How has ever had their passport checked by Defra

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Polos Mum

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Following lots of recent passport threads, a quick question. Other than

1) at a competition (pony club or affiliated)
2) by vets at vaccination time
3) by vets for bute in the last 6 weeks !!
4) livery yard owner to confirm vaccs

Who has ever had to produce their passport for Defra/ any other body checking either horses at home/ on livery or in transport?
 
Actually yes - twice!

VOSA like to hang about oustide one particular affilliated show venue local to us which is also quite close to a weigh bridge and pull over as many departing competitors as they can so check weight, tyres etc. As part of that they do ask for the passports - but have never actually confirmed that the horses in the box were those on the passports. But if we hadn't had them its another fine. Sorry... administrative penalty.
 
Shay, interesting so if you've got 2 horses on then they want to see 2 passports but presumably didn't make you unload and take rugs/ travel boots off to confirm white markings etc.
 
Never had mine checked except at a qualifying dressage event where I qualified to represent and go down south, and only by my vet annually on vaccinations!
 
Polo's Mum - no. They never even looked in at the Jockey Door. It could have been anything in there. Mind you one lad tends to do his pogo stick impression as he hates being on board and not moving!

They were far more interested in trying to fine people for being overweight, tyres, lights etc. I got the impression the passport check was just to tick the box - or see if they could find another reason to fine us.

But they were offloading those who were overweight and making them make other transport arrangements. I can't think of anything worse after a day competeing!

There was something in H&H last week too from a recovery service suggesting that they may refuse to recover horses without passports. Thats scary too!
 
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I thought passports were checked by trading standards? DEFRA still have no presence at any off the U.K ports, so obviously they are working hard to fix their failings.
 
mutley75 - happy to hear from anyone who's had their passports checked by trading standards also - my title is clearly not helpful. I ment to say anyone official other than the 4 common examples I could think of in the post (that could easily never apply to most happy hackers/ general riding club types kept on DIY liver), I often forget to give vets passport at vaccination time.
 
I have ! Several times. Always when on the move, usually stopped on major roads (twice in one day on A1) . The passports are checked against the horses on board, and the horses are looked at, at least colour, general height etc. they are always accompanied by police and are very polite and clearly know how to approach a horse.

Apparently if you transport a horse, anywhere, you must have its passport with you. I find this encouraging.
 
Actually any "enforcement agency" can check horse passports. Trading standards are the obvious applicable body where the animal is for sale. But VOSA check in transport cases. The Meat Standards Board (Theoretically) at the point of slaughter. The relevant governing body at competitions etc. DERFA are the responsible agency that would usually visit a yard to check (All possports should be kept by the livery yard owner but seldom are..)
 
Had a check once by trading standards whilst at a BE event. Nothing to do with the event itself.

2 ladies came up to the lorry just as daughter had returned from XC and had just started washing down the horse. They asked for passports. I asked them to wait as the horse welfare came first (it was a very cold early season event and the horse was wet through and needed scraping and rugging). They weren't very happy about waiting. Took about 5 mins. Other horse was tied to lorry but still rugged and booted. They didn't check passport against either horse, markings etc.
 
No.
I've checked before horses came on site but never had any of mine checked.

Defra are a joke though. Last time they came to check the goats they went through the books (hours and horrible lady picking up on several faults... Which were all on paperwork sent by defra not us!) and then said they were leaving. It was pouring with rain, numpty had turned up in a skirt and high heels. We made her walk to the back field to check the goats condition as was part of the check they state must be performed. They haven't been since...
 
Lol Shay... Last time police pulled us (twice now) they were so shocked that a woman was driving pickup and trailer they sputtered about thefts by a certain group in the area and how sorry they were to have pulled us (did help that mate was gorgeous and just smiled at the poor lad who had pulled us who then melted). Lad was bright red and shot off before saying any more.
The other time they pulled OHs dad... Who talks for England and said that the police never got round to asking any
questions :D
 
Yes but only because we are part of a land improvement scheme and DEFRA do spot checks to ensure we are not over grazing and that all livestock details are up to date. Been a part of the scheme for about ten years which actually ends this year and only 2 months ago we had a check. They also checked all feed and forage we held?? :confused: We only have horses as pets we are not a farm.
 
CC. I assume their spot checks are same as we have and you get notice? I would imagine it shows that the animals haven't just been shipped in for the check to comply with the scheme (or for pp in other situations) and that they are actually living there? Could be way off mark though and could be to do with what's in feed.
 
PandorasJar said:
CC. I assume their spot checks are same as we have and you get notice? I would imagine it shows that the animals haven't just been shipped in for the check to comply with the scheme (or for pp in other situations) and that they are actually living there? Could be way off mark though and could be to do with what's in feed.
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They did make an appointment to come out and to be honest most of the forms to be completed didn't apply to us as we are not a working farm but they checked all animals to the passports and they also checked that the drugs section had been completed by a vet. They also checked all feed we held and wanted to know where we bought our feed from. They said was a one off check and probably would never happen again. As it turned out because my OH had completed the forms and put 5 horses down we were technically over stocked, allowed 3, but the three minis are not kept on land that is a part of the scheme so shouldn't have been put on the forms I suppose. Not sure if that is why they then did the spot check. All ok though no problems with animals or feed stuff.:)
 
Interesting PStar that they checked some animals on your property but not others.
Given the amount of responses and the time passports have been around it sounds like there is not much checking that goes on.
 
Never.When Trading Standards came two years ago they never asked so as I was unsure whether Malaga's paperwork constituted as a passport I asked her and as she could read Spanish she explained it and Pacco's to me and said it was OK but never asked for the 8 donkeys.Never asked at all last year
 
PM, assume you mean me? Goats were on a separate holding under a different name as were main breeding stock - so there wasn't a failing on other animals checked.
Couldn't believe they would bang on about paperwork without fullfilling actual checks on them though! As it were they didn't notice that the goats weren't properly tagged (refuse to do so on welfare grounds)
 
Apart from the vet? No one has asked for our passport. We always have it with us when horse goes out though.
 
Polos Mum said:
Following lots of recent passport threads, a quick question. Other than

1) at a competition (pony club or affiliated)
2) by vets at vaccination time
3) by vets for bute in the last 6 weeks !!
4) livery yard owner to confirm vaccs

Who has ever had to produce their passport for Defra/ any other body checking either horses at home/ on livery or in transport?
Click to expand...

Never. Aside from competitions, I've been in all the above scenarios, too! Never been checked or asked for by vet, YO, or when given bute.
 
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