Farmed species information

Advice on owning farmed species

Contents

Horses

Registration, passports and identification

All horse owners need to obtain a passport for each horse they own.

This includes:

  • Horses
  • Ponies
  • Donkeys
  • Other Equidae

The passport is a small booklet that uniquely identifies your animal.

Veterinary or breed certificates are not passports.

It lasts for the lifetime of the horse. It also states whether your animal can be used for food at the end of its life. You can declare that your animal is not intended for the food chain by filling in the appropriate section of the passport. This cannot be changed later.

When do I need to get a passport?

The owner of a horse must obtain a passport for it on or before 31 December of the year of its birth or by six months after its birth.

Foals must have a microchip and passport before sale regardless of age.

Your horse must be microchipped before you apply for the passport because all horse passports issued since July 2009 must contain a microchip number.

How do I apply?

You can get an application form for a horse passport from an authorised ‘Passport Issuing Organisation’ (PIO).

See the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website for a list of approved PIOs and their contact details.

A passport will not be valid if issued by an unauthorised organisation.

Where to keep a passport

The passport should remain with the animal at all times e.g. if you keep your horse in a livery stable the passport must be kept at the stable.

There are times when you will need to show the passport, such as, whenever a vet examines or treats your animal or on demand from a Local Authority Inspector.

If you sell or transfer ownership of your horse the passport must be supplied at the time of the sale or transfer. The new owner will need to contact the issuing organisation to amend the details. This must be done within 30 days of the change of ownership.

It is illegal for a horse to be sold without a passport.

 

Horse passport regulations

A comprehensive guide to the horse passport regulations can be found on the Gov.uk website.

For more information on horses and other equines please visit The National Equine Welfare Council website.

Purchasing a horse

Buying a horse is a serious long term commitment. It is both time consuming and expensive.

A guide is available on the below dropdown, containing some points to consider before you purchase.

If you think you may have been mis-sold a horse please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 03454 04 05 06.

Pet horse burials

We are aware that this can be an emotional and distressing time for owners of pet horses.

To prevent spread of animal-borne pathogens or disease there are strict rules on the burial of pet horses.

Please note: commercial burial of horses is not permitted.

The only information we need is a note from your vet which specifies that the horse has not died from a disease which is communicable to humans or other species.

Fly grazing and abandoned horses

In the present economic climate many horses are being abandoned or 'fly grazed' on someone else's land.

The Control of Horses Act (2015) gives landowners a wider range of options to deal with the problem.

The following guidance outlines the steps that may be taken should you find fly grazed or abandoned horses on your land:

The Control of Horses Act has been passed by Parliament and came into force on the 26th May 2015.

What is it?

Fly grazing is the practice of placing a horse or horses on someone else’s land to graze without the permission of the landowner. Landowners have a duty of care towards any animal on their property and fly grazing puts the responsibility to feed and care for the animal on someone other than the owner.

A horse is abandoned where it is deliberately left somewhere by an owner either permanently or for a sufficient amount of time to risk unnecessary suffering.

Oversupply and reduced demand mean that unscrupulous and unregistered breeders who cannot afford to feed and care for their horses are leaving them on farmland and other private property. This means that they retain ownership but not a duty of care.

Horses are also fly grazed on public green spaces such as grass verges, sports pitches and recreation grounds. This not only restricts access for the public, but the horses may cause damage to fences and turf which can be costly for the Local Authority to repair or replace.

Often the response from many owners that have been instructed to move their horses, should they be found, is that “they are not doing any harm” though there are a number of problems associated with fly grazing.

Welfare of the horse

The horses are usually, but not always tethered to prevent roaming. Injuries can be caused by the tether collar or head collar being too tight and cutting into the horses head or neck. Horses can be injured or killed if they become entangled in the tether rope or the rope becomes wrapped around obstacles such as trees or lampposts. Although tethering is not illegal, any tethered animal should be checked on a regular basis.

Horses that are tethered can not run away from dogs or any person who may wish to do the horse harm, there are also concerns regarding access to water (which may have been left in a bucket but has been kicked over), hay / grass or shelter from adverse weather conditions. The horse may well be nervous or frightened and caution should be taken if it becomes necessary to approach the animal.

When tethered on a grass verge next to a busy road or in a residential area with high volumes of traffic there is a risk of the horse escaping from its tether and straying onto the road, this could lead to accidents with potentially fatal consequences for both the horse and the occupants of any vehicle that may hit it. Any animal found on a highway should be reported to the police using the 101 number.

When tethered near to residential areas there can be problems with waste which will smell and attract flies.

Even when the owner of the horse is located, many people are reluctant to approach them because of possible threatening and abusive behaviour, should you feel threatened or at risk you should call the police. Non - emergency situations can be reported by dialling 101.

What can landowners do?

