FAQs

General FAQs:

• Summary of fees for 2007

• Do all equines have to be registered?

• How do I become a shareholder?

• How do I register an adult animal (including mares)?

• How do I register a foal?

• How do I register a foal as an adult (ie. naming)?

• How do I register a prefix?

• How do I change the ownership on my horses passport?

• How do I replace a lost/stolen/destroyed passport?

• Office hours

Summary of fees for 2007

* Note: The foal registration fee increases by €15 after 31st October

Please note that payment for all applications sent to our Maynooth address must be received in euro. If you wish to pay in sterling, please contact the Northern Ireland Horse Board www.nihorseboard.org

Do all equines have to be registered?

Yes. Under EU legislation, all Equidae (i.e. horses, ponies, donkeys, zebras, etc.) being moved out of a holding must be accompanied by an identification document. Such movements include movement between premises, entering competitions and movement for the purposes of breeding, export and sale for slaughter. The Department of Agriculture and Food introduced a Statutory Instrument (SI 399 of 2004) on 4th October 2004, whereby it is a requirement for all equidae to have passports. The Irish Horse Register is approved by the Department of Agriculture and Food to issue passports to equidae entering the Irish Sport Horse and the Irish Draught Horse Studbooks and equidae not eligible for entry into an approved Studbook

Important New Equine Legislation Information

How do I become a shareholder?

To become a shareholder of the Irish Horse Board costs €10 with a renewal fee of €25 each year after joining. For further information on the benefits of becoming a shareholder and to download a shareholder application form, please click here

How do I register an adult animal (including mares)?

1. To register an adult horse without pedigree simply ask your vet to complete the Irish Horse Register marking chart and return it to the Irish Horse Board with the fee of €35

2. To register an adult horse with full or partial pedigree, you must contact Weatherbys Ireland on +353 45 879979/875521 to arrange a parentage testing kit before the animal can be registered. Further information is detailed in our 'How To' section. Fees are as follows:

How do I register a foal?

There are a few simple rules to follow for correct registration of foals with the Irish Horse Register. The five points listed below enable correct foal registration:

1. The sire of the foal to be registered must be classified with the Irish Horse Register (ie. as an Approved, S1, S2, Supp1 or Supp 2 stallion). The dam must also be registered with the IHR
2. A completed covering cert must be returned to the IHB from each stallion owner cotaining the correct registration number of the dam and the correct name and address of the mare owner
3. A foal marking chart will then be sent to the registered owner of the dam with the name of the sire and the dam printed on the marking chart. Included with the marking chart will be two hair sample bags, one for the foal and one for the dam, in order to DNA type each animal. If the dam has previously been DNA typed, only one hair sample bag will be sent for the foal
4. Microchipping and DNA typing are now a compulsory part of registration of foals. The foal must be microchipped and have a DNA (hair sample) taken when it is being marked by the vet. The microchips will already have been sent to veterinary surgeons paticipating in the scheme
5. The completed foal marking chart should be returned to the Irish Horse Board or the Northern Ireland Horse Board with the correct fee. The DNA (hair sample) must be sent to the Weatherbys Ireland Blood/DNA Typing Laboratory. Confirmation of the foal's parentage by DNA typing will be sent to the IHB by Weatherbys and will appear on the foal's passport

Fees for foal registration:

• €50 for shareholders in the IHB who have paid their €10 joining fee or their €25 annual renewal fee
• €80 for non-shareholders

Please note: The final date for receipt of foal marking charts is 31st October. Any marking charts received after that date will incur an extra fee of €15 per foal for November and December. All marking charts received after 31st December will be subject to a higher registration charge (ie. registration of the animal as a yearling)

Common reasons for mare owners not receiving foal kits:

• No covering certificate returned to the IHB by the stallion owner or the incorrect covering cert returned
• Incorrect mare registration number listed on the covering cert
• Mare not registered prior to covering or having a foal a passport only (ie. not registered as an adult/named)
• Incorrect mare owner recorded or the ownership not changed by the current owner. Please note that foal kits will be sent to the person recorded on the IHR as being the owner of the mare/dam

How do I register a foal as an adult (ie. naming)?

If a horse already has a foal passport (unnamed) they are eligible for registration as a broodmare or adult animal once they reach two years of age. For further information and to download a naming form, please click here

How do I register a prefix?

Breeders can register a prefix of their choice (subject to availability). For further information on prefixes and how to obtain an application form, please click here

How do I change the ownership on my horses passport?

To change the ownership on a horses passport you will need to complete a form and return it with the passport to the IHB. Please click here for further information

How do I replace a lost/stolen/destroyed passport?

There are two classes of passports to consider:

1. Animals with microchip details recorded - click here for further information
2. Animals that have not been microchipped - click here for further information

Office Hours

Open to the public:

9am to 12.30pm & 2pm to 4pm (Monday to Friday)

Closed for lunch:

12.30pm to 2pm

Telephone calls:

9am to 1pm & 2pm to 5pm (Monday to Friday)