I was watching the vetting on Countryfile Sunday morning and a vet was doing an ID of a TB and they did not show any attempt to scan for a chip and TB's have been chipped for years.
I watched that - it may be that they just chose not to include that bit in the edit of the filming? I don't think its intended to be a comprehensive guide to Iding a horse and vetting, given the target market (dont think it was Countryfile which is Sunday evenings and a bit more interesting, was country wise or something like that?). Smart little horse tho!