted to get Faye disqualified from HOYS – it’s been a blooming nuisance.”

Cisco Bay was DNA tested by BS at the end of June and Mrs Adams said the test proved the gelding is not Smirnoff Des Bruyeres.

“They are both bay geldings with four legs – that’s the only similarity,” she said.

BS said its investigation is ongoing and will be resolved before HOYS.

Cisco Bay is registered with BS as an eight-year-old bay gelding. He started affiliated showjumping in October 2011, at newcomers with Faye.

Smirnoff Des Bruyeres is a 10-year-old bay gelding who finished second in the JC final at the Royal International (RIHS) and qualified for the HOYS Foxhunter final in 2009 with Graham Gillespie.

He was sold in 2010 to Gary Frew, whose daughter Katrina Frew took over the ride and qualified for the JC final at the RIHS that year.

Smirnoff Des Bruyeres was called for remeasurement in October 2010, but was not presented and his height certificate was removed by the Joint Measurement Board.

The pony does not appear to have competed in affiliated showjumping since.

If Cisco Bay and Smirnoff Des Bruyeres had been one and the same pony, Faye would not have been eligible to ride him in newcomers or Foxhunter qualifiers.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse and Hound (16 August 2012)

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A campaign has been launched against the hot branding of Exmoor ponies multiple times.

Exmoors can be given several brands, including the Exmoor star, herd and animal number.

The campaign by Exmoor pony producer Dawn Westcott calls for ponies that are not going back on to the moor not to be branded at all.

She also wants the number of brands on the other Exmoors, and all equine breeds, to be cut down.

More than 11,000 people have signed the petition.

“Branding domestic ponies and those coming off the moors and not going back, should be stopped,” said Mrs Wescott.

“There is no justification for putting as many as seven marks on Exmoor pony foals.

“Hot branding should only be used where it is necessary for welfare and management.”

But a spokesman for the Exmoor Pony Society said: “Moorland ponies quite often have successful showing careers as youngsters and then return to the moor to breed because of the importance of their bloodlines.

“Hot branding, when requested by the breeder or owner of the pony, remains the most practical solution for visual identification.”

Hot branding was banned in Scotland last year.

Vet Keith Chandler, from Kessock Equine in Inverness, said: “As far as I’m aware, there’s been no negative feedback from breed societies.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (5 July 2012)

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The next move towards a ban on hot branding has been approved by Germany.

If the German parliament approves the measure this autumn, German studbooks will no longer be able to brand their horses.

The move has provoked strong opposition from the German warmblood associations since it was proposed in October 2010. And a 35,000-signature petition against the ban was collected by the German Equestrian Federation.

But last week German Minister of Agriculture Isle Aigner announced a hot branding ban will become an amendment to the country’s Animal Welfare Act when it is finalised later this year.

Hot branding is already outlawed in Denmark, Scotland and the Netherlands.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (7 June 2012)

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Equine welfare groups are making further calls to ban hot branding after a report commissioned by the RSPCA confirmed the procedure causes “significant pain”.

Last year, the charity commissioned equine welfare expert Dr Mark Kennedy to write an independent report into the hot branding and microchipping of horses and ponies.

Dr Kennedy, from Anglia Ruskin University, concluded hot branding should end as it is “painful and unnecessary” and there are “effective alternatives, like microchipping, that cause less suffering”.

But farmers and moorland pony owners have long argued microchipping is impractical for them as they need a visible form of identification for their free-roaming ponies.

The report was based on observation of moorland ponies being hot branded and microchipped, as well as consultation with owners and vets.

The RSPCA has since updated its recommendations, advising owners to microchip.

But a spokesman told H&H the charity has no plans as yet to lobby the government to change the legislation.

Some animal welfare groups claim this doesn’t go far enough.

Deborah Mallender, from the British Society for the Abolition of Cruel Methods of Identification of Equines, said: “It’s a positive step but we need to push forward. Hot branding absolutely should be abolished. Now it’s there in black and white that it’s cruel, we are in a stronger position.”

And Paul King from People 4 Ponies, with whom Dr Kennedy spent a day while compiling the report, agreed.

“It’s a good start, but it’s still legal. The RSPCA need to lobby. If they don’t it’s not good enough,” he said.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (15 September, 2011)

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Irish horse keepers will soon be required to register their holdings with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF).

But welfare experts have criticised the plan because horse keepers will not have to identify which horses they have on their land.

The move is part of the Irish government’s interpretation of Europe-wide equine identification legislation, which was brought into Irish law last month, two years after the UK.

