Passports & Microchipping
It is a legal requirement that all horses are microchipped and have a passport. Horses must be microchipped before a passport is issued.
All of our vets are able to carry out the microchipping process and also complete the forms necessary in order to obtain a passport – just give us a call.
Passports
Every horse, pony, donkey and mule in the UK must have an equine passport to comply with legislation. Passports can be obtained from a Defra authorised passport issuing society or association in the UK. These include Equine Breed Societies recognised under commission decision 92/353/EC and International Organisations that manage horses for competitions or racing.
In order to obtain a passport, a vet must complete a form that identifies the markings on the horse and also confirms the microchip number.
On obtaining a passport, a horse is issued with a unique 15-digit unique equine life number (UELN).
The passport records the following information:
- Record of ownership
- Identification (including microchip number when present)
- Full medical history (including vaccinations)
- Whether the horse can be used for human consumption
- Societies with which the horse is registered
There is considerable variation in the cost of passports, as some societies require membership before they will issue the document.
It is the responsibility of the horse’s owner to acquire a passport for their horse(s). The passport remains valid for the whole lifetime of the animal and should be returned to the issuing authority after its death.
Without a valid equine passport, it is illegal to sell or move your horse to a new keeper, to export your horse, to transport or use it in competition or for breeding. There is a hefty fine for non-compliance. Transport operators can lose their license if caught transporting horses without a valid passport.
The benefits of the equine passport scheme include:
- Looking after the welfare of your horse.
- Exercising responsible ownership.
- Safeguarding the long-term health of your horse.
- Maximising the availability of veterinary treatments for your horse.
- Increasing the variety of drugs available for pain relief and other conditions.
All foals need to be microchipped for identification within a specific time limit. All new passports must include a diagram, as well as the microchip details, etc.
You can also find the latest information here on Horse Passport Overview.
We strongly recommend that the appropriate section of the passport is signed by the owner and co-signed by a competent authority to confirm that the horse is not for human consumption. If this section is not signed, the horse cannot receive some common medications (such as phenylbutazone or ‘bute’) or have a general anaesthetic. It is useful to have this section completed so that there are no concerns with this regulation in the event of an emergency. If you have any questions about this section please ask us, we are happy to co-sign this section as the competent authority to permanently sign your horse out of the food chain.
Microchipping
Microchipping is a simple, safe and quick procedure. The microchip is inserted into the crest on the left side of the neck via a needle. The microchip contains a unique number for your horse that will appear on their passport and the petlog database.
It is a legal requirement that your horse is microchipped.
