As new equine microchip and passport deadlines loom, owners are reminded of the requirements for those horses who do not hold UK passports.

H&H reported last week that as part of government efforts to tackle horse theft and improve traceability, biosecurity and welfare, all equines in England must be microchipped by 1 October and by 12 February 2021 in Wales. In Scotland, the deadline is 28 March 2021.

But for equines who have been imported from EU countries (including Ireland) and do not have British passports, an extra step is required in order for their details to be uploaded to the Central Equine Database (CED).

Defra guidance states horses who have arrived in the UK should be registered with a UK passport-issuing organisation (PIO) within 30 days. This will ensure the CED is updated and the relevant non-UK PIO is alerted of the change of record. If the horse is based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the passport will be overstamped, but for horses kept in Scotland the details will be recorded on the ScotEquine database and the CED.

There are a number of UK PIOs, including those that manage breed studbooks, including international breed societies that have representation in the UK such as the British Hanoverian Society. There are also PIOs that do not manage studbooks but are authorised to issue passports, such as the British Horse Society. The full list of the UK PIOs can be found here.

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World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H the CED has the potential to be an “invaluable” one-stop shop for verifying the identity of a horse.

“But, as ever, to be able to fulfil this vital function, the information on the system needs to be correct,” he said.

Anyone who has bought a horse is also reminded it is their responsibility to change the ownership in the passport with the relevant PIO within 30 days, or face penalties.

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The final countdown to the requirement for all equines in Britain to be microchipped and registered on the Central Equine Database via a British passport-issuing organisation is underway. H&H finds out more...

Owners have been reminded of their responsibilities ahead of new equine microchip and horse passport legislation deadlines.

As part of the Government’s move to tackle horse theft and improve traceability and welfare, all equines in England must be microchipped by 1 October and by 12 February 2021 in Wales. In Scotland, the deadline is 28 March 2021.

The UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said microchips will not only help police and local authorities, but also support efforts to ensure better control over disease outbreaks.

“This new legislation will ensure irresponsible owners are held accountable for any low standards of welfare,” she said.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H being able to identify every horse – and owner – is “fundamental” to protecting welfare.

“There have been significant improvements in identification since the 2013 European horsemeat scandal, when no enforceable legislation was in place, but creating an effective equine ID system is very much a journey and not a destination,” he said.

“One key development is the establishment of the Central Equine Database, which has the potential to be an invaluable one-stop shop for anyone who wants to verify the identity of a horse. But, as ever, to be able to fulfil this vital function, the information on the system needs to be correct and there needs to be a simple way for owners to update their details.”

Mr Owers said enforcement of the new legislation is “critical”.

“The ability of local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices to owners who do not comply is an important step in the right direction, but again this relies on having the correct information on the database,” he said.

“We will be working with Defra through the British Horse Council to ensure maximum take-up, which means having a system that is easy and cost-effective. For sure, there will be teething issues, but we hope these will be ironed out by April, by which time all equines in Great Britain will have to be microchipped, including those born before 2009.”

Following confusion on the topic of imported horses, H&H clarified with the Scottish government and Defra that owners of horses who have been imported from an EU country and hold EU passports must send the passports to a UK passport-issuing organisation for the horse’s record to be uploaded to the Central Equine Database.

The Scottish government sent guidance to all owners in Scotland, highlighting the requirements and fixed penalties, and the introduction of the ScotEquine card. This ID card can be applied for, allowing owners to transport horses in the country without carrying their passports.

Helene Mauchlen, British Horse Society’s national manager for Scotland, told H&H the society has worked with the Scottish government on the identification initiative.

“The investment the Scottish government is making with biosecurity and traceability is good for all equines and will help prevent diseases,” she said.

The Welsh government has issued guidance to owners (in Wales) encouraging them to get new passport applications and changes to passports in early, as well as ensuring transfer of ownership is updated within 30 days of buying a new horse.

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Ahead of a requirement for all equines in England to be microchipped by 1 October, agencies are coming together to educate owners. H&H speaks to Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire County Council trading standards and World Horse Welfare about recent efforts...

Joint efforts to tackle concerns over horse identification ahead of new microchip legislation have been hailed a success as agencies aim to send out a strong message to owners.

Nottinghamshire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary and trading standards from both counties carried out microchip checks on horses across multiple locations on 14 February. Of 61 horses scanned, 20 had chips. The operation was held ahead of legislation requiring all equines in England to be microchipped, which comes into force on 1 October.

PC Sarah Murdoch, of Nottinghamshire Police, told H&H the day was planned following concerns raised by the public and a spate of unchipped horses being dumped in 2019.

“The aim was to provide advice and gauge who was compliant with the legislation already,” she said. “We wanted to send the message that we are doing these checks, and will continue to do them so you need to toe the line, and if your horse isn’t microchipped you must comply by October.”

PC Murdoch, who runs the Nottinghamshire Police Horse Watch, said the day was a success – with more planned before and after 1 October – but added the number of chipped horses was “surprisingly” low.

“The legislation can be quite confusing, and I accept that,” she said. “For horses without microchips owners have been sent letters of advice, or a note was left on the field or yard entrance explaining the requirements to make them absolutely clear.”

The current legislation in England states that equines born after 30 June 2009 must already be microchipped, but those of all ages must be chipped as of 1 October.

“The operation also gave us an opportunity to visit areas where we have taken photographs of horses, including distinguishing markings, so should a horse turn up dumped or fly-grazed, we have a database against which we can cross-reference. We know there are thousands of horses in the area, but it’s a starting point.”

James Delaney of Nottinghamshire County Council trading standards told H&H the department is intelligence-led and relies on the public raising concerns about horses.

“We can’t act on everything, but we record it and when it comes to planning days of action we will use the information to prioritise areas to visit,” he said.

“In order to effectively enforce the legislation we have to look at it from a multi-agency perspective. We want to discourage the wider practices of dumping horses and fly-grazing, and by tightening the grip on identification we hope to see an impact there.”

World Horse Welfare deputy chief executive Tony Tyler told H&H the charity “applauds” the joint approach and proactivity.

“We urge other agencies to follow their example. No law is worth the paper it’s printed on unless it is enforced, and enforcement can send a very strong message,” he said.

“We have a real opportunity for an effective system of equine identification but we won’t see the benefits unless everyone does their bit, including owners and enforcement agencies.”

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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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Owners who do not microchip horses, ponies and donkeys in England by October 2020 could be fined £200, Defra has announced.

