ARCHIVE: Horses

Overview

There is a special relationship between most British people and horses. We do not see them as farm livestock. However, our views are not shared by all other countries and EU law regards horses in the same way as farmed animals. We have national rules ("minimum values") intended to prevent the unnecessary transport of low value ponies to Europe for slaughter.

We ensure that animal welfare rules protecting horses at markets and sales and during transport are rigorously enforced. Defra and local authority officers attend pony sales and take on-the-spot action to correct any problems. If anyone has any evidence that these rules are not being complied with, they should contact their Animal Health Divisional Office or Local Authority so that appropriate investigations can be made. Information on the welfare rules governing transport of horses and other animals can be found in the Guidance Notes for Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005.

Exports

We know that there is considerable public concern about allegations that British ponies are exported to the continent for human consumption. We have not found, or been given, any evidence that ponies are regularly exported in this way. On the other hand, we cannot dismiss the possibility that there may be occasional incidents. Our random checks and surveillance at ports would, we are sure, pick up any routine trade, but it is more difficult for our staff to direct their efforts so as to pick up isolated incidents. We will continue to work with local authority staff to ensure that animals leave pony sales in suitable vehicles and accompanied by the correct documentation. This action is supplemented by checks at ports, which are targeted on times when ponies might be exported, such as the period after the pony sales.

Export Welfare Licences

Application forms and general guidance on exporting horses and ponies abroad can be obtained by contacting:

International Trade Centre for Exports
Hadrian House
Wavell Drive
Rosehill Ind. Estate
Carlisle
CA1 2TB

Tel: 01228 403600

Fax: 01228 591900

Email: centralops.carlisle@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk

Application forms for export welfare licenses for horses and ponies can be downloaded here.

Horses from Eastern Europe

We deplore the cruelty reported in the trade in horses from the former Eastern bloc and beyond into the EU for slaughter. Expansion of the EU in May 2004 extended EU animal welfare rules to many countries crossed by this trade and should lead to considerable improvements in standards. The UK cannot take direct action in respect animals moving between other countries; it is for each EU country to apply the rules on its own territory and for the European Commission to ensure that EU rules are properly implemented and enforced.

Import of 'rescue' horses

Background

1.         Concerns have been raised by the public and horse welfare organisations about internet sites selling horses from abroad.  These animals are allegedly rescue horses or horses that would otherwise be destined for slaughter. Some of these horses are being brought to new homes in the UK. There have been reports that some of these horses have been in very poor condition when transported to the UK with  concerns being raised about their health and welfare.

2.         There is nothing wrong with the buying and transport of rescue horses provided all the applicable legislation is complied with (including legislation in place to protect welfare) and there is no misrepresentation involved in the advertising and sale.   However it seems some rescue horses may be travelling under the terms of the Tripartite Agreement without the required health and welfare checks before journeys start.

3.         Areas of concern raised about this trade include horses being unfit for the journey (which is a contravention of welfare in transport Regulation 1/2005 and in some cases would also be a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006) and horses having clinical signs of disease during transport.  This raises concerns about the welfare of the horses involved and the potential health risk they pose to other horses they come into contact with on arrival in the United Kingdom, for example by introducing West Nile Virus and African Horse Sickness. Horses travelling under the Tripartite Agreement are exempt from certification , but there is still legislation that must be complied with to protect health and welfare.

What is being done to monitor this trade? And what has been found?

4.         Where information is received about such consignments these are being targeted for checks. A small number of checks have been carried out. In the cases looked at so far, the horses concerned were considered to be fit for travel and did not show signs of suffering from disease. This does not mean that we can afford to be complacent and further checks will be carried out if good, timely, intelligence on import consignments of these rescue horses is received

What to do if you believe unfit or unhealthy horses are being transported.

5.         Under existing EU trade and welfare legislation you may not transport unfit or unhealthy horses (even under the terms of the Tripartite Agreement). If you believe you have evidence that such horses are about to travel from abroad, for example France, you should immediately present this information to the appropriate authorities in that country/place of departure so they can investigate and take action as appropriate.

6.         If this  cannot be resolved for any reason and the horses travel, then you should immediately pass on as much information as possible to the Dover Animal Health Office, telephone no. 01304 211630, who will alert the Local Authority and Animal Health offices covering the ports of arrival or place of destination.

7.         Pass on as much information as you can, including the names of transporters, registration numbers of vehicles/trailers port of entry and time of arrival, preferably as far ahead of arrival as possible.  This will help develop a profile of the trade and may allow consignments to be inspected on arrival. Further information such as ferry line, address of departure premises, time of departure, port of departure from the Continent, time of sailing, final destination premises would also be helpful and greatly aid enforcement authorities’ ability to inspect the consignment and documentation and check compliance with EU trade and welfare rules.

