Advances in technology promise to improve horse welfare and traceability as the equestrian world moves into the digital age.

Knowing where horses are and what happens to them throughout their lives has always been inseparable from equine welfare, and traceability is in the spotlight more than ever before. Brexit travel implications, the Covid pandemic and equine herpes virus (EHV) outbreaks, plus concerning allegations raised in Panorama (news, 29 July) have heightened awareness as to why traceability is key.

The FEI’s HorseApp, Weatherbys ePassport and EquiTrace are among the latest developments improving how horses’ movements and health are monitored from paper-based systems.

From this year, all thoroughbred foals born in Britain and Ireland will be issued with a Weatherbys ePassport. In a nutshell, this is a secure place to keep all legally required details. Its vaccination and horse location records were already in use, prior to the full official launch in July, to track breeding stock and support British and Irish authorities with their pandemic “return to racing” protocols.

Weatherbys chief executive Russell Ferris told H&H that the ePassport’s launch “couldn’t be more timely”.

“Equine welfare is quite rightly the priority for anyone involved with horses and the ePassport gives them the mechanism to manage everything relating to equine identification, health, welfare, movement and ownership through a simple-to-use single, secure platform,” he said.

“As if the welfare benefits brought by the Weatherbys ePassport were not enough, many in the equine world are also looking to the ePassport to ease European horse movement post-Brexit – particularly when it comes to interoperability between it and Government systems. As many in the equine world have said, the importance of the ePassport cannot be overstated.”

The FEI updated its HorseApp in April, to monitor horse health and movements and help with a safe return to sport following EHV-1 outbreaks. This means grooms, riders and owners can easily check horses in and out from venues and upload any other health information, as required.

“[The FEI HorseApp] is a key element in ensuring a safe return to competition today and in minimising the impact of a disease outbreak in future,” said FEI veterinary director Göran Åkerström at the time.

‘What isn’t measured, isn’t done’

“Our mission is to get horse identification and health care into the digital age,” EquiTrace app co-founder and vet Jennifer Corley told H&H.

The subscription app, on which more than 19,500 horses are registered, works by securely storing a horse’s ID, location, health and medical records. Information can only be added to a horse’s record when his microchip is scanned, at which point his GPS location is also updated. It is compatible with any microchip, works with or without signal and means a groom can update the app and the horse’s owner, trainer and vets have access to up-to-date records from anywhere in the world.

“Covid has taught us all this: if you get an infectious disease, like herpes, like influenza, the first thing you have to do is trace all those movements, and yet [people aren’t] keeping those records because it’s just impossible with the current solutions,” said Ms Corley.

EquiTrace has a function to turn on alerts for medication and vaccination reminders, plus withdrawal times, and drug barcodes can be scanned by the app, so details and batch numbers are accurately recorded. This saves admin time, and also means it can be used by anyone, so literacy is not a barrier.

“The health record is linked to the microchip, so essentially the horse’s medical records can never be lost, they’re always with the animal,” she said, adding that this function could benefit all kinds of scenarios where a horse and the owner are in different places, from emergency vet visits to loaning or rehoming.

“At the moment when you rehome an animal, there’s almost no way to check up on that animal without physically going out to visit,” she said.

“Even [for a charity] just going through your list to call every single rehomed animal is going to be almost impossible. You could ask somebody who’s rehoming an animal to take a scanner, and then you have complete control on whatever you want to check up on. You could say, ‘I want the animal vaccinated once a year,’ and then we can set the system so it creates a list of anyone who’s not complying.”

She added: “Whatever we do to improve horse welfare, what isn’t measured isn’t done. And we have to have a way to easily communicate, from the people on the ground who are looking after the horses, to these organisations who are responsible for their welfare – and it has to be simple.”

All apps are available from the Apple and Android stores.

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Racing leaders meet to discuss issues raised in BBC’s Panorama investigation

New schemes to improve traceability of racehorses *H&H Plus*

‘A life well lived’: new welfare strategy to protect racehorses from birth to death

First digital passport issued to foal as equestrian world embraces technology

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. 

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

As the throughbred world strives for improved traceability of its equines throughout their lives, Weatherbys has announced its e-passport will go live to the UK and Irish thoroughbred market in 2021. H&H finds out more about the benefits it will offer...

THOROUGHBRED owners are being urged to ensure their horses are correctly registered as the industry pushes to improve traceability.

It is a legal requirement for the new owner of any horse to update its passport with the relevant passport-issuing authority (PIO) within 30 days of purchase.

The racing industry is pushing for greater awareness and compliance of this, regardless of what a horse’s post-racing career is, or is hoped to be, as the industry tries to better understand what happens to thoroughbreds throughout their lives, before, during and after racing.

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and Weatherbys both have plans to help improve traceability.

