Horse Passports Simplified
Did you know that every horse should legally have a passport? Do you know why a horse needs a passport? Here we answer the most common passport queries and provide you with our essential passport checklist.
Why do I need a passport? In 2005 a law was introduced meaning that it is a legal requirement for every horse to hold a passport.
The owner is responsible for making sure that their horse holds a certified passport.
If your horse is found not to have a passport you could face a fine of up to £5000.
In July 2009, additional legislation came into effect which means that any horse or foal now being registered must also be microchipped and this number recorded in their passport.
By law all vets must check your horse's passport before they treat your horse.
A vet will never not treat your horse but if you do not have your passport on you, they are limited in what treatments they can use.
How much does a passport cost and where can I get one? A passport typically costs between £22 and £25.
If you know your horse's breeding you can apply for one from the respective breed society.
If your horse's breeding is unknown, the Horse Passport Agency can issue you with an identity passport at a cost of £23.
What if I buy a horse or my details change? Once you have found your dream horse for sale, paid your money and brought your horse home, you only have 30 days to register as the new owner or you could risk prosecution.
This also applies if you move or change any other personal details.
Trading Standards are responsible for enforcing horse passports and not the police.
If you're stopped and the details in your passport are found to be incorrect, Trading Standards can issue you with a hefty fine.
Do I need my passport with me all the time? It's a legal requirement to have your horse's passport with you at all times, unless you are hacking out.
Should you be stopped and you do not have your passport, you'll only be given three hours to produce it at a police station.
This means that legally you must have your horse's passport with you when attending shows, travelling to lessons and even if you're just driving down the road to meet up with a friend for a hack.
Your essential passport checklist:
Why do I need a passport? In 2005 a law was introduced meaning that it is a legal requirement for every horse to hold a passport.
The owner is responsible for making sure that their horse holds a certified passport.
If your horse is found not to have a passport you could face a fine of up to £5000.
In July 2009, additional legislation came into effect which means that any horse or foal now being registered must also be microchipped and this number recorded in their passport.
By law all vets must check your horse's passport before they treat your horse.
A vet will never not treat your horse but if you do not have your passport on you, they are limited in what treatments they can use.
How much does a passport cost and where can I get one? A passport typically costs between £22 and £25.
If you know your horse's breeding you can apply for one from the respective breed society.
If your horse's breeding is unknown, the Horse Passport Agency can issue you with an identity passport at a cost of £23.
What if I buy a horse or my details change? Once you have found your dream horse for sale, paid your money and brought your horse home, you only have 30 days to register as the new owner or you could risk prosecution.
This also applies if you move or change any other personal details.
Trading Standards are responsible for enforcing horse passports and not the police.
If you're stopped and the details in your passport are found to be incorrect, Trading Standards can issue you with a hefty fine.
Do I need my passport with me all the time? It's a legal requirement to have your horse's passport with you at all times, unless you are hacking out.
Should you be stopped and you do not have your passport, you'll only be given three hours to produce it at a police station.
This means that legally you must have your horse's passport with you when attending shows, travelling to lessons and even if you're just driving down the road to meet up with a friend for a hack.
Your essential passport checklist:
- Never buy a horse without a passport.
The horse may have been stolen or could be much older or younger than advertised. - Check the identification details in the passport carefully to make sure that the horse in the passport matches the horse you're buying.
- Ensure that the person selling the horse for sale is listed as the owner in the passport.
If they are not, verify that they have permission to sell the horse by contacting the current registered owner first.
- Check with the National Equine Database before buying the horse as they can tell from a passport number if a horse has been registered as stolen.
- If you're buying a youngster born after the 1st July 2009, check that they've been microchipped.
- If the passport states that a horse has been microchipped, get a vet to scan the chip to check that the horse's microchip number matches the one listed in the passport.
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