Microchipping has been used in the pet and equine industry for over 30 years, and is a safe, simple and inexpensive method to track and trace an animal. But what is a Microchip? How do they work? What are the benefits?
A microchip is a tiny rice grain sized nonmigratory identifying integrated circuit chip that uses passive radio-frequency identification technology to help track and trace an animal. Placed under the skin via syringe by a trained veterinarian, each chip contains a unique number which can be located and read by a handheld scanner. These numbers can be used to register information pertaining to each individual animal including; the animal’s name, owner’s name, contact information, along with other important data.
With microchips being tamperproof, permanent, and relatively cost effective, they are a great line of defence to keep you horses safe. The practice of microchipping has many benefits including the ability to track and trace lost and stolen horses, track sales, registration, medical records, and can even help manage and limit the spread of disease.
Although currently in the United States there is no mandatory requirement for microchipping horses, many other countries have adopted this practice into law. The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of tracking horses, adopting passport laws in 2005, and since updating their laws in 2018 to include mandatory microchipping of all horses by October of 2020. These measures have already shown to be helpful with tracing horses to their rightful owners, while helping hold irresponsible owners accountable for the treatment of their animals, and limit passport fraud in the horse marketplace.