On 24 September, Weatherbys announced it is more than two years into producing an e-passport, which will go live to the UK and Irish thoroughbred market in 2021.

It is designed to provide “a single, secure platform for all regulatory and legislative requirements relating to identification, health, welfare, movement and ownership”. The digital document will also include stallion, mare and foal registration, pre- and post-racing vaccinations and medications, ownership updates and full identification details.

The e-passport is also hoped to improve compliance with owners reporting horses’ death to the PIO, by making this easier.

Weatherbys stud book director Simon Cooper told H&H elements of the technology are already in use, including functions around vaccinations and movement of horses that support Britain and Ireland’s “return to racing” protocols.

Mr Cooper said the e-passport will ensure change of ownership is “not only easier, but more secure and accurate”.

“This will require both the vendor and the buyer to submit, like change of ownership for a car. While the paper passport remains a legal requirement, these will be required to be sent to the PIO for verification of change of ownership,” he said.

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association CEO Claire Sheppard said the e-passport is central to a number of projects it is working on with Weatherbys.

“The equine movement element of this technology was vital at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic as it was used to track the movement of thoroughbreds during the breeding season,” she said.

RoR is urging all owners to ensure they comply with the legal requirement regarding updating ownership details and is also encouraging owners of horses who do not compete in its series to register with them for free, so it can help improve traceability of more thoroughbreds.

One of the ideas RoR is looking at is implementing a search facility on its website, using information from its own database. The aim is to help horses’ previous owners and racing connections find out where they are now, and vice versa. The organisation is looking at GDPR-compliant ways of helping both sides get in touch with each other.

British Horseracing Authority director of equine health and welfare David Sykes told H&H ensuring horses bred for racing can be traced across their entire lifespan is a key priority in the industry’s Horse Welfare Board strategy.

“The systems in place to trace thoroughbreds are as advanced as for any sector of the horse population, but we are constantly working to improve the capture of relevant data to more accurately represent outcomes for retiring horses as part of our ongoing commitment to traceability,” said Mr Sykes, adding a simplified online process for retiring racehorses – a separate process to updating ownership details – was launched in February, designed to maximise traceability and improve data and understanding of how horses retire from racing.

“This aims to make the process easy and simple to follow and assist owners in ensuring they meet their legal responsibilities, but we need their help to ensure this system is used as widely and comprehensively as possible.”

H&H 1 October 2020

.

You may also be interested in…

‘A life well lived’: new welfare strategy to protect racehorses from birth to death

Whip use, ethics and euthanasia big topics in new welfare strategy

‘The horse is at the core of our philosophy and purpose and our vision is one the industry should be

Why retrained racehorses have so much to offer *H&H Plus*

Winners of the Retraining of Racehorses ‘Heart Awards’ named

Five “equine heart throbs” have been named in the inaugural Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) “Heart Awards”.

‘Manners are still important’: Gold Cup-winning jockey Nico de Boinville on judging retrained racehorses

The Gold Cup-winning jockey tells us about judging at the recent RoR Championships

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

A new online entry system for point-to-point races has been launched.

It has been set up to make it easier for owners to enter horses and keep track of their schedules.

When registering their first hunter certificate of the season, they will receive a username and password, giving them access to the site.

Once entries have been logged, payment is made either by Weatherbys account, credit or debit card.

“This latest innovation is set to revolutionise entries for the amateur scene, keeping the sport in line with its counterpart under Rules,” said a spokesman for the Point-to-Point Racing Company.

For information visit: www.pointtopointentries.co.uk

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (1 December 2011)

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

The first buckskin coloured thoroughbreds have been registered with Weatherbys.

Xenaura and Auriane (pictured right) were born in May and are by Electrum, the first – and only registered – cremello thoroughbred in the UK.

Electrum was recognised as cremello by the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC) in 2008 (news, 6 November) after Leigh Ann Kerr, of Bexley, Kent, approached Weatherbys.

And in his first crop of foals were two buckskin fillies – horses with a coat the colour of tanned deerskin and black mane and tail – so Ms Kerr went back to Weatherbys.

An application by Weatherbys for buckskin to be included in international studbooks was approved at the ISBC’s annual meeting in September.

Buckskin occurs as a result of one copy of the cream dilution gene acting on a brown coat colour.

“This is very exciting to have another first,” Ms Kerr told H&H.

The fillies will be aimed at eventing and Auriane started her showing career at Edenbridge and Oxted Show in August.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (20 October, 2011)

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

Owners of high value sport and competition horses can benefit from a new insurance scheme being launched by equine insurers Amlin Plus and Weatherbys.

The scheme, Advanced Equestrian, will encompass mortality, loss of use and, at no additional premium, worldwide coverage. Those insured will also have the option to purchase increased veterinary fee limits.