A law requiring owners to ensure equines are chipped has been introduced today (25 June), to “prevent abuse and improve welfare”.

Previously, only those equines born since July 2009 had to be chipped, but the new law comes into force in October 2020, allowing owners of older horses time to comply.

“The government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare and it is completely unacceptable that hundreds of horses and ponies are left abandoned every year by irresponsible owners,” said animal welfare minister Lord Gardiner.

“That is why we have today laid new regulations in parliament requiring horses to be microchipped. This will bolster the ability of local authorities and police to identify abandoned animals, ensuring these beautiful creatures receive the care they deserve and that those who mistreat them will face the consequences.”

Once the law is in force, the Central Equine Database will enable local authorities and police to track down the owners of dumped horses and “make sure they are punished and the animals given the care they deserve”.

Owners of non-microchipped equines could face local authority sanctions including compliance notices or, as a “last resort”, fines of up to £200.

Defra believes the move will also mean lost and stolen horses can be reunited with owners more easily.

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“We are working closely with vets and the British Horse Council to highlight the change in regulations, explaining that horse owners have until October 2020 to make sure that all horses are microchipped,” said a Defra spokesman.

“This extra time will allow horse owners to combine microchipping with a routine visit to, or from, their vet with the procedure costing around £25-30.”

H&H reported in April that the law was to be introduced.

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A new “Snip n’ Chip” programme — offering reduced-cost gelding and micro-chipping — has been introduced in Dublin to help tackle the growing horse crisis.

Thousands of horses are being neglected, dumped and in some cases left to starve due to overbreeding.

Dublin SPCA (DSPCA) is running the scheme. Horses will be collected and taken to University College Dublin for the procedure costing €100 (£79), which would usually cost around €250 (£156).

The plan has been in action only for a couple of weeks but a DSPCA spokesman told H&H they had already had some uptake on it.

“We are hoping it will go some way towards alleviating the overpopulation of unwanted horses in Dublin, but it will be a while before we will see the results,” she said.

“Each uncastrated and stray stallion can be responsible for fathering many foals over their lifetimes and this has to stop.”

In Britain, in an attempt to overcome the problem, the British Horse Society (BHS) runs a castration scheme, which has held a number of clinics this year.

“Providing subsidised castrations, micro-chipping and health checks has made such a difference to our work in tackling the UK horse crisis and we look forward to expanding the scheme further in 2015,” said the BHS’ Lee Hackett.

In July the RSPCA joined forces with the police, council and vets to hold an action day in Derbyshire to promote responsible ownership.

For a donation of £20, owners brought horses to have a health check by an specialist equine vet, micro-chipping, a passport application, worming and assistance with future castration.

A spokesman told H&H more days are planned.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (6 November 2014).

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A new Europe-wide equine database is to be introduced by 2016 to try and prevent a repeat of last year’s horsemeat scandal.

The European Union (EU) Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health announced the changes earlier this month (12 September), which means that every foal will have to be issued with a single passport and unique identification number before its first birthday.

Under the new regulations all horses born after 1 July 2009 will have to be microchipped so their records can be checked and updated and serve as a passport.

It will be compulsory for this information to be stored on a centralised database for all EU member states.

The regulation will apply from 1 January 2016. However, EU countries that do not already have a centralised database will have until 1 July 2016 to put one in place.

Currently 25 out of the 28 member states have a database, but the UK does not — following the closure of the National Equine Database in 2012 due to lack of government funding.

Last year’s horsemeat scandal highlighted the failure of current regulations, leading to the industry calling for a review of the “broken passport system”.

EU commissioner in charge of health Tonio Borg said: “As promised, this is another lesson drawn from last year’s horsemeat fraud: the rules endorsed by the member states will strengthen the horse passport system in place.

“I believe that closer co-operation will enhance the safeguards which prevent non-food quality horsemeat ending up on our plates.”

Equine charities welcomed the move, having been campaigning for tougher regulations to improve horse welfare (news, 16 January).

“Horses in the UK will especially benefit from these tougher laws as the UK’s system of equine identification could arguably be said to be one of the most complex, and abused, systems in Europe,” said World Horse Welfare’s Roly Owers.

Currently there are more than 75 passport issuing organisations, yet no central database in the UK.

“We have always been clear that a central database is a fundamental element in building a system that is more workable and enforceable, which can better protect our horses,” Mr Owers added.

Potential pitfalls

Although this move has been seen as a huge step forward, concerns have been raised as to whether these new rules can be effectively introduced and policed.

Two previous equine databases have already failed in the UK.

In 2001 the British Equine Database — which recorded data for sport horse breeding — closed after eight years when British Showjumping withdrew from the scheme.

The National Equine Database (NED) was launched in 2008 but folded in 2012 after Defra withdrew funding saying that it was “not effective”, a measure that was slammed by vets and welfare groups (news, 23 August 2012).

Industry professionals are also worried whether the new measures can be practically introduced.

H&H veterinary consultant Karen Coumbe said: “As an equine vet in practice, I still come across horses and ponies with no passports, as well as those with multiple passports and variable numbers of microchips, some of which are registered and some not.

“The current situation is a mess and I totally agree that every effort needs to be made to improve this. Unfortunately, realistically it is going to be an enormous challenge to do so.”

Equine charities have also warned that the new rules will only work if they can be enforced.

“The new regulations will help, but they alone will not solve the problem. A law is only effective if it is enforced, and this is especially true for identification,” said the Horse Trust’s Jeanette Allen, who is also a member of the Equine Sector Council, which has been campaigning for the tightening of regulations for years.

“The government must support better enforcement, which has been a low priority.”

The root of the problem

An independent government report into the horsemeat scandal by Professor Chris Elliott was published earlier this month (4 September) and stated that “urgent and comprehensive changes” to the way the UK food system is policed are needed to “protect consumers from serious organised crime”.

However, there is a fear that appropriate funds have not been allocated in order to achieve this.

“A lot will depend on what happens at the next election,” a source close to the enquiry told H&H.

“There is no money available so any action that the government takes will have to be paid for by taking money from another project.

“There is an appetite to deal with it but the government is hamstrung as they don’t have the money to pay for it.”

There is also concern from the industry that while supermarkets continue to drive down prices, due to consumer demand, food fraud is more likely to happen.

Much of the meat that was found to be contaminated during last year’s scandal was in low cost “value” products. One of the contaminated ready meal lasagnes cost just £1.60.