Landowners can take some preventative measures such as keeping field gates locked and fencing off likely fly grazing areas such as pastures. On farmland, if practical, it may be worth ploughing particularly vulnerable areas as these are not as inviting as pasture fields. However you must not fence off or block a public right of way or use any barrier that may cause injury.

The horse may have originally been on the land legitimately, but the agreement has expired or been terminated, and the horse has not been moved. If you rent out grazing land make sure you have a written agreement between you and the owner of the horse. You should not allow horses onto your land when asked to do so, even as a temporary measure.

Liveries are sometimes used by people with the intention of abandoning their horse in the hope that it will have a secure future, establishments should make sure they have good practice in place when taking on new clients, asking for a percentage of fees upfront can be a good deterrent, by law the horse should be microchipped and you should always insist on seeing the passport before you accept it into the yard.

If you find a horse on your land

If you find a horse on your land, whether you think it has been abandoned or is being fly grazed, try and keep a record of all your actions in regard to the animal, i.e. report it to the police using the 101 number, although it is a civil rather than criminal complaint an incident number will be allocated. Keep a record of any costs incurred for feed and care and keep notes of any advice sought from any professional body. This will show you have acted responsibly and made every effort to resolve the matter. By keeping notes, giving the owner a clear time period to respond and letting all the relevant authorities know, you will help to cover yourself in the event of any future claim.

Report the situation to the RSPCA 0300 1234 999, they may not get directly involved,  but local inspectors may have relevant information.

Look for signs of recent care such as being shod or clipped, this would indicate there is an active owner and the horse may well have escaped or is being fly grazed rather than having been abandoned, although you do not automatically assume a horse with an unkempt appearance has been abandoned. If there is a group of horses it is more likely that your land is being fly grazed.

Look for deliberate tampering of your fencing or gates, this may determine whether the horse has been put there intentionally, should you find any damage take photographs, if the owner can be found this may help in recovery of any repair costs.

If your land is not secure and there is a danger of the horse escaping onto a public highway contact the police (101) for advice.

If the horse is in poor condition you can contact a vet or the RSPCA.

The Control of Horses Act

This law gives private landowners the same powers as Local Authorities to take quick action to remove abandoned and fly grazed horses. Under the above act, landowners can seize abandoned horses after a 4-day notification period, they can then be rehomed privately or to a charity, sold or humanely destroyed. If sale is the preferred option the horse must be microchipped and have a valid passport before the transaction takes place.

If there is no sign of an owner you may wish to put up an abandonment notice, (sample notices are available to download from the Redwings Horse Sanctuary website) although this is not a legal requirement.

The notice should be displayed prominently for a minimum of 4 days at the location the horse was found, the 4-day period will be calculated from midnight on the day of posting the notice. A responsible owner should attend to their horse at least once a day, so putting a notice in place for 4 days should be adequate for them to respond.

The notice should include a contact number and / or address, a very short description of the horse and your intention to remove the horse if no owner comes forward.

Upon detention of any suspected abandoned horses you must notify the local police station within 24 hours. If you know who the owner is, you must also notify them.

It may be worth posting a notice even if you think your land is being fly grazed, there is a possibility that the horse will be removed upon threat of detention.

Ragwort

Common ragwort is a specified weed under the Weeds Act (1959).

It contains toxins which can have debilitating or fatal consequences if eaten by horses and other grazing animals.

When handling common ragwort, either live or dead, you should wear gloves and a facemask to prevent inhalation of ragwort pollen.

The Gov.uk website has a webpage further explaining how to prevent harmful weeds and invasive non-native plants spreading

Guidance when purchasing a horse

Buying a horse is a serious long-term commitment, it is both time consuming and financially expensive. If you are thinking of buying your first horse or adding to your existing horses there are a few things you need to consider.

If this is your first horse, do you have the time for such a big commitment? Owning a horse can be very rewarding but you will need to make sure you have the time and energy to care for and exercise your horse every day. 

If you are adding to existing horses, another one will obviously take more time, can you spare the time to care for an extra horse? 

Where will your horse be kept? Are you lucky enough to be able to keep your horse at home? If not you will need to consider livery charges, this can be one of the biggest monthly outlays you will need to make. If you are already at a livery yard, does it have the space for your extra horse, don’t just presume as you already have one there that the livery will be able to accommodate it. 

Can you afford to keep a horse? You may find a horse for sale that is reasonably inexpensive, but ongoing costs can be high e.g. insurance, vet bills, shoeing etc. 

Consider the type of horse

If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, particularly if this is your first horse, you need to consider what type of horse you are looking for.

Will the horse just be ridden by you, or will it also be ridden by members or your family or friends? You will have to take into consideration all potential riders ages and abilities. 

You should be realistic about your own abilities, what are you capable of handling / riding. A flashy thoroughbred may look appealing but if you only want the occasional fun ride / hack a less temperamental breed may be more suitable for you 

Do you have the time, patience and skill to bring on an inexperienced horse or do you need one that is a little older and more established? 

