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Views sought on equine identification system
“An integrated system for equine ID across the UK is desperately needed" - Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare.
Findings will inform a government consultation on proposed improvements to the system. 

Equine charity World Horse Welfare (WHW) is calling on anyone interested in horses to take part in a new equine identification - or horse passport – survey, which it has developed in partnership with the British Horse Council.

The call comes after Defra launched a public consultation on proposed changes for improving equine identification and traceability in England. While WHW has welcomed the move, it is concerned that it does not cover the rest of the UK and that some people may not find the terminology user-friendly.

The simple simple survey takes just a few minutes to complete and aims to gather evidence on the current state of the system, which WHW will feed back into the consultation. It is open to anyone interested in Equine ID in the UK - but there are also specific questions for horse owners/keepers - and some questions will be dependent on where in the country the respondent lives.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: “An integrated system for equine ID across the UK is desperately needed and this straightforward and accessible survey will allow horse owners, keepers or anyone else with an interest to have their say on this pivotal issue.

“Moreover, it will also deliver the evidence we need to persuade UK Governments to make the changes needed to deliver a system that is workable, enforceable and enforced. This is fundamental to supporting all of our equine health and welfare legislation.”

According to the organisation, maintaining an up-to-date database is critical not just for efficient legislation enforcement but also for disease control. It will also allow lost or stolen horses to be reunited with their owners, as well as make it simpler to identify and hold accountable those responsible for horses suffering from poor welfare. 

British Horse Council chair David Mountford said: “Defra’s consultation gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make our voices heard regarding how we manage our horses’ information in the future. It is quite long and technical though, and for the 750,000 busy horse owners in the UK, we’ve made it even easier to share your views.

“The current ID system simply isn’t fit for purpose, with over 50 per cent of the data on the Central Equine Database – which is meant to hold up-to-date information on all horses in the UK – inaccurate or incomplete and changes need to be made.”

To participate in the survey, visit smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HORSEPASSPORTS

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."