Minister for agriculture Simon Coveney said the new register of equine holdings would help in an outbreak of infectious equine disease.

“I hope to have the support and cooperation of everyone in the industry to improve the overall health and welfare of horses,” he said.

A Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) spokesman said it was in favour of any reasonable measures to improve the traceability of horses in Ireland.

But Sharon Newsome of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) said neither passports nor the register will work if they do not link the horse to its owner.

Passports have been required for all European horses since 2005, and since July 2009 foals and horses being passported for the first time have had to be be microchipped.

But this legislation was only officially brought into Irish law on 12 July, along with a €5,000 fine for breaking it.

Up to then Irish horse keepers, vets and passport issuers were obliged to comply with the law but they could not be prosecuted for breaking it.

There are nine Irish passport issuing organisations.

Ms Newsome told H&H: “The regulations are a step in the right direction, but the government has not told us how it will enforce them and they still have not linked passports to ownership.

“We had a horse brought in that had been abandoned in a forest with a horrendous leg injury and a tumour in her jaw.

“She was microchipped, so we could find out who bred her, but there is no way of finding out who owned her last.”

Dr Joe Collins, president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, said the register would be useful in a disease outbreak. But he also felt it should go further.

“We need a system where passports are linked to ownership and change of ownership,” he said. “If horse keepers were asked to give the identity of the horses on their land that would be very useful — but it would be a mammoth task keeping that up-to-date.”

A DAFF spokesman said “authorised persons”, including local authority vets, police and staff at ports, would check horse identification at markets, sales and on premises.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (25 August 2011)

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Around 1,000 tethered and freely roaming horses throughout South Wales may soon have to wear identification collars.

“Many horses are living with the community in the middle of council estates and there have been a number of road accidents,” said Steve Grey of Cardiff Trading Standards.

He has led a two-year audit of ponies living on verges, in council estates and on hillsides, across eight local authorities in South Wales.

The results will be submitted to the Welsh Assembly government in March.

Mr Grey hopes politicians will impose new controls on the animals.

“There is an identification issue. There is low take-up of passports and it would be better for horses on common land to wear collars,” he said.

The audit forms part of the Welsh government’s Companion Animal Welfare Enhancement Scheme (CAWES) that hopes to improve welfare and help develop strategies to cope with disease.

Officials are concerned that some horses are being abandoned, others neglected and keepers are failing to comply with welfare and horse passport rules.

An Assembly spokesman said data from the audit is currently being assessed by a vet team at Bristol University.

“Local authorities noted several years ago that loose horses were an issue. This has enabled further research and we will be interested to see the results,” he said.

Checks were also made on horses tethered on common land amid fears that this practice may compromise welfare and affect behaviour.

RSPCA inspectors in Wales are often called out to deal with incidents involving roaming equines, said a spokesman.

“Proving ownership of ponies on common land is very difficult. Owners often deny responsibility, making it a problem to bring prosecutions against those who have caused their animals to suffer,” she said.

The Welsh government has published new data on numbers of horse enterprises operating in the Principality.

The data shows horse businesses are increasingly important to the Welsh economy, with the number of horse dealers and livery stables across Wales growing.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (6 January ’11)

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Vets have issued a reminder that the ear notching and tagging of horses and ponies is banned following an episode of a BBC1 programme that featured ponies with ear mutilations.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) contacted Countryfile after the 31 October show featured semi-feral ponies in Wales.

The team visited a farmer in Snowdonia for the annual health check of his herd.

Presenter Jules Hudson asked how the ponies could be told apart and the farmer explained it was by earmarks — footage of ponies with ear tags and notches cut into the ear was then shown.

Ear tagging has not been permitted since 2007, when the Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into law.

And following the introduction of compulsory microchipping in July 2010 tagging should not be necessary, said the BVA.

BVA president Harvey Locke said: “It appears there was widespread ignorance of the rules among those taking part in the programme. As vets we have a responsibility to ensure clients comply with animal health and welfare legislation.

“The BVA will be contacting those responsible for enforcing the legislation [Local Government Regulation and the Welsh Local Government Association] relating to ear mutilations to make sure the law is being policed.”

Colin Thomas from the Hill Pony Improvement Society of Wales was not aware that the practice was illegal and agreed more needs to be done to make farmers aware.

“I don’t earmark my ponies, but it’s a tradition that’s been in place for hundreds of years. I didn’t know it was banned and there are probably many who aren’t aware of the exclusion. We brand ponies. I know people don’t like that, either, but it’s a more visible means of identification than microchips.”

