Record Keeping a Must

We've been hearing a lot about the Equine Information Document lately.

Have you recorded one for each of your horses yet?

If you intend to ship or sell your horses anytime in the future, whether or not you have maintained such a record, may be of concern to a potential purchaser.

According to Alberta Farm Animal Care, management changes have become a necessity for most horse owners, as a result of the new Equine ID requirements. These changes have come into force in order to satisfy the European market. As a result, Canada has introduced the Equine Information Document (EID).

Doug Sawyer, Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) chair, says the document serves two purposes: one is to identify the horse so the animal can be followed with actual paperwork and the second part is the history of the horse including the veterinary history.

“It’s very important for horse owners and producers to keep accurate records right from the time the horses are born, or from the time they own them, to go along with the EID document. Without the document, anybody purchasing the horse can’t re-sell it or move it for six months. They have to have an accurate health record on the horse for a minimum of six months but, in the future, that will be [for] the life of the horse,” adds Sawyer.

This means accurate records on horses born today will be required should owners wish to export them. Sawyer stresses an awareness of drugs is vital. “In the future, to get into the European market, we’re going to have to have certain drug bans. It would be very advisable for producers to be talking to their veterinarian to find out which drugs to use and which drugs not to use.”