LEGAL MATTERS
Horse Transport - The Facts
There are many horse transporters out there some legal and some not so legal. So how do you tell which is the legal one?
The Legal Requirements
1. Operators Licence - either green (international) or blue (national only) discs usually displayed above the road fund licence. The discs have the operators licence number, expiry date, registration number of the lorry and the transporters company. You can check the validity of the licence number on www.vosa.gov.uk
2. DEFRA Licence - this is a licence given by DEFRA to show that we are competent at transporting horses. These licences will change on 5th January 2007 and you will be able to check the authenticity of the licences much easier, but for now you can check with your local DEFRA office www.defra.gov.uk
3. Hire and Reward Insurance-this is just a standard insurance required to transport for money-just like a taxi company has to insure for business use in case of an accident. This insures the lorry only and any third party vehicle-nothing else!!
4. Employers Liability Insurance -j ust as a shop has to have this so does a lorry. It insures you when you step on the lorry, any of your staff that travel with the horse etc.
5. Public Liability Insurance - this insures all equipment that you place on the lorry-such as tack, rugs, etc.
6. Care, Custody and Control Insurance - this insures horses on the lorry whilst in the care of the transporter.
CHECK WITH YOUR TRANSPORTER THAT THEY HAVE ALL 6 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
ALL OF THESE DOCUMENTS MUST BY LAW BE CARRIED ON THE LORRY FOR CHECKING BY THE AUTHORITIES. A LEGAL TRANSPORTER WILL BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU THESE DOCUMENTS.
YOU AND YOUR HORSE ARE AT RISK IF ANY ONE OF THE ABOVE ARE MISSING!
DO NOT USE THE TRANSPORTER!
PASSPORTS
They are now are requirement of the law.
However pointless the whole exercise is considered to be, there has been enough publicity so there is no excuse for not having one. Whether you have a donkey, an aged pony or horses that you don't ride, you still need a passport.
Remember - Without a passport you will NOT BE ABLE to:
- sell your horse
- send it to stud
- enter it into a sale
- use an abbattoir
- use certain drugs
(without signing the declaration, certain drugs CANNOT be administered such as BUTE)
- if you choose not to sign the declaration ALL drug treatments must be entered in the passport
IF you sign the declaration regarding human consumption i.e. that your horse will not go into the food chain, then you DO NOT need to keep a record of any drugs given apart from routine vaccinations.
The non-human consumption Declaration can be filled in at any time, but once this has been done you CANNOT CHANGE YOUR MIND. The Declaration also affects subsequent owners; they cannot overturn your decision. The Declaration remains with the horse for its life.
Should you lose your passport then you can ask for a duplicate.
Be cautious if a horse you are considering purchasing has no paperwork accompanying paperwork - the owner has plenty of time to get matters in hand. There should at least be prove of a passport application.
BE WARNED - SPOT CHECKS ARE BEING MADE
Please Note:
We have pointed out to several thoroughbred owners that their passports are incorrrect.
If you have a passport issued by Weatherbys check that it contains the necessary medical papers - i.e. the section which a vet fills out (if the Declaration has not been signed) regarding drug administration. All passports issued since 2002 (possibly a bit sooner but not sure) have this section, but prior to this date possibly not, so do please check you passport.