Compulsory microchipping in horses

Unfortunately, many horses are abandoned and left to fend for themselves due to old age, illness, or unexpected costs. To help ensure that horses are given the life they deserve, the government introduced compulsory microchipping in horses.

Here’s what it means for you and your equine... 

What is a horse microchip? 

Your horse’s microchip contains a code that connects to their unique identification information. Their microchip details can then be:

• Recorded on their passport. 
• Registered on a database.
• Linked to their Animal Friends insurance account. 

It is a legal requirement to have your horse microchipped if you’re located in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

The owner (or ‘keeper’) of a horse who isn’t microchipped could face sanctions – including a hefty fine!

So, it’s essential to keep your horse’s microchip details up-to-date (more about this later!), and inform the relevant PIO (passport issuing organisation) straight away if you notice any mistakes. 

A PIO is the organisation with which your horse’s passport is registered. Some examples of equine passport issuing organisations include:  

• Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS).
• Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCS).
• British Horse Society (BHS).
• Pet ID Equine.
• The Horse Passport Agency.

Check out the UK Government website for full lists of horse passport issuing organisations.

Why is it a legal requirement to microchip horses?

Microchipping is important because it significantly improves the chances of being reunited with your horse or pony if:

• They’ve escaped.
• Become lost.
• They’re stolen.

Through microchipping, authorities may be able to trace an owner if ahorse has been abandoned, mistreated, or they’re found fly-grazing (illegally grazing on land without the landowner’s permission).

Where are equine microchip records stored?

The Central Equine Database (CED) contains records of microchip and passport information for horses. By law, your horse must be registered on the CED; to find out whether your horse is registered, you can use their Chipchecker feature.

It’s free to create an account with the CED! 

Your horse’s microchip records are stored on an online database, which can either be managed by a PIO or through your own account. 

Did you know? Equine Register, the organisation that runs CED, is a trusted partner of Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs).

Does microchipping hurt horses?

Since your vet will use a needle to implant the microchip into your horse’s neck, it’s likely to cause discomfort for a very short time (like a vaccination!). 

Once the microchip has been implanted, your vet should scan your horse’s neck to check the microchip is activated. The use of a microchip scanner won’t harm your horse.

However, if your horse has a negative reaction to the microchip at any time in the few days following implantation, you’ll need to contact your vet immediately. 

Here are some signs that may indicate your horse has had a negative reaction to the microchip:

• Bruising or bleeding under the skin (haematoma).
• Abscess near the microchip site.
• An inflammatory response as their body rejects the microchip (swelling, pain, etc.). 

In the event your horse reacts negatively to a microchip, you and your vet will need to complete this Microchip Adverse Event Reporting Form. When you have completed the form, it should be sent to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) – which you can do online.