Website of the UK government

Information included in a horse passport

Horse passports are small booklets that contain details about your horse, including:

• its appearance, which is illustrated in diagram called a ‘silhouette’
  
• its age
  
• its breed/type
  
• all the medications it has been given (if it has been declared ‘intended for human consumption’)

Why you need a horse passport

You are responsible for making sure you have an up-to-date horse passport so your horse can be identified. You could be fined up to £5000 if you don’t have one.

Horse passports are important because they help to:

• make sure horses that have been treated with certain medicines don’t make it into food intended for humans
  
• stop the possible spread of diseases, like African Horse Sickness, by restricting horse movements
  
• prevent the sale of stolen horses – when you buy a horse, its passport proves its identity

If you don’t have a valid horse passport, you can’t do things like:

• use your horse in competitions, like a race or show
  
• move your horse to a new premises
  
• sell or export your horse
  
• use your horse for breeding
  
• have your horse slaughtered for human consumption

Make sure your horse passport is available for inspection

You may be asked to show your horse’s passport by a trading standards inspector from your local council, eg at a horse market.

If you are asked for the passport, but are in the process of applying for one, let the inspector know. If necessary, they will check your application details with the organisation issuing the passport.

Buying and selling a horse

You must not buy or sell a horse without a horse passport. Contact your local Trading Standards office if you are sold a horse without a passport - they may prosecute the seller.

• Find your local Trading Standards office

Horse passports for foals

Your foal needs a passport before it is six months old or by 31 December in the year it’s born - whichever is later. However, you’ll need to get a passport earlier if you sell your foal before this.

Passports for wild or semi-wild horses

Horses living in the New Forest and Dartmoor (wild or semi-wild horses) don’t need a passport until they are moved from these areas.

Changes to horse passports from 1 July 2009

The laws on horse passports change on 1 July 2009. From this time, if you own a horse or are its main keeper, you’ll be responsible for making sure it’s correctly identified. However, only the owner of the horse can apply for a passport.

From 1 July 2009, the horse’s owner, or keeper, should make sure the passport is available for inspection at all times. However, you don’t need to have the passport on hand when the horse is:

• in its stable or grazing in a field
  
• being moved by foot

If you are asked for the horse’s passport during these times, you’ll need to show it to the inspector within three hours.

Changes to passports for foals

From 1 July 2009, your foal needs to be microchipped with a unique number that’s matched to your contact details, as well as getting a passport. This must be done before the foal is six months old or by 31 December in the year it is born, whichever is later. However, you’ll need to have your foal microchipped and get a passport if you want to sell it earlier.

Changes to passports for horses

Your horse will need to be microchipped, along with getting a passport, from 1 July 2009. However, if you already have a valid horse passport, you won’t have to get your horse microchipped.

Changes to the definition of ‘equine animals’

Currently, only certain ‘equine animals’ (animals that look like a horse) need horse passports, like ponies and donkeys. From July 1 2009, zebras and ‘exotic’ horse species, like Przewalski’s horses, will also need passports and microchips.

Removal of the diagram of the horse – the ‘silhouette’

From 1 July 2009, the diagram of the horse (silhouette) won’t be compulsory because the horse will be microchipped to confirm its identity instead. However, if your horse is registered with a breed society, their rules may state that you still need a silhouette as well.

Changes to passports for wild or semi-wild horses

From 1 July 2009, the areas where horses don’t need passports will be extended to include Exmoor. Horses living in these areas will also need a microchip, if they are moved.

How to get or update a horse passport

For more information about getting a horse passport, or updating a current one, follow the links below.

• Getting a horse passport

• Updating a horse passport and cancelling duplicates

More useful links

• Importing and exporting a horse - when you need a horse passport

• Contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

• Highway Code - horse riders and animals (travel and transport section)

• Volunteering to work with animals

• Trails and walks (environment and greener living section)