If you are already an experienced rider, do you want to compete? If so do you want to compete right away? Choose your horse accordingly. 

Make a list of ‘dealbreakers’ This could be anything from price or build to age, if there are things you are not willing to budge on write them down and stick to them, also write a list of things you are willing to compromise on and take the lists with you when you go to view a horse. 

When searching for your horse make sure you read the advert thoroughly, look out for phrases like ‘not a novice ride’ - this horse will obviously not be suitable for an inexperienced rider and you should discount horses that do not fit into your ‘dealbreaker’ ideals. Ask around and work out what you should be paying for the kind of horse you require, be wary of anything that looks under-priced. 

Ask plenty of questions

Once you have found a horse you are interested in, call the seller and ask plenty of questions, by asking the right questions you may well save yourself a wasted journey viewing a horse that is not suitable for you. A genuine seller will not mind these questions as they will obviously want to find the best home for the horse

Things you may want to ask about are:

  • The horse’s experience and capability
  • The horse’s temperament
  • How long has it been with the current owners, and why is it being sold?
  • Do the owners have the full history of the horse?
  • Is it good to hack, both alone and in company?
  • Is it good in traffic?
  • Is it good with the farrier, clippers and if going into livery stables, and is it good with other horses?
  • Can you take it out in a horsebox or trailer on your own?
  • How often does it need riding, will it start to misbehave if you cannot ride it every day?
  • If you wish to compete with the horse, does it have a competition record and if so what has it achieved with the present owners?
  • If a relatively young horse, what do they think the horse’s potential is?

Viewing the horse

Now you have found a horse you think may be suitable, arrange a viewing and try it out. Try and take someone with you, preferably someone with good equestrian knowledge, this could save you from making an expensive mistake.

If this is not possible take a friend and get them to video you interacting with and riding the horse, showing the video to someone with equestrian knowledge can be as helpful as taking them with you.

Take your list of dealbreakers and compromises and stick to it. It can be difficult to be objective when the horse you think you want is in front of you, viewing the video at home can help you to be a little more impartial, but if it doesn’t meet your ideals you may find yourself landed with a horse you cannot ride / handle and you may be giving yourself future problems which, with a little common sense, could have been avoided. A video can also help you to recall each horse if you are looking at more than one.

When viewing, things you may want to consider are:

  • Generally first impressions count and you should trust your own judgement, this includes first impressions of the seller as well as the horse.Take a quick look around the horses stable and watch the behaviour when they are tied up, being groomed, rugged and turned out, are there any signs of vices such as a chewed door or a weave grill in place.
  • Ask to see the horse trotted and take a good look at its feet to see how it is shod
  • Has the horse been worked to calm it down before your arrival, are there sweat marks visible, a lack of water in the horses box should ring alarm bells, sadly it is not uncommon for a seller to subdue a horse with a flighty temperament, dehydration and poor fitness can mask a highly strung horses temperament. If you have any doubts, question the seller, if they cannot offer what seems a reasonable explanation there may be a problem
  • Ask the seller to ride the horse before you try, if they seem reluctant to do so it may indicate a problem
  • The advert may have said ‘good to load, clip, shoe and in traffic, don’t assume this is true, try loading the horse yourself and test the reaction towards clippers, it is not unreasonable to ask to come back on a day when the horse is being shod to see how it behaves with the farrier
  • You may have to go out of your way a little but find a road with traffic to ride the horse on
  • The seller should also be asking you lots of questions, a genuine seller will want to make sure that you are a suitable new owner for their horse. Be wary of a disinterested seller

Dos and Don'ts

Different people will give varied advice when it comes to buying a horse so here is a basic list of Dos and Don’ts

Things to do
  • Do ask if the horse is on any medication or supplements? if it is, find out why and how long the horse has been taking them.
  • Do think carefully about buying a horse that has ‘potential’ it may work in your favour but you should be prepared for things not working out the way you had hoped.
  • Do try to ride the horse in different environments and, if possible more than once.
  • Do ask as many questions as you want, it is a big decision and no question is too small or irrelevant.
  • Do contact any previous owners to see if the details the current owner has given match up, any previous owner details should be in the passport.
  • Do have a pre purchase vetting, don’t feel pressured to agree to anything if the seller says the horse may be sold during the waiting time.
  • Do look out for dealers posing as private sellers, buying from a private seller gives you fewer rights, so some unscrupulous dealers may pose as private sellers. Tell tale signs include things like not knowing in depth details about the horse or its background.
  • Do trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel quite right or you don’t trust someone from the start, walk away. 
Things to avoid
  • Don’t waste your time considering inappropriate horses, this also comes back to you being realistic about your abilities, you should have made your checklist, stick to it.
  • Don’t buy the first horse you see, you may think its ‘the one’ but there are plenty out there, shop around, this will also give you a feel for the price you should be paying.
  • Don’t buy a horse that you cannot sit on or bridle yourself unless you are very experienced.
  • Don’t buy a horse that scares you thinking you will get used to it, if you do not feel confident or comfortable getting on it look elsewhere.
  • Don’t buy a horse unseen.
  • Don’t part with money over the internet.
  • Don’t agree to anything you are not comfortable with, this includes feeling rushed into an agreement.
  • Don’t buy a horse from a sale or a market unless you are very experienced.
  • Don’t shop with your heart, although this can be tricky, using your head may save you from making a very costly mistake. 
Last few considerations

