Equine Passports

The British Horse Society Scotland has reminded all horse owners that they must carry equine passports with them when they travel their horses - and failure to do so is not only breaking the law but also likely to incur a hefty fine.

Following recent incidents both north and south of the Scottish Border when horse transporters and private owners have been stopped and asked to show a passport for each horse on board, it seems increasingly likely that those transporting horses may be stopped and failure to show each horse> '> s passport could result in a fine of between £2,000 and £5,000.

Well known UK horse transport business Eric Gillie Horse Transport, which has been in business for 31 years, has been stopped twice in the last fortnight by Trading Standards officials checking for passports.

Company Director Jane Gillie said: "We do not transport any horses without passports but it is amazing how ignorant horse owners can be. Riding club, pony club, competitors and breeders ring us up to move horses and have either sent the passport by post to the new owner or sent it off to the PIO for transfer of ownership. The passports must stay with the horses or the horses should not be travelling."

For further information, please contact: Helene Mauchlen, BHS Scotland Development Officer, 01764 656334 or 07808 141077 or h.mauchlen@bhs.org.uk