Low priced beef products are still available from all major supermarkets. Iceland sells eight British beef burgers for £1.50 while Asda’s cheapest 300g lasagne is 71p.

“There is no sign of the price war ending,” the source told H&H. “With Tesco’s recent drop in profits it is looking to make more and more price promises.

“Ultimately in order to achieve this they will have to take a hit on their margin or ask suppliers to pick up the tab.

“With margins being squeezed throughout the supply chain the temptation to cut corners is always going to be there.”

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 25 September 2014

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Paralympic gold medallist Natasha Baker is calling for authorities to tighten up on microchipping enforcement after the body of an unregistered horse was found in a river in her neighbourhood.

A passer-by raised the alarm after spotting a dead Welsh cob in Frays River, Uxbridge on 10 March. The mare was pulled out of the river by some horsey locals, who asked not to be named.

As the horse was not microchipped, the owner has not been identified and local authorities were unsure whose responsibility it was to remove the horse. The body was eventually removed the following day by a fallen stock company at the request of Hillingdon Council.

The mare, who was severely underweight, had her hooves tied together. The lady who pulled her from the water believes she was “dragged in”. However, the RSPCA said: “There is no evidence to explain how the horse ended up here and whether the animal slipped or had some kind of accident”.

Natasha told H&H that the incident just 5mins from her yard was “a massive shock”.

“I was in the US at the time, but I saw it on Facebook,” she said. “It’s disgusting. It’s not a horsey area, so you really don’t expect this kind of thing.

“It touches your heart to see an animal treated like that, even if you’re not horsey. We have to campaign for the microchipping law to be enforced so that we can find owners like this and have them prosecuted.”

There is a peaceful protest planned in Parliament Square on 16 April to campaign for better enforcement of the microchipping law.

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A herd of homeless ponies has been rounded up after being found wandering through Oxfordshire farmland.

The RSPCA is now appealing for help to track down the ponies’ owner. They are not microchipped.

The group of 5 mares, thought to range in age from 5 to 12, was discovered loose in Burford last week (11 March). Farmers had managed to herd them into a fallow field, but the dry-stone walling was low and the ponies could have escaped on to the roads.

The RSPCA and Blue Cross caught the ponies and they are now in veterinary care.

“Thames Valley Police seized them and signed them over to the RSPCA’s care,” said inspector Doug Davidson. “The vet found that 2 of them were lame, 1 severely, and another was severely emaciated.”

If no owner is found within 21 days, the ponies will be put up for rehoming.

“I would really like to speak to the owner of these ponies, [or] anyone who recognises them or knows who owns them,” said Inspector Davidson. “Sadly this sort of incident is not uncommon. The country is in the grip of a horse crisis with horses regularly being dumped dead or dying, and charities have to pick up the pieces.”

Anyone with information should contact tel: 0300 1238018

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Equine passports were supposed to ensure that no horse signed out of the food chain entered it again. But last year’s horse meat scandal — and the discovery of bute in “beef” products — exposed the flaws in that system.

The European Union now wants the passport system tightened up. It has told member states that they must introduce compulsory equine databases later this year.

In the UK, those involved with the successor to the National Equine Database (NED) — the second such database to fail in Britain, folding in 2012 after Defra withdrew funding — are adamant that this new model will only work if every single equine in the UK is microchipped.

“It will bring much-needed integrity to the system — and is the key to making any new EU laws on identification enforceable,” said Jan Rogers of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).

Thousands of horses unregistered

Just before Christmas, members of the Equine Sector Council — which includes leading vets, industry figures and welfare agencies — raised the issue with Defra minister Lord de Mauley.

A Defra spokesman confirmed they have asked Brussels to include measures in the legislation to allow member states to adopt retrospective microchipping, should they wish to.

Under EU regulations, all equines foaled since 2009 and older horses registered for the first time must be chipped. Racehorses and those newly registered with the FEI and British Showjumping (BS) must also be chipped.

“But this leaves a huge percentage of the horse population unregistered,” said British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) chief executive David Mountford.

Mr Mountford told H&H that he also wants to see a controlled supply of microchips, with “a centralised record of which batch has gone where”.

Last year, H&H revealed that DIY microchips were widely available to buy online. In the UK, only a vet may legally chip a horse.

Effective regulation

H&H asked its reader panel if they supported retrospective microchipping . More than 50 people responded, with the majority saying they did. But many pointed out that, unless the measure was enforced, it would be as toothless as current passport and microchipping legislation.

“If you can’t police the current scheme effectively, there is little point in trying to extend it,” said H&H reader Lucy Moreton. “Of the thousands of animals fly-grazing in the UK, I very much doubt many are microchipped.”

Current legislation does “have pretty low credibility”, said Roly Owers of World Horse Welfare.

“You can have the best regulation in the world, but if it’s not enforced then it is as good as useless,” he pointed out.

Currently, owners who fail to passport and microchip their animals have to be pursued through the courts, which is costly and long-winded. But Defra is exploring whether they could be served with on-the-spot fines instead, by as-yet unidentified enforcers.

Reducing costs

Vets charge an average of £20-30 to chip a horse, plus call-out fee. Both Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and some large riding schools contacted by H&H said that, while they backed retrospective microchipping, they had concerns about the cost.

“Many of our groups own a number of horses and ponies,” said RDA chief executive Ed Bracher. “Ideally ,we’d like to see some support made available to help us and other equine charities comply.”

Martine Dawlings of Trent Park Equestrian Centre in north London — which has 130 horses — asked if competent people could be trained up to do the microchipping, to reduce costs.

Jan Rogers of the BEF, who is closely involved with the new database, agreed that help must be made available.

“As an industry, we need to come up with some creative solutions as to how this can be made affordable for horse owners,” she told H&H.

Members of the Equine Sector Council also suggest a two-year grace period, to allow people time to get their horses chipped and make the new rules more palatable.

This is essential, say those involved with the new regulations, to ensure a a workable — and watertight — system.

“A year after the horse meat revelations, we are keen to keep the pressure on — to ensure that some good comes out of the scandal,” said Roly Owers.

This story originally appeared in H&H in 16 January 2014 issue. 

For several years now, all horses in the UK have had to be microchipped by law, except for a few special exemptions.

But how safe and reliable is this system? Should we be worried about injecting a permanent solid object, however small, into the necks of our horses? Do the chips cause any tissue reaction, or do they irritate?

