Equine Identification & Management
Legal Requirements for Horse Owners
How Gifted Equines Enhances Identification Management
Gifted Equines Automated Microchip Registration
â Legal Requirements for Horse Owners
In the UK, all horse, pony, and donkey owners are legally required to:
Microchip their equines:
- England: from 1 October 2020
- Wales: from 12 February 2021
- Scotland: from 28 March 2021
Obtain a Passport from a UK Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO), which includes the horseâs microchip number, physical description, and registered owner details.
Register with the Central Equine Database (CED), managed by the Equine Register, to ensure traceability and compliance with welfare standards.
𧞠Digital Tools for Owners
Digital Stable (UK) and ScotEquine (Scotland) allow owners to manage equine records, report theft, and upload photos to aid recovery.
The ChipChecker tool on the Equine Register website helps verify if a horse is properly registered.
â ď¸ Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with identification laws may result in fixed penalty notices or other enforcement actions.
đ Why Equine Identification Matters
Proper identification is essential for:
Disease control and food chain safety
Reuniting lost or stolen horses with their owners
Preventing illegal sales, smuggling, and fraudulent ownership
Ensuring accountability for neglect or abandonment
Supporting import/export compliance and welfare regulations
đď¸ The Central Equine Database (CED)
The CED is the UKâs national system for recording equine identity and ownership. It plays a vital role in:
Promoting responsible ownership
Supporting welfare enforcement and disease response
Preventing fraud and theft
Ensuring traceability throughout an equineâs life
Data is submitted to the CED by over 80 authorised PIOs, including breed societies and general passport agencies. However, inconsistencies in data entry and the ongoing transition from paper to digital systems have led to gaps and errors in traceability.
đť How Gifted Equines Enhances Identification Management
Gifted Equines provides a modern, cloud-based platform that simplifies and strengthens equine identification:
Centralised Data Management: Combines microchip, passport, medical, behavioural, and movement records in one place.
Virtual Identity Viewer: Displays key identification details, including PIO and chip registration information.
Manual & Digital Flexibility: Supports both traditional and digital workflows during the transition to full digitisation.
Error Reduction: Minimises data entry mistakes and ensures synchronised updates across systems.
Compliance & Reporting: Helps organisations meet legal obligations and prepare for audits or inspections.
By integrating with the CED as we do with other equine identity partners we would be offering real-time updates, Gifted Equines ensures every horse is accounted forâsupporting welfare, safety, and transparency across the UK equine sector.
We are working with organisations that require an application interface directly with the CED. Although this has not been acheived to date we along with many equine welfare organisations are working towards this.
đ´ Gifted Equines Automated Microchip Registration
Collaborating with digital partners to do better for equines
Gifted Equines is proud to partner with Chipworks and Pettrac to deliver a fully automated microchip registration service that transforms how welfare organisations manage equine identification. This integration streamlines key processesâchecking registrations, recovering details, registering new microchips, and transferring ownershipâeliminating manual errors and saving valuable time.
By combining Chipworksâ robust microchip technology with Pettracâs trusted registration services, Gifted Equines offers a seamless digital solution that ensures data accuracy, improves traceability, and enhances animal welfare. Organisations can now manage microchip records with confidence, knowing that all information is up-to-date and securely stored.
This partnership sets a new standard for the sector, empowering welfare teams to focus on care while technology handles the admin. Itâs a smarter, faster, and more reliable way to support equines and the people who look after them.