Passports

Since 1 March 2005 it is an offence for an owner to:

• Export a horse

• Use a horse for the purposes of competitions

• Move a horse to the premises of a new keeper

• Present for slaughter for human consumption

• Sell a horse

• Use a horse for breeding purposes.

if the horse is not accompanied by a valid passport.

 The Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 require all owners to obtain a passport for each horse they own.  This includes ponies, donkeys, and other equidae but excludes zebras.  Since 28 February 2005, it has been against the law to sell, buy, export, slaughter for human consumption, move for the purposes of attending a competition or show, or move to new premises for the purposes of breeding any horse which does not have a passport. 

If they have not already done so, owners of animals born before 30 November 2003 should take IMMEDIATE action to apply for a passport so that they will not be restricted in using their horse as they wish after 28 February 2005. 

The introduction of this legislation brought the UK into line with European legislation.  The legislation underpins a robust control system to ensure that horses, which have been treated with veterinary medicines not authorised for use in food-producing animals, cannot be slaughtered for human consumption.  Moreover, it will contribute to allowing the UK horse industry to continue to use such medicines on horses not intended for the human food chain. 

REGISTRATION AND PASSPORT INFORMATION

HORSES ALREADY IDENTIFIED WITH THE IDHS(GB)

All costs can be found on the current List of Fees.

Foal papers and old style green passport (no window in front) should be updated to a DEFRA-approved new style passport.  Any Vaccinations, other Society stamps and Awards will be transferred into the new passport.

New style green passports (with window in front) may, in some cases, require the addition of extra pages for “Medicinal Treatment” and “Medication Record” (the mandatory section that includes the declaration as to whether or not the horse is intended for Slaughter for Human Consumption).  Please check your horse’s passport - if it contains pages 31-34 or four unnumbered pages for “Medicinal Treatment” and “Medication Record” after the Notes page at the end, there is no need to do anything as the passport is approved for EU requirements.  If the pages are missing, they can be added for aa additional fee.

Transfer of ownership - it is a requirement of EU Legislation that a horse is registered in the name of the current owner.  If your horse has changed hands since the foal papers or passport was originally issued and the transfer of ownership has not been officially registered with the IDHS(GB), it will be necessary to update this now. Either the previous owner should sign the transfer of ownership (page 6 in new style passports) or you should provide some other proof of ownership, i.e. copy of a bill of sale (the price paid can of course be deleted).

HORSES WITH IRISH DRAUGHT BREEDING BUT NOT YET REGISTERED

A horse must have at least 25% proven Irish Draught breeding in order to be identified on the IDHS(GB) Breed Registers (Pure Bred or ID Sport Horse) in the first instance.  This proof would normally be in the form of a Covering Certificate.  Alternatively, DNA typing might be an option and the Office will advise further about this.  Blank silhouettes (Identification Diagrams) are available from the Office and these must be completed by a Veterinary Surgeon.  Alternatively, it may be possible to use the silhouette from a Vaccination Certificate for registration purposes provided it has been completed, signed and stamped by a Vet.  In either case, where a Vaccination certificate is available, it is recommended that it is included in the new passport.   The cost of registration for members (membership is a requirement for registration of pure breds only) and for non-members can be found on the current List of Fees.  Please see Breed Registers for further information and, if unsure about the eligibility of your horse, please contact the Office for advice.

HORSES REGISTERED IN IRELAND

If your horse has an Irish Horse Register passport or Irish Horse Register Foal Identification papers, you will need to contact the Irish Horse Board in Ireland (Tel. 00 353 15053584 or website:
 http://www.irishhorseboard.com/ for advice about transferring ownership and updating the passport/papers in line with EU requirements. 

OVERSTAMPING OF OTHER SOCIETIES’ PASSPORTS

The IDHS(GB) will overstamp passports issued by other Societies, i.e. the Irish Horse Register, the Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain, other Breed Societies etc, for a fee, on condition the horse has at least 25% proven Irish Draught breeding, i.e. one grandparent is RID.  This will provide dual registration for the horse, making it eligible to compete in Affiliated Irish Draught Classes and to receive all the benefits that IDHS(GB) registration confers.

HORSES OF UNKNOWN BREEDING

The IDHS(GB), as an approved Passport Issuing Organisation, is issuing Utility Horse Passports for equines of unknown breeding and for horses and ponies that are not eligible for registration with other Breed Societies.  Please note that this is an Identity Document only and not a Breed Society Passport.  Blank silhouettes (Identification Diagrams) are available from the Office and full details of the animal and the owner’s name and address should be provided.  These silhouettes must be completed by a Veterinary Surgeon or, if available, the silhouette from a Vaccination Certificate could be used for registration purposes provided it has been completed, signed and stamped by a Vet.  In either case, where a Vaccination certificate is available, it is recommended that it is included in the new passport.

Utility Passport
 

UNIQUE EQUINE LIFE NUMBERS (UELN)

In line with EU legislation, all new passports issued by the IDHS(GB) now include a Unique Equine Life Number (UELN).  This is required to efficiently administer and manage horses within the equine industry and is designed to ensure that each horse in the world can be identified using a single reference number (see www.UELN.net for more information).  The UELN is made up of fifteen digits, the first three digits determine the country that issued the passport, the second three digits identifies the organisation within that country that issued the passport and the remaining nine digits are alphanumeric and uniquely identify the horse within that organisation. 

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There are no application forms as such for any IDHS(GB) passport, but whatever your requirements (see information above), please send all your paperwork, together with a cheque made out to the Irish Draught Horse Society (GB), to the Office. (Contact details on the top menu).

Last Updated Wednesday, October 01 2008 @ 09:15 PM BST; 645 Hits