Welfare organisation People4Ponies contacted the BVA after the show aired.

Faye Stacey from the group says she has seen plenty of ear markings around Dartmoor and Bodmin since the ban.

“We were astonished to see the practice on Countryfile, but many farmers do not seem to be aware earmarking is illegal — hopefully, this will get the message through and we will see less of it.”

A Countryfile spokesman told H&H: “We are grateful to the BVA for bringing this to our attention and hope to clarify the point in a future programme.”

This article was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound, 2 December 2010

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Calls to ban hot branding in Scotland have been met with mixed reactions, with supporters claiming hot branding has been unfairly targeted.

The British Hanoverian Society’s John Shenfield believes more research is needed on the welfare implications of all forms of identification.

He told H&H: “There’s been no research by the Scottish government. As far as I’m aware no hot branding has been attended by welfare officers.

“It is more stressful for a wild pony to be caught and scanned for a microchip than branded.

“During freeze-branding the horse has to be restrained longer and a cold burn can be painful for a long time. It is unbalanced just to review hot branding.”

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and British Horse Society (BHS) believe hot branding to be outdated.

In Scotland it is an offence to brand a horse without specific permission.

The Scottish government issued a consultation on proposals to ban hot branding on 23 December which ended on 15 March.

“The responses will be analysed and comments carefully considered before a final decision is made,” said a Government spokesman.

BEVA has called for the “painful” process to be outlawed before, arguing that since microchipping horses became mandatory last July, hot branding is unnecessary.

BEVA senior vice-president Chris House said: “It is no longer justifiable — branding does not belong in the 21st century.”

But BEVA president Dr Madeleine Campbell admitted at last week’s National Equine Forum that more research on the effects of all types of identification are needed.

The proposal has received support from the Scottish SPCA and the BHS, which says: “We could not condone a practice which elevates the convenience of the owner above the welfare of the horse.”

Defra currently has no plans to ban hot branding in England.

“But if technology were to catch up we would reconsider,” said a spokesman.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (18 March, ’10)

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The Exmoor Pony Society has defended hot branding after a pony welfare organisation made fresh calls to stop the process, calling it “barbaric”.

People 4 Ponies, based in north Devon, rehabilitates “traumatised” Exmoor ponies.

The group says that now microchipping is compulsory, hot branding is unnecessary and “inconsistent with animal welfare in the 21st century”.

“We have seen the permanent, emotional trauma that is caused by these procedures,” said Cilla King from People 4 Ponies.

“Moorland ponies need to be easy to handle so microchips can be read, feet trimmed and medical attention given if necessary, without further stress to the pony.”

But the Exmoor Pony Society insists brands are necessary.

“This lasting, visible means of identification will ensure the welfare of that pony and help preserve the breed for many years,” said a society spokesman.

“Hot branding prevents theft and allows a semi-feral pony to roam, free from direct contact.”

She added that handlers who brand the ponies all undergo a strict three-year training programme, and said the method is invaluable in helping to identify the parentage of foals to ensure they can be registered in the stud book.

But the RSPCA and some vets believe hot branding is outdated.

President of the British Equine Veterinary Association Chris House told H&H: “In this modern era inflicting burns is not acceptable. There are better ways of identification — microchipping is far superior.”

An RSPCA spokesman said branding should be phased out.

But added: “We recognise being able to identify moor-kept animals quickly and from a distance may be important.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 November, ’09)

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More articles on equine identification

Find an equine vet

New research into the levels of pain involved in hot branding and microchipping has been carried out due to the recent requirement to individually identify all horses and ponies in the EU.

Hot-iron branding is still used by many continental stud books and breed registers as the preferred method of marking individuals, while, in the UK, microchipping is commonplace.

Vets in Denmark have investigated whether hot branding or chipping is the more painful or more stressful procedure.

They assessed horses’ reactions to the procedure, any pain felt and evidence of continuing inflammation.

Blood cortisol levels were analysed for signs of stress and the memory of the incident was assessed by carrying out a second, dummy run, one week later.

In terms of pain and local inflammation, hot branding proved to be more painful and caused greater prolonged sensitivity in the skin than microchipping.

There was more swelling and more evidence of skin damage in branding than in microchipping, which is not surprising and has led the authors to call for branding to be abandoned wherever possible.

But there were two surprising results: despite the pain associated with the branding, neither this nor microchipping caused any measurable stress in the horses when their blood cortisol was measured.