In an attempt to answer these questions, vets in Austria and Germany studied the tissue immediately surrounding the microchip in horses undergoing post-mortem examination for unrelated reasons.

Microscopic examination revealed that the chips were well tolerated, whether they were implanted into fat, muscle or neck ligament, with most horses showing no adverse reactions. The horse’s body produced a thin, fibrous capsule to surround the chip, with no sign of inflammation.

The team then tested the accuracy of the system in identifying 428 horses of all types, ranging from ponies to large draught breeds.

Provided the chips conformed to international standards, they responded as they should. But significant variation was detected in the ability of the scanners to read them. As might be expected, the bigger, more expensive scanners easily outperformed the smaller, cheaper ones.

The vets concluded that microchips are safe, reliable and painless. Where one scanner suggests that a horse is not chipped, however, they recommended trying another before a chip is inserted.

British vets are condemning the sale of DIY microchips online because they flout Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) regulations.

Following pressure from the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the RCVS last week, Amazon removed its £3.99 Animal Guard pet microchip — which is marketed to be syringed into dogs, cat, birds and horses.

But there are still DIY microchips available through other online shopping websites, such as eBay.

Keith Chandler, president of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), said that microchipping horses is a potentially dangerous procedure. It contravenes veterinary legislation if carried out by non-professionals.

“With dogs and cats the microchip goes under the skin, but with horses DIY insertion can go very wrong — risking abscesses or infection.

“It has to be inserted directly into the nuchal ligament [thick connective tissue running along upper part of spine].”

The RCVS confirmed that it had received complaints from the public and vets.

“The sale of the product itself might not be illegal, but we are concerned that it is being advertised as a ‘do-it-yourself’ product and have written to the listed seller to express our concerns and remind them of the legislative position in the UK,” said Ian Holloway of the RCVS.

Insertion of a microchip into a horse is an act of veterinary surgery, protected under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (4 July 2013)

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Drop-in events where horses are issued with passports and microchipped in an attempt to combat fly-grazing have been hailed a success by some welfare agencies.

But others are questioning their efficacy.

H&H reported in March that fly-grazing had become an “epidemic” in south Wales. In May, equine lawyers said they were receiving an increased number of calls on the issue.

Many of the animals are owned by travellers.

The British Horse Society (BHS) has been running microchipping and passporting sessions for about two years. Head of welfare Lee Hackett said they “definitely had an impact” on fly-grazing and abandonment, although he could not provide any statistics.

David Collier, chief rural affairs adviser at the National Farmers’ Union, has surveyed his members, who say that fly-grazing has worsened in the past three years.

“Whether it [a drop-in session] will reach the people who really need to be reached, I don’t know,” he said.

Nicola Markwell from the charity Redwings shared his reservations. She said the microchipping scheme relied on “responsible owners coming forward and those who fly-graze are not responsible”.

World Horse Welfare ran a session with Buckinghamshire County Council on 6 October, chipping around 40 horses.

The charity’s field officer Nick White said the events helped to discourage fly-grazing.

“They save police time identifying loose horses,” he added.

Equine lawyer Sarah Jordan of Clarke Willmott solicitors has proposed a more radical solution. She is calling for a change in the law to allow landowners to passport and sell dumped horses.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (18 October 2012)

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All hound puppies born in England and Wales will be microchipped from next year, ahead of what the Hunting Office believes is an imminent change in the law.

With the Welsh Assembly expected to make the microchipping of dogs compulsory – and Westminster likely to follow suit – the new chairman of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA), Tim Easby, says hunts are getting “ahead of the game“.

“What is happening in Wales is really aimed at puppy farming, but of course there is a spin-off for everybody else,” said Mr Easby.

And earlier this year, environment minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach hinted that the government could make microchipping compulsory in England, to encourage “responsible dog ownership“.

Mr Easby said it was important that hunt kennels were ready for the change.

“All puppies born from 2013 onwards will be microchipped,” he said. “I am hoping to link up with a company that will provide the training [for hunt staff to microchip] and the equipment.”

With more than 2,500 foxhound puppies born each year – plus harriers and beagles – chipping the young entry will be a considerable task.

But Zetland huntsman David Jukes, who hosted a recent demonstration at his kennels (pictured above), said the procedure was “very simple”.

“It is just like giving a jab to a hound,” he added.

“It’s inevitable this will come in so it’s good that the old hunting world is getting there first.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (14 June 2012)

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The number of loose and fly-grazing horses is soaring in South Wales, resulting in 500 calls to police in January, compared with around 24 a month in 2011.

Huge numbers of animals are owned by travellers in the area – including one man whom a local welfare charity estimates owns as many as 2,700 coloured cobs.

Equine charities have taken in horses from the Cardiff and Bridgend areas this winter.

“The local authorities have a massive problem,” said Nic de Brauwere of the charity Redwings and chairman of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC).

“They approached Redwings for help training their officers in animal handling and that led to us removing around 150 horses from the area.

“We have had to beg places at NEWC member charities, placing them under tremendous pressure.”

Over past months in South Wales, horses have strayed on to the M4 at Pencoed and been released on to Woodland Trust and local authority owned land – including a school’s grounds.

And Redwings is caring for 23 ponies that were fly-grazing land near Cardiff airport.

Mr de Brauwere said the problem is exacerbated by the poor economic climate, as well as high feed and fuel costs.

“We are dealing with one or two owners who own hundreds of horses apiece,” he explained.

“That is not illegal, but if they have not planned for a rainy day, they cannot afford to look after such numbers and they could end up dumped.”

The only way to crack down on fly-grazing is to enforce the microchipping regulations, says Jenny McGregor of the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies in St Maughans, Monmouthshire.

Large numbers of youngstock still have no microchips and, if they are dumped, it is impossible to prove who is responsible.

Since June 2009, it has been a European legal requirement that foals and newly passported horses are chipped – but there is little enforcement.

Equestrian groups petitioned the Welsh National Assembly last November about the issue.

An assembly spokesman said: “The petition is being considered. If we decide that microchipping laws do need to be enforced more rigorously, we will refer the matter to the [Welsh] Government.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 March 2012)

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Hunt staff say they are ready to switch from identifying hounds by ear tattoos to microchipping if required to do so by law.

The issue of microchipping has been in the news after a minister hinted that the Government may make it compulsory to help encourage “responsible dog ownership“.

In response to a question in the House of Lords (8 February), environment minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach told peers a “package of measures” would be announced soon.

He suggested microchips could be “part of the strategy”.

