The Irish Horse Register incorporates two separate studbooks, the Irish Sport Horse Studbook and the Irish Draught Horse Studbook, as well as a register of animals with no pedigree or partial pedigree that do not meet the criteria for inclusion in either studbook.

Why do I need a passport?

From 1st July 2009, the identification system for equidae was amended. Under EU Legislation, all equidae will have to be microchipped and have their identification document (passport) within six months of their birth. The microchip number of each animal must be recorded on its passport.

The new identification system will build on a single identification document – one passport – issued for life when the animal is born or imported. The document will be linked to the animal by their microchip, and the fact that it was issued will be recorded in a database under a Unique Equine Life Number (UELN) for the animal that will remain the constant reference even when the animal’s name is changed.

Under the EU Legislation, animals not registered within 6 months of their birth will be permanently excluded from the food chain and Horse Sport Ireland is obliged to stamp their passport ‘Not Fit for Human Consumption’. Similarly, where foals are sent to slaughter, they must have been registered for a period of at least 6 months before they are allowed to enter the food chain. Where an animal is issued a duplicate passport they will be permanently excluded from the food chain and the duplicate passport stamped to reflect this.

Passports issued by Horse Sport Ireland at all times remain the property of the Irish Horse Register. Upon death or slaughter of any animal, the passport must be returned to Horse Sport Ireland.

What is the difference between a foal and an adult horse registration?

For registration purposes:

A foal is deemed to be an animal in its year of birth (e.g. any animal born between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2010 is considered a foal for the duration of that period)
A horse is deemed to be an animal outside its year of birth (e.g. an animal born between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2009 is deemed to be an adult horse from 1st January 2010 onwards)

For adult horse registration fees (studbook passports) the following applies:

Yearling – animal born in 2010 is a yearling for the duration of 2011
2 Year Old – animal born in 2010 is a 2 year old for the duration of 2012
3 Year Old – animal born in 2010 is a 3 year old for the duration of 2013
4 Year Old/+ - animal born in 2010 is a 4 year old/+ from 1st January 2014 onwards

How do I register my foal in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook?

Before registering a foal in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, both the sire and the dam of the foal must be registered in the Irish Horse Register and the foal must be eligible to be included in the Studbook. On receipt of a correctly complete covering certificate, Horse Sport Ireland will automatically issue a foal kit to the registered owner of the dam.

STEP 1: CALL YOUR VET

Upon receipt of your foal kit you will need to call out your vet. Contained within the foal kit will be:

Marking chart for the foal - this must be completed by the vet, who will also microchip your foal and attach the microchip bar code to the marking chart. Please ensure that only a HSI Microchip is inserted into your foal. Horse Sport Ireland issues microchips to vets free of charge for animals that will be registered in the IHR.
DNA hair sample bag - in order to DNA type your foal, the vet will remove a hair sample from the foal and place it in the sample bag. The sample bag must then be sent to Weatherby’s Ireland for DNA testing. Where the dam of the foal has not been previously DNA typed, the foal kit will also contain a hair sample bag for the dam, which again must be returned to Weatherby’s.
Return envelopes – you will receive a return envelope for your foal’s marking chart (return to HSI), your foal’s DNA hair sample bag (return to Weatherby’s) and, where applicable, for the dam’s DNA hair sample bag (return to Weatherby’s).
Information leaflet – detailing the steps as outlined above.

STEP 2: SEND YOUR FOAL MARKING CHART TO HSI WITH FEE

Once your vet has completed the marking chart for your foal and attached the microchip barcode, you will need to return the marking chart to Horse Sport Ireland with the appropriate fee (detailed below) in the return envelope provided.

STEP 3: YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR IRISH SPORT HORSE STUDBOOK PASSPORT

Once HSI has received your foal’s marking chart, correct passport fee plus the DNA result from Weatherby’s, the foal’s passport will be posted to the registered owner of the dam. Your foal is now registered in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook.

How do I register my foal in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook?

Before registering a foal in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook, both the sire and the dam of the foal must be registered in the Irish Horse Register and the foal must be eligible to be included in the Studbook. On receipt of a correctly complete covering certificate, Horse Sport Ireland will automatically issue a foal kit to the registered owner of the dam.

STEP 1: CALL YOUR VET

Upon receipt of your foal kit you will need to call out your vet. Contained within the foal kit will be:

Marking chart for the foal - this must be completed by the vet, who will also microchip your foal and attach the microchip bar code to the marking chart. Please ensure that only a HSI Microchip is inserted into your foal. Horse Sport Ireland issues microchips to vets free of charge for animals that will be registered in the IHR.
DNA hair sample bag - in order to DNA type your foal, the vet will remove a hair sample from the foal and place it in the sample bag. The sample bag must then be sent to Weatherby’s Ireland for DNA testing. Where the dam of the foal has not been previously DNA typed, the foal kit will also contain a hair sample bag for the dam, which again must be returned to Weatherby’s.
Return envelopes – you will receive a return envelope for your foal’s marking chart (return to HSI), your foal’s DNA hair sample bag (return to Weatherby’s) and, where applicable, for the dam’s DNA hair sample bag (return to Weatherby’s).
Information leaflet – detailing the steps as outlined above.