You have found a horse that you love and it has passed the vetting, there are a few last considerations you need to remember:

  • Ask to see the passport again and check the details to make sure it matches the description of the horse in question and there have been no alterations made, you must then transfer the ownership details within 30 days.
  • Remember the passport should be handed over at the time of the sale (or transfer of ownership) it is illegal for a horse to be sold without a passport.
  • When agreeing the final contract it may be worth asking for a trial period, this will allow you sometime with the horse to see if you are a good pairing, not all sellers will agree to this but it is worth asking.
  • Negotiate on the final price, most sellers will expect this unless they state ‘no offers’ on the advert.
  • You could ask for the tack and rugs to be thrown in, again you don’t know if you don’t ask.
  • Once you have come to a verbal agreement get it in writing.
  • Always ask for a written receipt and ask the seller to write on it what the horse is suitable for e.g. a child’s first pony, a novice ride etc
  • Once you have purchased the horse, get it insured immediately for your own peace of mind.  
Further information

Once you have your new horse home you will need to let them settle in, moving is a big change and one they will need time to get used to.

Don’t expect too much too soon, set yourself and your horse small goals to start with giving the necessary praise when they are achieved. Small steps will help ensure you and your horse have a good future together.

Don’t try anything new with them yet, the seller should have explained to you what the horse is used to and what they have achieved so far, it is best to stick to the familiar for the first few months. Spend time getting to know them, your horse needs to trust you just as much as you need to trust them.

Should you decide that keeping a horse is too expensive for you there is always the option of sharing, some horse owners may find themselves with less time or money than previously and would welcome someone to share the workload and the bills.

Most equestrian magazines and websites will have a horse for loan / share section. Word of mouth can be a good way to find a sharer or an advert in a local tack shop. Talking to a potential sharer may feel like an interview, but the owner will obviously want to know their horse is in good hands on the days that you have it. Because sharing usually involves the horse remaining at its current yard it can be less problematic than a full loan. A shared horse remains in the ownership of the current owner who will decide the days and times the horse will be available for riding. Obviously there has to be a degree of flexibility and the schedule should be reasonable. The owner will retain the right to sell the horse but any sharing / loan agreement with the owner should be terminated first.

If you decide this is a better route for you make sure you have the sharing terms and conditions in writing. There is a sharing contract available on the British Horse Society website which can be downloaded free, the agreement can be adapted to suit your needs and will ensure each person knows the scope of their responsibilities.

Pet horse burials

The Animal Health Team in Staffordshire is aware that this can be an emotional and distressing time for owners of pet horses, therefore we take a flexible and pragmatic approach to enquiries regarding the burial of a much loved pet and will endeavour to make the process as smooth as possible.

To prevent the spread of animal borne pathogens or disease, there are very strict rules on the disposal of carcases and burial is only permitted for pet horses if certain conditions are met. These are detailed below :

Conditions of Burial

  • You must own the land or obtain permission from the landowner before you go ahead.
  • Burial sites must be at least 250 m from any well, borehole or spring that supplies water for human consumption or water for use in Farm Dairies.
  • At least 30 m away from any other spring or watercourse and at least 10 m from any field drain.
  • There should be at least 1 m of subsoil below the bottom of any burial pit, allowing a hole deep enough for at least 1 m of soil to cover the carcase preventing access by foxes and other scavengers.
  • There should be no standing water at the bottom of the hole when you first dig it.
  • It may also be helpful to include a record of any burial sites with the deeds for the land 

Notification that the horse is free from disease

Horses may only be buried if they are free from disease and that they have not died as the result of a disease that may be communicable to humans or other animals.

As the Local Authority we would need written confirmation from your vet stating that the animal has not died from disease. This can be supplied by:

If you are unsure whether there are any watercourses on the land you intend to use for the burial you can get confirmation by contacting the Environment Agency on 03708506 506.

While no Authorisation is required from the Environment Agency, persons responsible for this type of burial could be liable to enforcement action and financial penalties should pollution occur.

There are other routes which can be taken such as taking your horse to a Pet Crematorium or if you are a member of the National Fallen Stock Scheme you can make arrangements through them.