Tim Bonner of the Hunting Office told H&H they had been monitoring moves towards compulsory microchipping in Westminster and the Welsh Assembly and were prepared if legislation was passed.

“Moving from tattoo-based ear marking to microchipping hounds will not be difficult,” he said.

“There are practical advantages, as tattoos can become illegible after a few years and there is no link to a national register if a hound is lost.

“The critical issue is cost, but once hunt staff have been trained to carry out the procedure, the price of a chip will be just a few pounds,” he added.

The Labour government came out in favour of compulsory microchipping shortly before the 2010 election and the coalition has been considering whether to take it forward.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (23 February 2012)

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A new rule that makes microchipping compulsory for horses newly registered with British Showjumping (BS) has been criticised by some members as an “unnecessary expense”.

The rule – effective from 1 April – does not apply to horses jumping in BS club competitions (who compete for points, not prize-money) or those that are already registered with BS.

But critics say the decision will affect those who want to jump older horses at the lower levels, as most young horses are now chipped as a matter of course.

Robert J Twiddy, director of Sports Horse World – which breeds KWPNs – told H&H the change was “not needed”.

“I have no problem with microchipping if it were dedicated to grade As competing for the larger prize-money,” he said.

“What I object to is retrospectively asking us to microchip a 13-year-old horse who is jumped for pleasure at the lower levels.”

Mr Twiddy – who had been planning to reregister his horses with BS – believes the cost will cause a “backlash” from owners who have several horses.

“At £50 per horse, this runs into a great expense on top of what are becoming expensive BS fees,” he added.

BS members have also claimed that the amendment was “buried” in the rulebook. Others have said they will jump on a day ticket rather than reregister.

But BS chief executive Iain Graham defended the decision, saying it was an “identification” issue.

“It helps us and the members know that the horse in the ring is the horse that is registered,” he said.

BS stewards will carry out spot checks with scanners at shows throughout the year.

Mr Graham added that no one who wanted to jump affiliated should be deterred by the cost of microchipping.

“We are running chipping and vaccination days [flu vaccinations are compulsory for all BS horses from 1 April] around the country.

“People can bring horses to central venues so there’s no vet’s call-out fee,” he added.

Although British Dressage (BD) and British Eventing (BE) have confirmed to H&H that they do not plan to make microchipping compulsory this season, the issue is clearly on their radar.

BE says it expects to hold discussions “this year” to consider whether its rules need to be amended, while a BD spokesman said the rule “would come in eventually”.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (26 January 2012)

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Thirty-four more travellers’ ponies have passports and microchips after a day-long welfare event in Harlow on 6 July.

The RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, Redwings, the Ada Cole Rescue Centre and the British Horse Society, joined forces with Harlow Council and veterinary drugs company Merial to target travellers’ horses in the Essex town.

Owners of horses tethered on common land at Latton Common, Harlow Common and Collins Meadow were invited to get their animals passported, wormed and microchipped and were advised how to ensure they complied with the Animal Welfare Act.

RSPCA inspector Stephen Reeves said: “The way the majority of owners tether and look after their horses here is acceptable.”

But of the 36 horses and ponies found in Harlow, only two had passports and one was chipped.

Claire Gordon, World Horse Welfare field officer for the area, said travellers’ ponies sometimes “slipped through the net”.

Harlow Council insists all horses on council land are chipped or wear a tag so owners can be identified. It hopes to repeat the scheme.

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A welfare charity is hoping to lessen the burden on its finances by encouraging breeders and owners to microchip their pones.

The Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies (SWHP) launched a campaign at the start of this month to tighten the implementation of microchipping laws.

Although it has been a legal requirement for all foals born after July 2009 to be microchipped — and for every horse to hold an equine passport — many owners are failing to comply with these laws.

As a result, the Monmouthshire-based charity has been faced with the task of caring for large numbers of neglected and abandoned equines, whose owners cannot be formally identified. So the SWHP is calling on the Welsh government for help. A petition has been set up which already has more than 100 signatures.

“It’s been a particularly bad winter because of the financial climate, the severe weather and hay shortages,” says Sian Lloyd, a trustee of the charity. “We’ve found 70 horses abandoned in a field and groups of ponies running down the motorway, whose owners cannot be prosecuted.

“It’s a legal requirement to have a passport and for foals to be microchipped, but this doesn’t seem to be implemented.”

Monmouthshire Assembly member Nick Ramsay is supporting the campaign and bringing to justice those that flout the microchipping rules.

“I hadn’t realised the scale of the problem with the less scrupulous owners getting away with it without being prosecuted,” he said. “It leaves places like SWHP caring for these neglected animals and footing the bill.”

The petition runs until the end of September. Visit: www.swhp.co.uk/petition-june-2011

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Microchips could soon be compulsory for all new horses registered with the FEI.

Microchipping is now mandatory for all equines born after 1 July 2009 under Europe-wide regulations — and has been compulsory for foals in the thoroughbred industry since 1999.

But this is the first time specific legislation has been proposed for sport horses.

FEI veterinary director Graeme Cooke said: “Microchipping is the European Union’s preferred method of identification as it is the most reliable and tamper-proof.

“Being able to prove a horse’s identification beyond all doubt will allow for a more efficient passage [between countries], which, in turn, will benefit horse welfare.”

A timeline for the proposal is yet to be announced. Once chipped, all horses taking part in FEI competitions would be linked to a central database.

It is hoped that this database will prove crucial in enforcing the new regulations, although full details on this work are yet to be revealed.

Though the move will affect professional showjumpers and dressage riders who compete internationally, it is likely to have a greater impact on event riders, as many who compete at the lowest international level — CIC/CCI* — are amateurs.

Kylie Roddy, who produces young horses and competes regularly at the lower levels, said: “I think it’s a good idea in theory, but in practice it could be tricky to implement.

“Some of my older eventers aren’t microchipped,” she added. “I’ve even had horses in my yard who have come over from Ireland with two microchips — one from Ireland and one from Holland, where they were bred.”

Emma Harris, who aims to compete at CIC* this year, added: “Although microchipping is not particularly expensive [the fee is usually between £15-£25 excluding veterinary call-out charges], it is still an added cost and an inconvenience if you have an older horse who wasn’t microchipped as a foal.”

The proposal was discussed at the FEI bureau meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, earlier this month and will now be put to the 2011 general assembly in November for approval.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (26 May, 2011)

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A scheme to passport and microchip the hundreds of ponies and horses grazing illegally in Co Durham is proving a hit with the travelling community.