STEP 2: SEND YOUR FOAL MARKING CHART TO HSI WITH FEE

STEP 3: YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR IRISH DRAUGHT HORSE STUDBOOK PASSPORT

Why have I not received my foal kit/foal passport?

Common reasons for issues arising in the registration of your foal are as follows:

No covering certificate returned to HSI by the stallion owner
Incomplete or incorrect information detailed on the covering certificate
Dam of the foal not registered prior to covering
Dam of the foal not named prior to covering (i.e. still has a foal passport rather than a adult passport)
Incorrect registered owner of the dam recorded (if you have purchased a mare, ensure you have sent her passport to HSI to change the registered ownership information into your name prior to covering)

How do I register my adult horse in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook?

Before registering a horse in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, both the sire and the dam of the animal must be registered in the Irish Horse Register and the animal must be eligible to be included in the Studbook. Both the sire and the dam must have been DNA tested to confirm parentage of your horse. Horse Sport Ireland must have received a covering certificate from the stallion owner.

STEP 1: CONTACT WEATHERBY’S IRELAND

You will need to contact Weatherby’s (+353 45 879979) to order a DNA kit in order to parentage test your horse. They will also send you a marking chart.

STEP 2: CONTACT HORSE SPORT IRELAND

You will need to contact HSI to order a microchip for your horse, which will be sent to your vet.

STEP 3: CALL YOUR VET

Upon receipt of your DNA kit and microchip, you will need to call out your vet. Contained within the kit will be:

Marking chart for the horse - this must be completed by the vet, who will also microchip your horse and attach the microchip bar code to the marking chart. Please ensure that only a HSI Microchip is inserted into your horse. Horse Sport Ireland issues microchips to vets free of charge for animals that will be registered in the IHR.
DNA hair sample bag - in order to DNA type your horse, the vet will remove a hair sample from the horse and place it in the sample bag. The sample bag must then be sent to Weatherby’s Ireland for DNA testing.
Return envelope – you will receive a return envelope for your horse’s marking chart and your horse’s DNA hair sample bag (return to Weatherby’s).
Information leaflet – detailing the steps as outlined above.

STEP 4: SEND YOUR HORSE’S MARKING CHART & DNA RESULT TO HSI WITH FEE

Once you have received your horse marking chart and DNA result back from Weatherby’s, you will need to return them to Horse Sport Ireland with the appropriate fee (detailed below).

STEP 4: YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR IRISH SPORT HORSE STUDBOOK PASSPORT

Once HSI has received your horse’s marking chart, DNA result and correct passport fee, the horse’s passport will be posted to the registered owner of the animal. Your horse is now registered in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook.

How do I register my adult horse in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook?

Before registering a horse in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook, both the sire and the dam of the animal must be registered in the Irish Horse Register and the animal must be eligible to be included in the Studbook. Both the sire and the dam must have been DNA tested to confirm parentage of your horse. Horse Sport Ireland must have received a covering certificate from the stallion owner.

STEP 1: CONTACT WEATHERBY’S IRELAND

You will need to contact Weatherby’s (+353 45 879979) to order a DNA kit in order to parentage test your horse. They will also send you a marking chart.

STEP 2: CONTACT HORSE SPORT IRELAND

You will need to contact HSI to order a microchip for your horse, which will be sent to your vet.

STEP 3: CALL YOUR VET

Upon receipt of your DNA kit and microchip, you will need to call out your vet. Contained within the kit will be:

Marking chart for the horse - this must be completed by the vet, who will also microchip your horse and attach the microchip bar code to the marking chart. Please ensure that only a HSI Microchip is inserted into your horse. Horse Sport Ireland issues microchips to vets free of charge for animals that will be registered in the IHR.
DNA hair sample bag - in order to DNA type your horse, the vet will remove a hair sample from the horse and place it in the sample bag. The sample bag must then be sent to Weatherby’s Ireland for DNA testing.
Return envelope – you will receive a return envelope for your horse’s marking chart and your horse’s DNA hair sample bag (return to Weatherby’s).
Information leaflet – detailing the steps as outlined above.

STEP 4: SEND YOUR HORSE’S MARKING CHART & DNA RESULT TO HSI WITH FEE

Once you have received your horse marking chart and DNA result back from Weatherby’s, you will need to return them to Horse Sport Ireland with the appropriate fee (detailed below).

STEP 4: YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR IRISH DRAUGHT HORSE STUDBOOK PASSPORT

How do I obtain an identification document/non-pedigree passport for my horse?

