THE Northern Ireland Horse Board (NIHB) has announced the launch of a digital passport for equines throughout Ireland which is expected to be up and running in the coming weeks.

The digital passport, delivered via Equiyd, will incorporate multiple features to ensure traceability and transparency in the equestrian industry and will be additional to the paper passport which, by legislation, is still required.

The news comes just a week after Professor Patrick Wall’s report, ‘Reforms to strengthen equine identification, traceability and welfare’, recommended a user-friendly digital platform. The NIHB has commended Professor Wall on the publication of his report and supports its recommendations.

The organisation has been working behind the scenes on providing such a digital platform for the past two years. Via Equiyd, a deep-tech and AI-driven equine management platform based in the UK, they will bring this technology to horse owners across Ireland and will have the sole rights to run the system in Ireland.

Equiyd founder, Michelle Lea, commented: “In light of Professor Wall’s report, there’s a clear call for change in how we manage traceability and welfare across the equine sector. At Equiyd, we’re proud to collaborate with the Northern Ireland Horse Board to deliver a horse-centric solution that prioritises welfare, transparency and lifelong traceability. Our digital passport and platform ensures that every horse has a secure, centralised record that follows them throughout their life, no matter where they go or who owns them.”

Step forward

Hugh McCusker, NIHB chairperson, commented: “In my 30 years in the NIHB, 15-plus years on the Horse Sport Ireland Board, Chair of the Irish Shows Association, as well as my years on the board of Showjumping Ireland, this is the biggest step forward for our industry, and a privilege for me to be involved in.

“We are extremely proud to be able to bring this advanced technology to all of Ireland. The Heads of Terms have already been signed by both parties, and we are excited to move forward with our technical partners.

“We will be able to serve owners, breeders, veterinarians and industry professionals by ensuring that all critical data remains with the horse throughout its life, thereby enhancing welfare, transparency and operational efficiency,” McCusker concluded.

The traditional content of each passport will be digitised, enabling the data to stay with the horse throughout its life, but it will also ensure ‘unique and tamper-proof identification for every horse’.

Horse owners will be able to set up a user-interface to access their horses’ passport information, while vets will be able to input vaccination or other relevant health data. It will also allow change of ownership to be done electronically.

“The Northern Ireland Horse Board collaboration with Equiyd heralds a new dawn for our industry. We are excited to work with Michelle and her team to bring Equiyd to Ireland, and how our shared objective can make the recommendations made by Professor Wall’s report a reality,” said Christopher Bogle, director general of the NIHB.

This digital passport, according to the NIHB, currently addresses around 80% of the recommendations in Professor Wall’s report, but with ongoing improvements, it will soon make strides to address and implement them all.

The NIHB is confident that details for the 30,000 equines currently on their database will be uploaded in the coming weeks, at no additional cost to members.