Initially focusing on the Bishop Auckland area, the joint initiative by Durham County Council, Durham Constabulary, the RSPCA and British Horse Society (BHS) is offering cut-price chipping and passporting on two days in January.

And places have been snapped up by the urban horse-owning community.

BHS officer for the area Wendy Suddes said: “We have such a big problem with straying horses that something has to be done.

“We are trying to be proactive — they are mostly travellers’ horses and many of them have no passport or chip.”

The passport and microchipping days will be held on 14 January at Bishop Auckland Fire Station and on 21 January at the town’s rugby club and the 25 places on the first session have already been snapped up.

The council and police are also running a scheme to capture and impound stray horses in the town.

Local police are called out approximately 300 times a year to remove horses from the public highways.

Inspector Martin Peace, of the neighbourhood policing team, said: “The problem of loose horses on the highway presents a real danger and has gone on for far too long.

“This initiative aims to make irresponsible owners realise that if they graze their horses illegally we will impound them, making it expensive to get them back.”

A private firm of livestock handlers will remove the horses.

Charges depend on how long horses are impounded, but will run into hundreds of pounds.

Asked whether the high charges would discourage people from claiming their horses, Ms Suddes added: “The problem in Bishop Auckland is particularly serious — at least 50 horses were killed by cars this year.

“Horses are already being abandoned — we have to get them off the streets.”

For more information and to book a place, contact Wendy Suddes on 07808 141005.

This article was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound, 9 December 2010

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Commoners sending foals through the New Forest’s Beaulieu Road sales this autumn will have their ponies microchipped for free.

European legislation brought in last year makes it compulsory for semi-feral ponies to be microchipped and passported before they are sold — which often costs more than their value.

New Forest verderer Colin Draper explained: “Foals usually sell for 30-150guineas, so if commoners had to pay £30 to chip each pony beforehand, plus a £10 entry [to the sale], it would not leave a lot of value in the ponies.”

Around £2,500 of a £1.6million-per-year Natural England 10-year grant made to the New Forest Verderers has been set aside for microchipping.

Most of the grant — made this March — will go to maintaining and restoring the forest as well as payments to commoners.

The £2,500 has been used to buy a mobile microchipping unit and foals will come out of the ring to a vet, be chipped and their paperwork finished before going to new owners at the sales on 23 September, 21 October and 25 November.

“It is specifically for this year’s foals — who will be between four and six months old,” added Mr Draper, who is expecting a considerably lower number of animals this year, between 50 to 100 foals, in each sale.

This was because due to the economic climate, only half the usual number of stallions were allowed to roam and the roam time was reduced to a month.

Commoner Jenny Tillyer will send a dozen foals to the sales and said free microchipping is an “excellent idea”.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 August, ’10)

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A recent case of two thoroughbreds found alive after they were recorded as dead on the Weatherbys database has highlighted the benefits of microchipping.

The RSPCA found Sauvage and County Hall — both by Saddlers’ Hall — together with four other horses at a property in Yorkshire in mid-July.

County Hall was recorded as dead in April 2007, while Weatherbys was notified about Sauvage’s “death” in January 2008.

The horses’ identities were revealed by their microchips — it has been a requirement for all registered thoroughbred foals to be chipped since 1999.

“Microchips have proved their worth in this instance,” said Paul Greeves from Weatherbys.

“After scanning the microchips we verified their parentage through DNA profiling — which reaffirmed their identity.

“It is not the first time a thoroughbred has been reported as dead when they are not, but it’s rare. There can, of course, be mistakes, but with microchips and the stringent rules now it is fortunately less likely.”

Di Arbuthnot from Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) added: “Microchips are hugely helpful. I very much hope that no similar cases come about, but at least we are now able to trace and identify them.

“RoR aims to prevent things from getting to this stage by giving racehorses a new life, so they won’t end up on a scrap heap.”

Who notified the horses as dead, and why, is unknown.

Although nine-year-old Sauvage, out of Gallic Honey, and seven-year-old County Hall, out of Awbeg Beauty, are both by the same sire, Mr Greeves believes this is coincidence as no other connections between the two have been established.

Neither horse had been registered as being in training and neither had raced.

The pair have now been issued with duplicate passports and are in east Yorkshire under the care of the RSPCA.

A spokesman for the RSPCA declined to comment due to ongoing investigations.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (27 August, ’09)

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Defra has clarified that any foal born before 1 July that does not already have a passport will need microchipping, under the new passport regulations imposed on 1 August.

H&H has received a number of queries from breeders wanting to know whether the regulations apply to foals born in 2009 before 1 July, as the legislation was unclear.

Jane Howells, a sport horse breeder from Chester, said the wording on Defra’s website changed overnight about 10 days ago from “all foals born” after 1 July 2009 must have a microchip implanted by a vet when first identified to “all foals” must have a microchip when first identified.

“It has cost me two vet call outs — I had the passports and identification done for three foals but hadn’t sent them off until recently,” she said.

“Because I submitted my applications after 1 July, they have been sent back as the foals have to be microchipped.”

A spokesman for Defra said foals born and passported before 30 June do not need to be microchipped, but that “all other equidea will need a chip when identified after that date”.

H&H also received enquiries about the possibility of carrying photocopies of a horse’s passport rather than the original. But the spokesman said a photocopy is insufficient.

He explained: “This is to prevent fraudulent abuse of the regulations, where different riders could carry photocopies of the same passport.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (20 August, ’09)

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Welsh hill pony farmers will receive an exemption or “derogation” from changes to EU horse passport legislation that require every foal and horse applying for a new passport to be microchipped.

Rural affairs minister Elin Jones announced on Friday, 17 July, that she will exercise a derogation in the EC regulation that came in on 1 July, to “allow defined groups of semi-feral ponies in specific geographic areas of Wales to remain in designated areas without either a passport or a microchip”.

She said: “Welsh hill ponies are a vital part of the Welsh countryside. The management procedures in place are necessary to meet the conditions of the derogation and provide assurances in respect of welfare and traceability.”

The exemption applies to two organisations — the Hill Pony Improvement Societies of Wales (HPISW), covering 26 individual pony improvement societies responsible for semi-feral Welsh mountain ponies on 23 hills and commons across mid and south Wales, and Cymdeithas Merlod y Carneddau, responsible for the semi-feral ponies that graze on the Carneddau Range in north Wales.