Similarly, neither procedure appeared to leave an unpleasant memory, since they caused no distress nor unease when the mock procedures were repeated a week later.

For all the latest veterinary research and developments, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (12 November, ’09)

Looking for more articles on equine identification?

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Iris scanning is being developed as a new way of identifying horses.

The first portable equine iris capture and identification system to help track and identify horses is being developed by US research company Sarnoff Corporation, on behalf of Global Animal Management (GAM).

GAM hopes the system could make brands and microchips a thing of the past.

The company claims there is a “worldwide interest in and need for non-invasive, accurate, low-cost alternatives to those currently used”.

“Animal identification is not nearly as efficient or simple as it needs to be,” said Mark Clifton, from Sarnoff, adding that markings can fade over time and can be faked.

But each horse has a unique iris pattern — even identical twins differ.

The system is based on the same James Bond-style technology that is used at UK borders and high security installations to identify people.

It captures the image of the iris with a low-visibility infrared light source. It is effective at a distance and can be used while the horse is moving.

President of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Chris House agreed the idea could work, but said it sounded “impractical”.

“Scanning a microchip takes seconds and gives the horse’s information immediately. I can’t see how iris scanning could be more effective than that,” he said.

“You could identify a horse using DNA, but you have to use a method of identification that is practical and simple.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (29 October, ’09)

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Please find below a summary of the changes to passport regulations which kick in on 1 July 2009.

• From 1 July, every foal must be microchipped by 31 December in the year of its birth or by six months old
• Owners of horses over six months old who do not have a passport must apply before 31 December 2009 and the horse must be signed out of the food chain.
• Horses for whom duplicate or replacement passports are required must also be marked out of the food chain
• Only vets may microchip horses and chips may only be implanted in the neck
• Ponies on Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest will not need passports or microchips until they leave the moor, unless they are treated by a vet. Rump stickers and passports will be used when a pony is moved for slaughter
• The keeper of a horse is responsible for ensuring it is passported
• Only an owner can apply for a passport. Changes of ownership must be made within 30 days
• A horse’s passport must be carried each time it is transported. An inspector can also require that a passport be produced within three hours at any other time
• Vets must check a horse’s passport before it is treated with any medicine and record the drug on the passport. If a passport is not available, only drugs suitable for use within the food chain may be used.
• Passports must be returned to the PIO within 30 days of a horse’s death
• Failure to comply with the regulations is punishable by a fine of up to £5,000

This information was first published in Horse & Hound (25 June, 09)

Regulations that will eventually require all horses in the UK to be microchipped come in across Europe on 1 July.

But as H&H went to press on Monday, Defra said the English regulations would not be laid before Westminster until early August. From July, foals and adult horses applying for a first passport in the UK must be microchipped. This will create a life long trace of all horses.

Scotland ratified the law on 4 June. Wales and Northern Ireland still have to do so.

“No passport issuing organisations [PIOs] will issue passports without a microchip after 1 July and the rules will apply elsewhere in Europe, so we would ask all owners to be ready by July,” said a Defra spokesman.

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) president Chris House said he was concerned at the delay.

“Defra has not yet said how it will police the scheme, what constitutes an offence or the penalties,” he said.

Other concerns have been raised by the horse industry.

British Horse Industry Confederation chairman Timothy Morris said: “We need a more pragmatic approach to the drug-withdrawal rules set out in the EU directive.

“Just one sachet [of bute] in a horse’s life means it cannot go for slaughter, even if that death is 20 years later,” he said.

BEVA has asked the EU to extend the range of drugs that can be used on horses that may go for meat.

And Stephen Potter, who runs slaughter house, Lawrence J Potter Ltd of Taunton said by encouraging owners to sign horses out of the food chain, the regulations will increase unwanted animals.

“The change in the law will lead to many more cases like the James Gray one,” he told H&H.

• Read details of passport regulations from 1 July

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (25 June, ’09)

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The slaughter of two stolen loan horses, one of which was microchipped, has raised questions over whether this identification method is beneficial to welfare

The pros of microchips

• It is a reliable, sophisticated and cost-effective means of authenticating horse passports.

• It is tamper-proof and permanent.

• It reduces the risks to human health by helping prevent certain horses from entering the food chain.

• It aids with disease surveillance by facilitating the tracing of specific animals.

• It could lead to more prosecutions for cases such as horse dumping and neglect, thereby improving welfare.

• It aids breeders in tracing their progeny, which could ultimately lead to better breeding programmes.

