life - EQUESTRIAN
New Welfare of
Animals during
Transport EU
Order – how will
this affect the
horse industry?
Now you have to be
aware of the new
rules regarding when
transporting your horses.
the following groups in the horse
industry:- commercial hauliers,
horses transported to be sold
as part of a business (ie traders/
dealers), professional horse riders/
racers/polo players.
by Mark Charter
From January 5 2007
all horse owners and
transporters carrying their
own or another person’s
horses for profit, or as part of
a business, will have to carry
a Transporter Authorisation
(applications can be made
via DEFRA).
Two
types
of
Transporter
Authorisations are to be issued.
Firstly, for shorter journeys
– anyone transporting horses
over 65km and for up to 8 hours.
Secondly, for longer journeys
– transporting horses for over 8
hours. Transporter Authorisations
are currently free and will be
issued for 5 years.
The EU Order will typically affect
62
Further requirements will be
phased in over the next 3 years,
including:
• vehicle approval
• journey logs, journey
times and rest periods
• certificates of competence
• specific ramp angles
• feed and water supply
regulations
It is also imperative that all
horses travel with an Animal
Transport Certificate (and of
course their passport!).
There
will be a requirement for satellite
navigation to be incorporated
into all new vehicles used for
transporting
horses
(except
registered horses) – and is aimed
at those horses/ponies transported
for the food chain.
In 2008,
drivers/attendants must have a
Certificate of Competence and
assembly centre staff will have to
undergo training on the protection
of horses during transport.
Details of the requirements
include:
1. Horses must be transported in
single partitions on journeys over
8 hours or when travelling onto
a roll-on / roll-off ferry. The only
exception to this is a mare and
foal.
2. There will be a minimum space
above the withers requirement.
3. Unbroken ponies are not to be
transported in groups of more than
4 on road journeys over 8 hours.
4. Foals under 4 months must have
appropriate bedding and must not
be transported for more than 8
hours unless accompanied by their
mother.
5. Adult breeding stallions should
be transported separately, except
if accustomed to another horse.
Private individuals who ride for
pleasure and transport their own
horses are exempted from this
Order. As are those transporting
horses for the purpose of
veterinary treatment and moving
your own horses using your own
vehicles for a distance of less than
50km.
This EU Order equally affects all
other commercial animal industries
and its purpose is to improve
animal welfare and standardise
transporting requirements across
the EU.
Enforcement will be
regulated by the State Veterinary
Service and Local Authorities
and aside from issuing notices of
infringement, those who are found
to breach this Order could risk a
fine of up to £5,000.00 and/or 6
months’ imprisonment.
For more equine law information
please contact Kerry Dovey or
Sarah Joppe of Blake Lapthorn
Tarlo Lyons’ Equine Team on 01489
555282 or email kerry.dovey@
bllaw.co.uk or sarah.joppe@bllaw.
co.uk and see our website:
www.bllaw.co.uk.
Sponsored by Froghill and Brickfields