HPISW secretary Colin Thomas said: “The granting of this derogation from microchipping is a huge boost to the hill breeders and will safeguard the survival of the semi-feral native breed of Wales.

“Without the exemption, I am sure semi-feral hill ponies would have been in serious jeopardy.”

Derogations were obtained by Defra for ponies on Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest (news, 25 June), and in Scotland for semi-feral ponies.

All other horses in the UK must have a passport and linked microchip.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (23 July, ’09)

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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 case of a rider who bought a horse believing it had just two previous owners, only to find out there had been three more and that it appeared to have been sold on because of bad behaviour, highlights the need to introduce microchipping, say experts.

From 1 July, all foals will have to be microchipped by the time they are six months old. From that date, adult horses will also require a microchip with any new passport application.

Lynne Goalby, of Coven Heath in Staffordshire, paid £5,250 for an eight-year-old 15.2hh grey mare, called Monday, in June 2007, in a private sale.

The horse was advertised as being “sane and sensible, vice-free and an ideal riding club/competition horse”.

Mrs Goalby said: “But as months passed, I realised I had bought an anxious and difficult horse.”

That December, Mrs Goalby started proceedings in Wolverhampton County Court against the sellers. And last September, the case was settled out of court, with the previous owners agreeing to repay Mrs Goalby £5,000, settle all legal costs and her rehoming the horse as a broodmare.

But during the intervening months, Mrs Goalby uncovered the truth from passport issuers Wetherby’s — Monday had had five previous owners in just two and a half years.

She said: “The sellers told me her passport was lost in a house move and a new one obtained with only their name on it.

“After contacting her other previous owners, I discovered Monday had a history of unpredictable bucking and anxious, dangerous behaviour. Had I known this, I would never have bought her.”

Brian Horsfield, whose wife, Sharon, sold Monday to Mrs Goalby, did not wish to comment on Mrs Goalby’s claims.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (14 May, ’09)

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Hot branding of horses is “painful and unacceptable” and should be phased out, a group of top equine vets has advised the government.

The vets say the introduction of compulsory microchipping in July affords an opportunity to cease hot branding.

As part of Defra’s consultation on compulsory microchipping, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has called for hot branding to be outlawed.

It says branding will be unnecessary when a Europe-wide regulation requiring the microchipping of horses applying for new passports, becomes law.

BEVA chairman Chris House said: “We believe branding is done more for tradition than identification. Having seen videos of branding sessions, I believe it is not very suitable.”

Hot branding is used by the Exmoor Pony Society and a number of British warmblood studbooks, as well on ponies on Exmoor, Dartmoor, the Welsh mountains and the New Forest.

Under the EU legislation, Defra can make a derogation for semi-feral ponies, so they need not be microchipped until they are sold on. A number of societies and groups have applied for this exemption.

Gill Wright, chairman of the New Forest Pony Society, added: “Eighty per cent of our ponies are totally wild and cannot be caught. Microchipping them would be impossible and pointless.”

But she said a brand was a necessity to identify the ponies and denied that it was cruel.

The Exmoor Pony Society declined to comment, as did the Snowdonia Society, which speaks for Welsh hill farmers in the national park.

The British Hanoverian Society (BHHS) has applied for a derogation, claiming its horses do not need to be microchipped as they already have a unique identifying mark — their brand.

BHHS secretary John Shenfield said they brand 150 to 250 foals annually.

He said: “Branding causes momentary pain, but we believe it to be on the same level as that caused by microchipping.”

BEVA’s recommendation is under consideration, a Defra spokesman said, adding that the government believes microchipping offers better identification than branding.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons believes hot branding of wild and semi-feral ponies is acceptable for identification, but domestic horses should not be branded.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (7 May, ’09)

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The UK’s semi-feral pony societies have given the thumbs-down to legislation that means all foals born this year must be microchipped.

From 1 July, foals must be microchipped by the 31 December following their birth, or within six months of birth — whichever is later — to fit in with EU regulations.

But the move is unpopular with those responsible for ponies living wild on Exmoor,Dartmoor, the Welsh mountains and the New Forest.

Sue Westwood, secretary to the New Forest Verderers, said while they hoped to gain a special dispensation for ponies not to be chipped until they leave the forest, they feel the new regulation may lead to welfare problems.

“If you are selling a £3,000 animal, you won’t worry about paying an additional £70 to get it microchipped, but for a foal that sells for £50 to £100 off the forest, it’s too much,” she said.

“And if vets cannot treat a foal unless it is chipped, owners won’t call them out.”

Her opinion was echoed by Valerie Sherwin, who runs the Moorland Mousie Trust, a charity set up to preserve and promote the Exmoor pony.

She said: “I can’t see what good it’s going to do from an identification point of view. You can’t read the chips unless you get right up to the pony and, bearing in mind these are wild animals, the only time that will happen is when they are rounded up in the autumn.

“If a pony is involved in a road accident the first thing we need to know is what its [brand] number is, so the ponies will have to be branded as well.”

She added the system would be difficult to police and some owners may be tempted to ignore the regulation.

And MP Roger Williams, speaking for Welsh pony breeders, said: “The new regulations could have a significant financial impact and result in the loss of ponies from Welsh hillsides and mountains.”

A Defra spokesman told H&H: “The consultation period closes on 2 February. The draft legislation already contains derogations for ponies in the New Forest and on Dartmoor, so it may not be the case that all animals must be microchipped. Organisations involved in looking after semi-feral herds are encouraged to comment on the draft legislation.

“Microchipping provides an essential link between a horse and its passport and strengthens existing horse identification requirements. It may also prove useful for disease control and surveillance purposes and for the recovery of stolen horses.”

To view the consultation document, go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/equine-id/index.htm

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (8 January, ’09)

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All horses and ponies applying for a Joint Measurement Board (JMB) height certificate from January must be microchipped as part of a bid to crack down on cheating in the ring.

Howard Robinson, who runs the JMB, said that from 1 January unchipped animals put forward for measuring will be chipped on the spot.

“We have had cases this year where we had to revoke certificates due to concerns over the identification of horses,” said Mr Robinson (news, 9 October).

“There is no way to gauge how widespread the practice of ‘recycling’ horses [where a horse is presented for measurement under a new name] is within showing and show jumping.

“But this gives us another string to our bow to fight it. It will also help when horses are stolen and to ensure passports correspond to the correct horse, rather than relying solely on the silhouette.”