• It should reduce the incidence of false documentation and misrepresentation.

• It is easy, quick and safe to carry out.

The cons of microchips

• The cost for multi-horse owners.

• A lack of a visible deterrent to would-be thieves.

• There is a small risk of bruising, abscess formation and possible migration of chip.

• It is open to human error, for instance incorrect implantation technique, incorrect recording of details or negligent scanning technique.

• It is difficult to police. Microchipping is currently the responsibility of Trading Standards and Meat Hygiene Standards, although Defra is proposing to add local animal health officers to the list of bodies. Once microchipped, a horse is “labelled” forever, which could be seen as a disadvantage if a once difficult horse comes good.

For the full article on microchipping, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (19 February, 09)

FOUR times as many owners freeze-marked their horses in the month following the horse security scare in June as in a normal month, a company has revealed.

Freezemark Ltd was inundated with people wanting to mark their horses after a spate of text messages circulated among horse owners warning of men acting suspiciously and photographing horses in order to steal them later.

“It seems to have settled down now but for two months after the texts we were overrun,” said spokesman Mary Awre.

“Vets have been encouraging people to microchip their horses and this incident has highlighted the benefits of having an immediately identifiable mark on your horse.

“But people forget very quickly and interest does appear to be tailing off now.”

Farmkey, which also offers freeze-marking, says business has been brisk over the summer.

Company spokesman Jade Kemp said: “We did see a rise in the number of people seeking information about freeze-marking after the stories appeared in the press — and it seems to be carrying on.”

National Horsewatch Alliance chairman Garry Porter said that at the height of the concerns over the text messages he was receiving 40 to 50 emails a day reporting sightings of suspicious people.

He said: “I’m not aware of a case where horses were stolen after being photographed.”

But he added that if the incident has provoked interest in freeze-marking then it did some good.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (26 September, ’08)

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DEFRA has started consultation with the horse industry on how to implement EU legislation passed earlier this year (news, 13 March), that makes microchipping of foals compulsory after 1 July 2009.

On 30 May, Defra held a meeting with a number of equine organisations, including the British Horse Society (BHS), British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), the British Horseracing Authority, World Horse Welfare and the Donkey Sanctuary.

A Defra spokesman said: “The industry was asked to identify the key issues and challenges regarding implementation of the new regulation.”

A separate meeting was held with those bodies representing the semi-feral herds on 3 June to discuss issues relevant to this sector.

A follow-up workshop and/or further meetings will be held with the aim of producing a draft set of regulations for full consultation by the end of September. A final set of regulations will be produced by April 2009 for implementation that July.

Lee Hackett from the BHS said: “A few issues were discussed including what standard of microchips will be allowed, where they will be placed, whether vets or other suitably trained professionals will be able to microchip and derogations for semi-feral groups including New Forest and Dartmoor ponies.

“We also discussed whether any additional form of identification will be needed — for example, a silhouette.”

BEVA president David Dugdale added: “We also talked about the removal or destruction of the microchip at the end of the horse’s life if the animal is going for human consumption.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (12 June, ’08)

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HEROS (Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme) are freeze-marking all their retired racehorses to protect them from theft.

Equine security organisation Farmkey will be providing subsidised freeze-marking for the horses at the HEROS centre and also for their re-homed racehorses that are out on loan.

Chief executive Grace Muir said: “A freeze-mark is often the difference between recovering your horse or losing him forever. Many of our horses are rehomed for life, so this service will provide invaluable peace of mind for both us and their new owners.”

The first HEROS horse to have been freeze-marked was Activo, a seven-year-old bay gelding owned by Katherine Ager.

Katherine told H&H: “Activo won three races but retired because he wasn’t that good. I’ve had him since October last year and so far we have just been hacking and schooling, he has never jumped. At the moment we are just getting used to each other.

“HEROS was recommended to me by a friend and as soon as I met Activo I fell in love with him, I rode him out and two weeks later he arrived at my house.

“So far it’s going really well, we do have our ups and downs and sometimes he tests my nerves as he’s full of beans, but I’m really pleased with him.”

Activo’s registration number HR00, which he received in January and now over 20 HEROS horses have been marked.

A spokesman for Farmkey said: “When Grace approached us about marking their ex-racehorses we were happy to offer HEROS a reduced rate and have allocated a series of HR numbers for their horses.”

Grace added: “Although the horses are already micro-chipped we wanted a visual sign to stop theft. We wanted people to be 100% aware that these are HEROS horses, so they are all freeze-marked HR.