“There is a feeling amongst the owners of sport and competition horses that insurance is either too expensive, or doesn’t provide them with adequate cover and expert advice,” explained David Ashby, managing director of Amlin Plus.

“We believe that in Advanced Equestrian, we have created a policy that provides the fullest cover for higher value horses by providing comprehensive cover, equine expertise and competitive pricing.”

Other benefits of the policy include veterinary advice from leading veterinary practices in the event of injury or illness and agreed value on all policies.

“The Weatherbys insurance team are delighted to be working with Amlin Plus to offer something new in an ever-changing and competitive world,” said chief executive Roger Weatherby.

“We are constantly striving to provide our clients with excellent service and are pleased to add this innovative product to our insurance portfolio.”

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

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)

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

The first thoroughbred cremello horse in the UK has been officially recognised by the International Thoroughbred Studbook Committee (ISBC).

Leigh Ann Kerr, of Bexley, Kent, approached Weatherbys last December after importing a yearling colt from America.

On his passport, Electrum was recorded as a palomino thoroughbred, but Ms Kerr believed he was a cremello.

Cremellos have a cream coat, pink skin and blue eyes. They are chestnut horses, but are double diluted (homozygous) with the cream gene.

DNA samples were taken and it was found that Electrum had the cremello gene.

At the ISBC’s annual meeting in September, Weatherbys applied for the colour cremello to be included in the international stud books — and it was approved.

Electrum’s colour has now been corrected to cremello on the Weatherby’s database.

Andrea Brereton from Weatherbys told H&H: “Electrum is the first thoroughbred recorded in the studbook as having cremello colouring. There may be more cremello thoroughbreds out there, but they have not been officially recognised as such.

“No colour is barred for thoroughbreds, it’s just some are less common.”

Electrum was bred by Symmetry Ranch LLC in Pennsylvania, USA, and is by palomino thoroughbred GP Krugerrand, a multiple dressage and hunter champion in the US and out of the buckskin thoroughbred racemare Brightest Gold.

Ms Kerr said: “It is very exciting to own the only recognised cremello thoroughbred, especially now that we are allowed to have his correct colour displayed on his passport.

“He’s a lovely horse and we’ve just started showing him in yearling sport horse classes. There is a possibility he will race, but he will mainly event. We will breed from him too — it would be nice to get some colourful horses on British racecourses!”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (6 November, ’08)

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

Racehorse owners will have the chance to buy unique racing colours at Bonhams’ racing sale later this month.

Fifteen sets of colours will be on sale at Tattersalls in Newmarket on 19 July — including a set of plain terracotta silks valued at £50,000 – 60,000.

Michael Steel from Bonhams’ says: “Racing colours are part of an important racing tradition and an essential element of the racing world today, helping racing commentators and race goers to identify horses, jockeys and owners.

“What’s particularly attractive about this July’s sale is that as well as high-value lots we have some much more accessible colours available, giving someone, who perhaps has just one or two horses, or a syndicate group, a chance to acquire their own distinctive colours.”

The sale also includes a set of white colours with a light blue star estimated at £1,000-2,000, a set of dark green colours with a white cross of Lorraine estimated at £2,000-3,000 and a black set of silks with a pink and black checked cap, estimated at £10,000-15,000.

And the proceeds from a set of pink colours with blue epaulets and cap, estimated at £4,000 – 6,000 will be donated to Cancer Research at the request of the late owner’s spouse.

All the colours have been submitted by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the sale has been organised in conjunction with Weatherbys.

Toby Watson of Weatherbys said: “As the number of owners, and therefore colours registrations has increased (from 9,000 to over 20,000 in the past 30 years), it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a plainer set of colours for new registrations, although there are several million standard colour combinations available.

“This sale offers the opportunity for owners who are perhaps leaving racing to realise a possible asset, whilst allowing others to secure some special colours.”

For every sale the a percentage of the proceeds is donated by the BHA to racing charities and a percentage is also put back into the industry.

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

An American-bred colt has made history by becoming the first Thoroughbred to be registered as a coloured horse by Weatherbys.

So unprecedented was the case of the brown and white I Was Framed that it was discussed at the annual meeting of the International Stud Book committee.

“It was the first time we’d ever seen anything like this,” admitted Weatherbys stud book director Andrea Mercer. “But we have verified I Was Framed’s parentage and he fully qualifies.”

The four-year-old is registered as overo, a colour type that tends to have erratic patches of white and a white face against a solid dark colour.

Despite his unusual looks, I Was Framed is well related, with the legendary Northern Dancer on his dam’s side and former Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes hero Sunday Silence traceable through his sire.

Owner Melanie Phillips bought “Hannibal” at the beginning of 2006 and he has since covered 20 Thoroughbred mares.

• This news report was first published in Horse & Hound (16 November, ’06)

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