He said the JMB measures around 4,000 show jumpers and showing horses each year. JMB certificates are needed when horses compete in classes with a height criteria, for example a large hack showing class or the height classes in pony show jumping.

There has been mixed reaction to the news in the horseworld, with some groups concerned about the expense (approximately £25-£35).

Caroline Noakes, chief executive of the National Pony Society (NPS), said: “We welcome these proposals. The NPS was recently involved in a case where the JMB could not positively identify a pony [for its height certificate] — this will knock that sort of concern on the head once and for all.”

Jan Rogers, of the British Equestrian Federation’s equine development team said it was important that there was “a clear identification of horses throughout their careers”.

But the British Show Jumping Association said microchipping had been forced upon them without consultation.

A spokesman said: “It has come as a bolt from the blue. As much as we may understand the thought process behind microchipping, we are still surprised there have been no prior discussions, bearing in mind the compulsory financial impact this will have.”

And Linda Lodge, chairman of the British Skewbald and Piebald Society, said: “There are plenty of unaffiliated shows that do not need a height certificate and I can see more people choosing to go to those.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (4 December, ’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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Any equine foal born after 1 July 2009 will have to be microchipped, under European-wide regulations finally approved last week.

Industry experts agree that microchips are the most reliable and tamper-proof method of identification, the best means of authenticating horse passports and of ensuring the accuracy and success of the National Equine Database.

They will also help with tracing animals in the event of a disease outbreak and in the monitoring of medicines and drugs entering the food chain through horsemeat. On welfare grounds, they could lead to more prosecutions of horse dumping or neglect cases.

While microchipping has been compulsory for foals in the Thoroughbred breeding industry since 1999, proposals to introduce compulsory microchipping for all equines have been debated for years (see timeline), and have been warmly welcomed by the equestrian industry.

Josh Slater, senior vice-president of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), said the announcement was “the bit of news we’ve all been waiting for.

“We’ve said from the start that passports will only work alongside permanent identification.”

Jan Rogers, head of equine development for the British Equestrian Federation, said: “This will finally enable us to link equine data records, passports and horses. Breeders will bear the brunt of it, but they are very keen to be able to monitor and trace the horses they breed throughout their career.”

The British Horse Society has always supported compulsory microchipping.

Welfare executive Lee Hackett said: “It might seem like a big step, but it’s an important one, and will help deal with some of the problems people have been experiencing with passports.”

The regulations apply to foals of all equines —horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and so on. Older horses will not have to be microchipped. They also allow countries to approve an alternative permanent method of identification to the microchip where necessary.

Like passports, microchips cost £25-£35 each, and are inserted into the horse’s neck by a vet. Special passport exemptions already apply to feral ponies. Those living in the New Forest and on Dartmoor, for example, are not required to have a passport until they are sold on. It may be that this derogation might apply for microchipping, too.

A Defra spokesman said a full consultation will now be held with the horse industry to work out how the legislation can be best applied.

“A full consultation is important,” said the BEF’s Ms Rogers. “It is an added cost, but breeding a foal is an expensive business. Breeders will have to have the vet out anyway, so a microchip isn’t much more to do at the same time.”

BEVA’s Josh Slater agreed industry consultation was crucial, but said he “sincerely hoped” the regulations will be implemented on schedule.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (13 March, ’08)

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About 100 horses which pull taxi carriages along Blackpool promenade had microchips inserted into their necks by a vet on Monday (9 July) in a bid to help regulate their working hours.

The microchips, which cost around £4 each, were donated by the Blackpool branch of the RSPCA, while the vet costs were met by the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH).

RSPCA inspector Simon Small, who helped co-ordinate the venture, told H&H: “This is about good practice and responsible ownership in the 21st century. It will help to monitor how long the horses are worked, but it will also mean that no one can dispute their ownership.”

He added: “The idea came from the Blackpool beach donkeys which were all microchipped about four years ago. We just felt it was time to bring the landau horses into line with these.”

Blackpool council enforcement officers armed with electronic scanners will conduct random spot checks that will become more frequent during the main holiday season.

A spokesman for the council said: “A landau horse is restricted to 7hr per day with an hour for lunch. They cannot work before 9am or after 11pm.”

She added: “If those regulations are broken the handler will have to appear before the Public Protection Sub-Committee who will examine [the case] and could, in theory, revoke their licence.”

Mr Small said the plan was drawn up in consultation with Alison Metcalf, chairman of Blackpool Landau Owners Association, who was persuaded of the benefits. She told BBC News: “Most horses work one day on one day off and in the summer they only work for short periods at a time but this will help make sure they are not overworked.”

Last year the horses were fitted with “nappies” to prevent them leaving dung on the promenade.

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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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The government has been branded short-sighted by virtually every sector of the horse industry for its perceived about-face on mandatory microchipping.

Leaders from veterinary, welfare, breeding and racing circles, together with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), British Horse Society (BHS) and British Horse Industry Confederation (BHIC), last week expressed shock at DEFRA’s submission to the European Commission (EC) that “the UK does not support mandatory microchipping of all foals”.

All told H&H that the government had given no indication of its stance during a far-reaching consultation process seeking industry views on the proposed EU regulation that all foals born after 1 January 2007 must be microchipped.

The consensus prior to DEFRA’s 5 September electronic bulletin — which was overlooked by many — was that it was in full support.

“Hopefully the EC will ignore the UK government and go ahead with mandatory microchipping anyway,” said British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) president Chris Rea.

Microchipping was hailed during the consultation process as “the most reliable and tamper-proof method of identification”, the best means of authenticating horse passports and of ensuring the accuracy and success of the National Equine Database (NED).

It would also help with tracing animals in the event of a disease outbreak and in the monitoring of medicines and drugs entering the food chain through horsemeat. On welfare grounds, it could lead to more prosecutions of horse dumping or neglect cases.

Jo White, head of campaigns and European affairs at the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), described DEFRA’s “short-sighted” position as “a shot out of the dark”. She said the industry now found itself in the bizarre situation of having to lobby other EU member states on its behalf.

BHIC chairman Graham Cory agreed: “We need to consider making a response directly to the EC to say that we disagree with our government.”

In response, a DEFRA spokesman said: “We never came out and said we support compulsory microchipping and don’t know why people assume that to be the case. We see the benefits of microchipping for security and protection but in our view it should be voluntary and not compulsory.”

The EC is expected to deliver its verdict this autumn. DEFRA is seeking a delayed 2010 implementation date once the regulation is finalised.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now