Definition of horse includes – horses, ponies, donkeys, and other members of the horse family but excluding zebras.

Since February 2005 owners are not legally able to:

• export a horse
• use a horse for the purposes of competitions
• move a horse to the premises of a new keeper
• present a horse for slaughter for human consumption
• sell a horse, or
• use a horse for breeding purposes
unless it has a valid horse passport

It will become compulsory to micro chip foals born after 1st July 2009 as well as the requirement to obtain a horse passport. Microchips provide an essential link between a horse and its passport and strengthen the existing horse identification requirements. Such unique identification may also prove useful for disease control and surveillance purposes and for the recovery of lost or stolen horses.

If you require any information on this subject please refer to the link on this page or contact Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Service.