Currently there are approximately 30 horses in the centres care and since the charity was established in July 2007 more than 150 horses have been rehomed.

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A miniature Shetland pony which was missing for two weeks was reunited with its owners thanks to RSPCA officers who noticed its freezemark.

Two-year-old Megan was reported missing on February 3 from her home in Atherstone Warwickshire but was not traced until two weeks later when she was spotted by a member of the public walking in Walsall, 33 miles away.

The pony appeared lame so the RSPCA was called and the inspector saw she had a freezemark.

And when Inspector Simon Davies contacted the freeze mark company he found she had been reported missing.

Megan’s owner Anne Doran said: “We are over the moon and cannot thank the RSPCA enough for their help.

“When Megan came home she was so happy to be reunited with our other Shetland pony Holly.”

Megan is being treated for a wound to her leg, believed to be a dog bite, sustained whilst she was missing.

Inspector Davies said: “Hopefully this will encourage other pet owners to have their animals micro-chipped or freezemarked.”

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THE British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has agreed to take on the management of the National Equine Database (NED) from DEFRA, even though the project is still not ready to launch for public use.

NED is an internet-based system designed to allow global access to identification, breeding and competition data for British horses. Since work began on the project in 2004, NED has been run jointly by the BEF and DEFRA.

But the database, due originally to launch in 2005, has been beset by delays. In June this year, DEFRA announced its intention to hand the project back to the BEF, and the horse industry.

Last Wednesday, after investigating the risks and potentials of taking NED on, the BEF board voted to step in.

“I’m not going to level any criticism or comment at what has and hasn’t happened in the past,” said BEF chief executive, Andrew Finding. “DEFRA and others feel the time is right to transfer responsibility to the industry. DEFRA will fund NED for the next three years, so our member bodies will not have support it financially.”

Mr Finding says the next stage of the project — checking data provision and rigorous system testing — would benefit from wider horse industry expertise.

“It will be successful if all the elements of the industry, particularly Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) and data providers and member bodies work together to make it happen,” he said.

BEF head of equine development Jan Rogers said it was exciting that NED will now be developed by an in-house team with “passion and in-depth knowledge of the equestrian industry”.

She said NED will be part-launched the data providers, who will thoroughly test their data and the whole system before NED is released to the public. By involving the data providers in the process, Ms Rogers said, some of NED’s critics should hopefully be silenced.

The BEF board will then review it before deciding when to launch it to the public.

NED itself will be run by a separate limited company — NED Ltd — to separate it legally and financially from the BEF. The BEF hopes shortly to begin searching for a board of directors.

Andrew Finding explained: “The directors will be voluntary, and we will advertise for specific competencies, probably in the areas of IT and database management, finance, marketing, fund raising, knowledge of breeding, knowledge of data provision and knowledge of running studbooks.”

To read more, see this week’s edition of Horse & Hound (23 August)

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Microchips and an advert in H&H played crucial roles in reuniting four stolen Shetlands with their owner.

The ponies were taken from a field in Shepperton, Surrey, in March 2006. Their owner, Jo Seaman, told H&H: “We drove miles looking for them — 1,000 in one week.”

The first to be returned, Fizz, was recovered five days after the theft when Surrey Action for Equine (SAFE) learned of a chestnut Shetland bought near Gatwick. Because all the ponies were microchipped, police were able to scan and identify Fizz.

Last May, Ms Seaman’s search led her to Wickham Fair, where she found Tonto tied to a lorry. Police were alerted and his chip confirmed his identity. But no one at the fair claimed responsibility for him.

After a leafleting campaign, and even a visit to a psychic, Ms Seaman eventually took out an advert in H&H.

“Within a week of the ad, Petlog [a reunification service with a National Pet Identification database, which has a record of more than 80,000 horses] rang to say someone had tried to re-register Rosie. Her markings are very distinctive,” said Ms Seaman.

A couple near Reigate, Surrey, had bought Rosie in good faith but minus a passport. They were “devastated” to discover she was stolen, but the microchip proved identity.

Two weeks later Ms Seaman received a call from a woman in Claygate who recognised Becks from his picture in the H&H ad. Local police scanned the microchip and confirmed his identity.

A spokesman for Hampshire Horsewatch said the recovery of all four ponies was down to “the owner’s commitment, perseverance and endeavour over the past 13 months”.

• June is National Microchipping Month when vet surgeries across the UK will be holding special clinics. Visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk for more details.

