passports....

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DipseyDeb

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where do you stand if, when buying a horse, there is no passport? Just an enquiry, hope to get my daughter a pony in the not too distant future, when I last bought a horse there wasn't the same need for all to have one (she did because she was weatherbys registered!)
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My understanding is that it is now illegal to sell, insure or compete horses without one. My view is if it doesn't have one, walk away. I wouldn't buy a car without a V5 because I couldn't be sure that the seller actually owned the car to sell in the first place, and same applies (roughly) with a horse. This doesn't mean that passports are bombproof evidence of ownership, but rather with than without.
 
you are not supposed to be sold a horse without one but if it doenst have one you can get your vet to do it or some places do it like horse sales etc.

Horse passports were a good idea in principal but if one wasnt given to the horse a birth they aint much good as I found out when selling my horse recently!

Its up to you if you buy one without but id want to know why it hasnt got one
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so it means its never had any jabs etc??
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I have a dim view on passports. Nearly all the horses we have taken in have not had one. We have never been asked for one by the vet, the man who picked up one that had passed away or when competing.
One pony we took in did have a passport - a different one to what it had two years ago when it was at the university my daughter went to.
No questions are asked or proof of ownerships when passports are got.
I did vow never to take another in without a passport but i did take two in as i could not leave them to die.
If you realy wanted the horse i would make sure the people are the owners and make enquiriies locally to where the horse is. Horsey people like to spill the beans
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[ QUOTE ]
I have a dim view on passports. Nearly all the horses we have taken in have not had one. We have never been asked for one by the vet, the man who picked up one that had passed away or when competing. One pony we took in did have a passport - a different one to what it had two years ago when it was at the university my daughter went to. No questions are asked or proof of ownerships when passports are got. I did vow never to take another in without a passport but i did take two in as i could not leave them to die. If you realy wanted the horse i would make sure the people are the owners and make enquiriies locally to where the horse is. Horsey people like to spill the beans
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[/ QUOTE ]That's so disheartening. It half begs the question what the point of passports is?
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The whole point of having a passport imo is so that the government can keep an eye on what animals are out there, then if there is an outbreak of some awful disease then they can trace the "owner" and insist on having them destroyed and only give a £1 in compensation. - Sorry but I'm not a fan, but don't like breaking the law either

On the other side of it, if I was buying a horse, I'd want to be very sure why they don't have a passport for their horse and what happened when they had their jabs (as per BnR above). We bought one of our horses prior to the passports and were lied to about her age (fortunatley for us we had only paid a deposit) but because she was a palomino we found her registered with them and weatherbys, which gave us loads of info plus a wacking great big wedge off of her price. Thats where the passports don't always give you the true situation. Another of our ponies is over 40, her passport has 2 other years of birth though - haven't worked that one out though!!

So I guess better the devil with??? than without????
 
So a vet is advising breaking the law with regards to Passports? Have to say, our vet thinks they are a total waste.

It is illegal to sell a horse without a Passport, but perfectly legal to buy a horse without a Passport. If there is a perfectly good reason why a horse does not have a Passport, I certainly would not let it put me off.
 
From Defra Website:

"Horse Passports Regulations in England and Wales

The Government announced on 14 February 2002, that all horses and ponies (and other forms of equidae) will need to have a passport identifying the animal. It is now an offence for an owner to:

* export a horse
* use a horse for the purposes of competitions
* move a horse to the premises of a new keeper
* present for slaughter for human consumption
* sell a horse
* use a horse for breeding purposes"

From a Trading Standards Website:
"Why does my horse need a passport?

Horse passports are required by European Decision 2000/68/EC, and are necessary in order to prevent horses entering the human food chain if they have been treated with medicines that must not be administered to food producing animals. Although we do not consume horsemeat in any great quantity in the UK, a large number of horses are slaughtered in Britain each year for export for human consumption. The introduction of passports will also help reduce the risk of a ban being introduced on up to 75% of veterinary medicines (including Bute) currently used to treat horses.

The information provided in the passports is also intended to be used to set up a database of horses throughout England, this information will be utilised to try and trace missing or stolen horses."

So it's a good idea as if your horse has ever been treated with certain medicines it cannot enter the food chain. But having said that I do think it's a bit of a farce. Our Haflinger was imported form Holland, the only info in her passport is her name, pedigree and breeder's name. There's no info about markings or any medication she has had or injections in the last 4 years. The only way we know we have the right pony is because we contacted the breeder and got an old photo of her but I have heard of many Haflingers being sold with the wrong passport. It can easily happen as they are transported loose in a box of 5 or 6 ponies, who all have numbers stuck on them(like at auction), these stickers must fall off on their 2-3 day journey.

Anyway in conclusion, it is illegal for anyone to sell a horse without it's passport.
 
My youngster came with a passport but I have had ber 18 months and havent got around to getting it updated into my name yet. Suppose I should do it sometime.
 
I wouldn't say lack of passport means lack of ownership, i know many horse/pony owners who haven't got a passport, purely because maybe these horses do not leave their land, are never going to be sold, never going to compete etc.

Norman did not have one when I bought him, owners had lost it, but being a racehorse had to have one to race and was obviously registered with Wetherby's and simply aplied for a new one. It wouldn't put me off anyway.
 
I have mixed views with passports, I can understand why we have them but at the same time I also don't see the point if people don't abide by the regulations, this includes vets, reputable horse disposal services and race courses might I add!
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However I would not, not buy a horse or pony because it did not have a passport if that particular horse was ideal.

However I would point out to the owner that it is there responsibility to get a passport arranged asap before the horse is sold and removed from their premises and that they are breaking the law or have them pay up front for the cost and just get it done yourself asap! ...which is naughty but if you really want the horse bad enough and at least you are taking the appropriate action in sorting it out for that horse...its one less horse that is around without a passport.

The horse passport agency is not waiting to pounce on you and fine you because your horse has not already got a passport if you are actively getting one arranged asap, there do target dealers yards, sales etc

There is no excuse these days, its simple, cheap enough, the cost of a call out fee from your vet, an examination fee, you get the forms of the net, have all the info to hand ready for the vet, send it off with a cheque.. job done.
 
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