Information included in a horse passport
What is a Horse Passport?
A horse passport is a small booklet that has important details about your horse, including:
- How your horse looks (shown in a picture called a “silhouette”)
- Micro-chip details
- Your horse’s age
- Your horse’s breed or type
- All the medicines your horse has taken (if it can be used for human food)
Why Do You Need a Horse Passport?
- You must have an up-to-date horse passport to identify your horse. If you don’t have one, you could be fined up to £5000.
- To make sure horses with certain medicines don’t enter the human food chain
- To prevent the sale of stolen horses by proving their identity
What Happens if You Don’t Have a Horse Passport?
- You cannot move your horse
- Vets might not be able to give your horse certain medicines
- You cannot have your horse slaughtered for human food
Showing Your Horse Passport
- You might need to show your horse’s passport to a trading standards inspector or Animal Health Officer. This could happen at a horse market or during a roadside check.
- If you are applying for a passport and do not have it yet, tell the inspector. They can check your application with the passport-issuing organisation.
Buying and Selling a Horse
- Do not buy or sell a horse without a horse passport.
- If someone sells you a horse without a passport, contact your local Trading Standards office. They may take legal action against the seller.
Keeping Your Horse Passport Up-to-Date
If you or your vet gives your horse a medicine called bute, the passport must be marked as “not intended for the food chain.”
Resources
Defra Helpline
- Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra
- Phone: 03459 335577
- Email: [email protected]
The Horse Passports Regulations 2009 No.1611
Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008
The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) (England) Regulations 2006
Guide to the Horse Passports Regulations 2009
Find out more information on Horse Passports on the government website.
If you are having difficulties, please contact the Friends, Families and Travellers helpline on 01273 234 777. We are open:
- Monday to Friday
- From 10.00am to 4.30pm
- Closed on Bank Holidays