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Some breed societies have enforced compulsory chipping for more than a decade, and every UK and Irish Thoroughbred foaled since 1999 — 110,000 of them — has been chipped.

BEVA supports microchipping as the most tamperproof form of ID to back-up the silhouette, making any database more reliable.

“Compulsory chipping provides a reliable method of tracing animals in the face of an exotic disease outbreak, and of controlling the use of medicines and what goes into the food chain,” says BEVA president Lesley Barwise-Munro. “These messages need to get out so owners don’t think it’s a pointless extra cost.”

The ILPH believes that compulsory microchips should have come in with passports.

“Microchips would enable us to do more about welfare because they provide a positive identification of an owner,” says Tony Tyler, director of UK operations at the charity. “We support freeze-marking too. But you can, with the right equipment, change a freeze-mark — although it is uncommon. A microchip can’t be changed.”

The Thoroughbred industry has found that microchipping — backed up by a silhouette — helps prevent fraud and mistakes.

Chip “failure” in Thoroughbreds is rare. Since compulsory introduction, the instance of Thoroughbred chips failing to read is about 0.62% — due to malfunction of a chip, or assuming a chip has been inserted but it has dropped into the bedding instead. When combined with adverse reactions to implantation, the figure rises to about 0.73%.

Vet Kevin Pegler says: “In a few chipped horses from Ireland, there’s no signal. You don’t know whether it was never chipped or whether the chip has become unreadable.”

Only vets or equine veterinary nurses — under veterinary supervision — are allowed to chip horses. Vets use a special device to implant the chip — which is about the size of a grain of rice — into the left side of the nuchal ligament. Occasionally horses are twitched or sedated for the procedure, which is similar to an injection.

“How you handle the horse is crucial,” says Jeremy Mantell. “But even in the most frightened horse you can usually manage it before they know what’s happening.”

Sarah Fry, sales director at Pet-ID, says: “We recommend the vet clips a 10p-sized patch — you don’t want to take a hair down with the needle — and swabs the area. He should scan the horse to check it’s not already chipped, scan the chip to ensure it’s working, and scan again after implantation.

“To implant the chip, you squeeze the trigger, which pushes a plunger at the end of the barrel, driving the chip out of the end of the needle. The nuchal ligament is like firm rubber, so the chip stays put.”

There is no age limit, although Lesley Barwise-Munro advises: “A foal should have received adequate colostrum, behave normally and feel well in itself before it is chipped.”

Read more about microchipping in the 10 November issue of Horse & Hound

Traditionally, we have used a description of colour and markings, such as white legs and whorls, to identify an individual horse. Freeze-branding is also effective for most horses, especially as it is readily visible. But brands can be tampered with or disguised and may become less distinct over time.

Officially, passports will be mandatory after February 2005 and will provide a method to both age and identify a horse. However, with approximately 70 separate passport-issuing authorities, and the proposed central co-ordinating body is not yet functioning, the system appears open to abuse with limited controls to prevent a horse having more than one identity.

Many horse vets advocate microchips as the best means to identify an individual horse, and their use is increasing. A tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) is implanted in the nuchal ligament on the left side of the horse’s neck. It is a surgical procedure, so has some potential for complications, but these are rare. Instead, the most commonly encountered problem is how to insert the relatively large needle containing the microchip safely into an animal that does not want to be injected.

The theory of microchips is great: every horse has an individual number somewhat like a car number plate, which can be viewed using a reader. This number can then be linked to a computerised database where information on ownership and other details can be stored. For the system to work, the data needs to be recorded properly and kept up to date.

This electronic form of identification has several advantages over more traditional approaches, including:

• If the horse is separated from its identity document, it should still be identifiable
• The implant has a individual number that is linked to a database, which can be checked out, for instance, in a case of theft
• This method of identification is tamper-proof

A snag with microchips is that they cannot be detected without the appropriate scanner or microchip reader. Not only is the right piece of kit required, but it needs to be the correct sort for that type of microchip otherwise it will remain undetected. Ultimately the microchips work, we just need to be able to see them and have the correct records to identify the horse from the microchip when it is read.

Many anecdotal tales exist of microchips being present that do not match the horse in question. Another potential, but unlikely, concern is that the microchips may migrate away from the site of implant and for this reason anyone using a reader will check right around the neck if a microchip is not in the usual place. Fortunately, microchips can also show up on an X-ray picture.