Regulations applying to the movement of horses from France

8.         All movements must comply with welfare in transport rules (which apply throughout the European Union), including:

  • All horses must be fit for the intended journey (i.e. not showing signs of disease and able to travel without being caused unnecessary pain or distress),
  • All transporters carrying horses as part of an economic activity must be authorised ,
  • Drivers and attendants must hold certificates of competence
  • Vehicles must be approved if journey length is  8 hours or more,
  • Unregistered horses* have a 24 hour journey limit (from time of loading onto a means of transport) after which a 24 hour rest must be taken before the journey may continue,
  • Unregistered horses*  must be offered water and if necessary fed at least every 8 hours,
  • Unregistered horses*, including slaughter horses, must be accompanied by a valid Journey Log, stamped by the French veterinary authorities, which shows the intended route and estimated journey times. The original Journey Log  must be kept at destination premises with a copy kept by the transporter,

9          Within the United Kingdom, transporting a horse in a way that was detrimental to it’s welfare would be a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.  That Act states that a person commits an offence if they are responsible for an animal, either permanently or temporarily and cause the animal to suffer,  or fail to ensure its need are met.

10.       EU rules require all horses to have a valid Horse Passport. Horses moved from a Member State without a passport may therefore have  been moved illegally into the United Kingdom from another Member State. Horses that have been moved illegally have an unknown travel and health history so may be more likely to pose a disease risk. You should be cautious about buying any horses that are not correctly documented. A new Regulation being introduced in July 2009 will ensure that: 

  • All horses moved within the EU must have a passport
  • Horses entering the EU from a third country have 30 days  in which to obtain a passport.
  •  All horses must have a  passport issued before slaughter so any horses rescued from slaughter should already have a passport and
  • Any horse passported for the first time must also be microchipped.  

11.      Health Certification.  Generally speaking horses moving between the United Kingdom , France and Ireland may do so without any health certificate. But:

  • Horses that are destined for slaughter  are NOT covered by the Tripartite Agreement and therefore must have an Intra-Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) in accordance with Annex C of Directive 90/426 .
  • Any horse moved from one  Member State to another  for slaughter must have an ITAHC in accordance with Annex C of Directive 90/426. The final destination of these horses is a slaughterhouse.
  • The ITAHC does not exempt transporters from their obligations under United Kingdom and European Community regulations, especially with regards to health of the animal and fitness to transport. This also applies to horses moved under the Tripartite Agreement.
  • Horses entering the UK from a Member State other than France or Ireland must have an ITAHC issued before transport.
  • Horses entering the United Kingdom from a Third Country must originate in a Third Country listed for imports into the EU and be accompanied by a harmonised health certificate before transport and enter the EU through an EU approved Border Inspection Post where they are subject to veterinary checks.
If you are considering buying a rescue horse from abroad

12.      Remember, this is not unlawful.  However due care must be exercised to  protect the health and welfare of not just the horse(s) you  wish to give a home to but also the health and welfare of the horse population of this country. You must consider whether the horse you are buying is fit to be transported to the UK. It is an offence to transport an unfit horse.

13.      Caution should be taken when buying horses over the internet. We recommend horses are not bought without first having been checked by a knowledgeable person. If you wish to buy a rescue horse, we would also recommend you take advice from reputable horse welfare groups  before proceeding.

14.      If you do buy a rescue horse then:

  • Don’t pay sight unseen in advance.
  • Ask for a copy of the Journey Log with the delivery of the horse. The horse will most likely have been imported in a group and as such should have been transported with a journey log. This will show whether the horse’s journey has been shorter than the 24 hour journey limit and whether the necessary stops for water and feed have occurred.  If the journey was over 24 hours, there should be a minimum 24 rest period shown .
  • Ask for the movement record of the horse (or check the movements in the passport). If the horse has been previously moved into  the Member State from which you are purchasing the horse from another Member State, ask for a copy of the original ITAHC issued in the Member State of origin.
  • Ask for the Horse Passport on arrival and ensure the horse identified in the passport corresponds to the horse you have bought.
  • Check the condition of the horse on arrival.  If the horse appears to be in poor health or suffering in any way you should get immediate private veterinary advice before accepting the horse. Your veterinarian will be able to make a professional judgement on whether the horse was fit for the journey, whether it is showing signs of disease  and whether there are other welfare concerns that need to be addressed.
  • If you have any concerns about the horse’s health or welfare after accepting the horse, then again seek immediate private veterinary advice, in the interests of your horse and of the wider UK equine population.
If you are unhappy with the horse and/or the documentation, also:
  • Check the vehicle has a vehicle approval certificate (required for all journeys over 8 hours) which should be on the vehicle and note the reference number.
  • Check  the driver/attendant has a Certificate of Competence (for an import journey the certificate should indicate it is for over 8 hour journeys) and note the reference numbers.
  • Take the registration number of the vehicle and trailer and pass this information straight away to the Animal Health and Welfare team in your Local Authority with your concerns.

15.      Remember, a reputable transporter should not refuse to provide the documentation or allay any concerns you may have.

*  unregistered horse  means a horse that is not on the stud book of a recognised breed society or does not hold a passport from an organisation that organises international competitions (e.g. FEI or the Showjumping Society of Ireland).  By inference a registered horse is a horse that is on the stud book of a recognised breed society or does hold a passport from an organisation that organises international competitions (e.g. FEI or the Showjumping Society of Ireland). Not all horses with passports are therefore registered horses.

Page last modified: May 9, 2011