Buying a horse without a passport?!

Klix

Klix

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 August 2012
Messages
254
Visit site
Ludicrous I know.. And I'm sorry for the numerous posts! Following my recent post in looking at getting a companion/project for myself and current horse.

A friend of mine rescued a mare about 3 months ago whom didn't come with a passport. Said friend has claimed she cannot afford to passport her... Would you buy a horse without a passport? ( I know it's illegal)
 
If you buy an un passported horse can the new owner then register it for a passport ? I nearly went to buy a 200 quid pony the other day and I doubt it had a passport judging from the ad but it was sold.
 
my horse didnt have the correct passport when i bought him we found out a few months later that he wasnt infact the horse on the passport though very similar. we just sent old passport back saying we didnt know where the horse was and got him a new one :)

all is cool beans had him over 4 years and no issues
 
As far as I know - if you have a horse without a passport - you arrange for the vet to come out and microchip the horse (which is obligatory now) and then apply for a passport. If the Vet scans the horse / pny and already finds a chip - then big trouble!!
I have a 5 year old straight from the breeder, that does not yet have a passport -as the breeder has simply not got around to it - which I am guessing is the same for many.......
 
Hmmm so it's not as bad as I first thought... I know horses that were born in 2009 onwards need a microchip by law .. (correct me if I'm wrong!) does anyone know how much it costs roughly to passport?
 
This is why they are looking to rehome im assuming :p she seems a nice type.. Am just a bit put off by the no passport side
 
I think the cheapest is weatherbys which is about 23 pounds but varies quite a lot for different breed societies etc (e.g if you get a CHAPS one you can go in CHAPS classes), if its a 2yo I wouldn't worry too much. There is apparently a 5000 pound fine for having a horse with no passport mind :-O I don't know how likely that would be though!

As dressedkez says, I think you get a form from the society/agency you want a passport with, then a vet has to fill in some bits on there for identification etc*so you can get that done when they come to do the microchip :-)
 
Hmmm it's defiantly some food for thought!! May ask the vet tomorrow what they charge roughly as she's coming to do routine vacs anyway.. Not too fussed who's she's passports with! Thankyou for all feedback so far!
 
wench said:
If they can't afford a passport how do they afford to care for the horse?
Click to expand...

So easy to stand in judgement. A passport might only cost £20 - but as we all know Vets call out fees are expensive, and you have to get a vet to microchip......I have not had a horse done for less than £120 - some ponies are worth a tenner these days, £5 if they are a colt......if you are a commoner (not that I am) running half a dozen ponies on some of our most wonderful protected landscapes, helping to preserve them for generations (the landscape, that is not ponies) but recognising that the ponies are doing an important job in helping to preserve this - but are worthless when it comes to market. Does the owner want to compound their losses by paying out £120 to get £5 back - I don't think so..........
Sometimes horses/ ponies have to be as much about commercial good sense, just as keeping cattle / sheep are.
 
TJP said:
I passported a pony a few weeks ago. The passport cost £25. You also have to pay the vet for charting and microchip.
Click to expand...

I bought one of mine without apassport.... no biggie - just got her chipped and pasporte y the vet asap


vet was guttedwhen she came out (had a bay and a coloured) she said she was hoping it was the bay......... no such luck - told her get her crayons out :D :D

ets - yes its selling without a passport thats the illlegal bit - not buying....
 
:D noodle that make me smile!!! Luckily this one is just bay.. So only whorles to find! Surely that means £10 off of my bill right?!
 
Wouldn't worry. No one actually cares if they have one or not! And I wouldn't like to recall the number of times I have been sent threatening letters from the horse passport agency asking me for stupid amounts of money for selling horses when they aren't in my name on their paperwork. ( as i buy to sell and obv, dont put all horses in my name
As that would be redicilous) I have ignored every single one! Just apply when you get the horse home.
 
It is totally illegal to buy a horse without a passport. There are a lot of stolen horses out there and dodgy dealers will sell them on without passports. Please report anyone who deals in horses and admits to not having passports- we need to stamp out crime.
 
Klix said:
Hmmm it's defiantly some food for thought!! May ask the vet tomorrow what they charge roughly as she's coming to do routine vacs anyway.. Not too fussed who's she's passports with! Thankyou for all feedback so far!
Click to expand...

why dont you ring and find out how much as would save call out if they could do it all in one go?
 
Defo not !!! You could get a vet out to check the microchip find out your horse is stolen and if the old owner with the real passport wants to they can take that horse off you and you loose all your money !!

Very, Very risky :)
 
horseloaner said:
Each time I read threads like this I find the whole passport scheme a bit of a farce that appears to be full of holes.
Click to expand...

I would love to disagree but sadly can't. I actually cannot see the value at all unless you wish to have your horse in the food chain. Most people believe it is a form of documentation proving ownership and it is not. Great, you can prove that said horse has had x injections, necessary for competitions but the rest? Would have far more relevance if it was backed by something like an overall database. Oh thats right, we had one.. and then it was decided that NED offered no value.

but us mega rich equine owners of course, need to keep forking out for a very expensive form of identification which doesn't legally mean we own the horse anyway!
 
My old mare was bought without a passport, when she was bought we got her Microchipped (vet scanned her first and nothing was there) and then sent off for a Fast Track Passport (takes 48 hours to complete)
Put us down £70 in total but saves us getting a £5000 fine. Just to be on the safe side :)
 
Passports are NOT for proof of ownership they are to record any drugs given so horses are not then put in food chain with a substance not fit for human consumption!

It is NOT illegal to buy a horse without a passport but it is illegal to sell one!

A vet will come out and check for micro-chip if one is found then you will be expected to try and find original passport by contacting several passport issuing companies if nothing is found then another passport can be issued.

The above advice was given to me in writing by trading standards!!
 
Well I bought my young mare off a local dealer/farrier and she was not pass ported, they did get her chipped the day before and partially completed passport form for me to then complete and send off.
So I have done, was not happy she was not passported mind, but it was easily solved
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top