Microchips are the same as any other modern technology; the information is only as good as the operator and their equipment. The information needs to be able to be read and recorded properly worldwide. To this end, the International Organisation of Standards (ISO) has published an agreed standard for the electronic component of microchips, so the situation should now be improving for global identification.

The Thoroughbred industry — along with some other breed societies — has been using blood typing for some time. Blood typing has served the industry well, not so much as a way of identifying the individual horse, but more for parentage testing. This can be crucial for horse breed registries, where there is a need to know that a foal is indeed bred as reported. Once there is a sample on file, a comparison can be made to confirm that the horse’s identity is correct in future.

Blood typing is based on testing proteins, and recent innovations have enabled laboratories to go back a stage and test the DNA, which is the individual’s genetic code material. DNA testing has a number of advantages over blood typing, including:

• DNA can be obtained from almost any body tissue. The easiest tissue to collect from a horse has to be a hair sample, which must have the follicle or root attached. This is regularly required by Weatherbys and other UK authorities, who ask the vet to pluck a number of tail hairs. This is significantly simpler than collecting a blood sample in the majority of horses. Once collected, you cannot spill or spoil hairs as can happen to a vial of blood
• For the standard test of 12 DNA systems commonly used, the probability of detecting an incorrect parentage is 99.99%; hence it will be as effective in identifying an individual horse
• The lab tests used for DNA are simpler than for blood, so are less costly

DNA analysis may be the way forward for the future. Your horse’s passport application may require a few hairs being sent in rather than an identification diagram. Apparently, various authorities are investigating this method, which is already being utilised by several breed societies.

This veterinary feature was first published in Horse & Hound (18 November, 04)

Farmkey, the freeze-marking company, has been granted Passport Issuing

Organisation status after months of negotiations. The firm first applied to DEFRA to become a PIO last August.

Peter Mills, resources director of Farmkey, is currently in talks with DEFRA regarding the use of its freeze-marks to back up self-certified passports until the 30 June deadline.

After 31 January, owners may only complete the silhouette themselves if the horse is microchipped. If silhouettes could also be self-certified for freeze-marked horses, thousands of owners would save money.

Peter Mills explains: “I was quite reassured by meeting Alison Reeves from DEFRA. She can see the logic behind it for ourselves and our members. She is going to talk to Alun Michael, who will give the idea consideration and give us an indication fairly shortly.

“Alison was also very interested in our plan to train technicians to be

‘competent authorities’, to enable them to draw the silhouettes.”

There are currently no guidelines as to what qualifications or training a “competent authority” needs; although if a PIO accepts a passport with a silhouette that is not completed competently, it could have its status withdrawn.

There are several companies in Britain which freeze-mark horses, and Farmkey has marked almost 200,000 in its 25 years in the business.

• Read the full story in the current issue of Horse & Hound (29 January).

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The “L” freezemark was introduced in 1995 after it became clear that some individuals were selling “loss of use” horses as sound prospects to unsuspecting buyers.

The L warns potential buyers that the horse has been the subject of a “loss of use” insurance payout. It is placed on any horse where a loss of use claim has been agreed and the horse remains with the owner.

Although the individual definitions vary from company to company, a ‘loss of use’ claim is given when a horse is believed to be permanently incapable of fulfilling the use for which it is insured and used.

Since the introduction of the freezemarking scheme, which is carried out by Farmkey in association with the insurance company involved, the sale of this type of horse has been simplified with potential buyers being protected from unscrupulous sellers.

On all horses except greys, the freezemark is placed just behind the wither, or underneath any existing security freezemark. With a grey, the freezemark is placed on the shoulder.

A horse which has been the subject of a permanent loss of use claim will loses much of its value and if it is offered for sale its purchase price should reflect the limitations of its injury.

Guy Prest, managing director of KBIS says: “The L freezemark ensures that someone buying a horse which has been subject to a loss of use claim knows what they are getting.”

Someone who is considering buying horse with the L freezemark can telephone Farmkey to find out which insurer has paid the claim on the horse. They can then contact that insurance company to findout more.

“The majority of horses which have been subject to a loss of use claim can go on to enjoy a useful working life as a hack or companion,” explains Guy. “Occasionally following a long period of rest and careful management a “loss of use” horse will even return to competition, although probably at a lower level than previously.”

Some companies will insure horses that have had a “permanent loss of use” claim but limit policies to death, theft, straying and restricted vets’ fee cover,excluding the area which was subject to the loss of use claim.

Looking for horse insurance? Try Horse & Hound’s insurance comparison service at horseandhound.co.uk/insurance