In order for a foal or horse to be registered in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook or the Irish Draught Horse Studbook, both their parents must be registered in the Irish Horse Register and the animal must be eligible to be included in the Studbook. If your horse has no pedigree or is not eligible for inclusion in either studbook, you can obtain an identification document/non-pedigree passport.

STEP 1: CALL YOUR VET

Your vet will complete the marking chart for your foal/horse, microchip the animal and attach the microchip bar code to the marking chart.

STEP 2: SEND YOUR MARKING CHART TO HSI WITH FEE

Return the completed marking chart and appropriate fee (detailed below) to Horse Sport Ireland.

STEP 3: YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT

How do I obtain a passport for my donkey?

STEP 1: CALL YOUR VET

Your vet will complete the marking chart for your donkey, microchip the animal and attach the microchip bar code to the marking chart.

STEP 2: SEND YOUR MARKING CHART TO HSI WITH FEE

Return the completed marking chart and appropriate fee (detailed below) to Horse Sport Ireland.

STEP 3: YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT

How do I change the registered owner on a passport?

To change the registered owner information on a horse’s passport, please complete the ‘Change of Registered Owner’ form and return it to Horse Sport Ireland with the fee of €5. Please note that passports issued by Horse Sport Ireland at all times remain the property of Horse Sport Ireland. The owner recorded on a horse’s passport is registered as such for correspondence purposes relating to that animal and does not reflect any legal standing in relation to ownership.

How do I obtain a duplicate passport for my horse?

If your passport has been lost, stolen or destroyed you may apply to Horse Sport Ireland for a duplicate passport. Where an animal is issued a duplicate passport they will be permanently excluded from the food chain and the duplicate passport stamped to reflect this.

IF YOUR HORSE HAS A MICROCHIP:

Complete the ‘Duplicate Passport With Microchip’ form
Call your vet. The vet must scan your horse to verify the microchip number of your horse. They must record this number on the above form. They must also sign and stamp the form.
Return the form to HSI with the appropriate fee (detailed below)

IF YOUR HORSE HAS NO MICROCHIP:

Complete the ‘Duplicate Passport No Microchip’ form
Call your vet. The vet must remark your horse and insert a microchip into the animal. They must record the microchip on the marking chart. They must also sign and stamp the above form.
Return the form and marking chart to HSI with the appropriate fee (detailed below)

How do I obtain an urgent passport?

Horse Sport Ireland operate an urgent same day passport service. To avail of this service, you must deliver your full application to the office before 11am on the day the passport is required. The fee for this urgent service is double the normal fee (detailed below).

How do I name my horse?

Unless an animal has been registered with a prefix as a foal, they are only eligible to be named when they reach two years of age. To name your horse and receive its adult passport complete the ‘Naming’ form and return it with the animal’s foal passport and the appropriate fee (detailed below) to HSI. If the horse’s markings differ from the foal passport, your vet will need to complete a new marking chart and return it with the above items.

How do I register a prefix?

Horse Sport Ireland offers the facility to register a prefix with the Central Prefix Register (UK). Any horse with a registered cannot have its name changed in the Irish Horse Register, without the permission of the person who owns the prefix. Prefix forms are available on request from HSI and the following rules apply:

Fee of €50 applies
Prefix may have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 20 characters
Prefix may be one word only
Breed names are not allowed

How do I get a passport endorsed?

If you have a horse registered with another studbook you may wish to have that animal recorded in the Irish Horse Register for breeding or competition purposes. Only passports from studbooks recognised by the WBFSH can be endorsed and the passport must be an adult passport. The horse will retain its original passport and breed code but will be recorded in the IHR. For endorsement, send the passport plus the appropriate fee (detailed below) to HSI.

Registration process fees:

PROCESS	IHB MEMBER FEE	NON-IHB MEMBER FEE
Registration of foals	€65*	€95*
Registration of horses	Yearling - €75	Yearling - €105
	2 Year Old - €90	2 Year Old - €120
	3 Year Old - €100	3 Year Old - €130
	4 Year Old/Older - €115	4 Year Old/Older - €145
Identification document/non-pedigree passports	€35	€35
Registration of donkeys	€35	€35
Change of registered owner	€5	€5
Duplicate passports	€35	€65
Naming	€20	€50
Prefix registration	€50	€50
Passport endorsement	€35	€65
*Note: Foals registered before 31st October will receive a €15 discount in their foal passport fee

IHB Member Discounts:

Through Irish Horse Board affiliation to Horse Sport Ireland, HSI provides discounts on registration fees to members of the IHB (see fee table above). For further information on becoming a member of the Irish Horse Board please visit www.ihb.ie

HSI Registrations Unit office hours:

Open to the public from 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday)
Telephone calls from 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) – 045 850800
Special Registrations Helpline from 1.30pm to 3.30pm (Monday to Friday) - 045 854550