Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is launching major digital investment and innovation within its Horse Source passporting platform, focused on delivering even faster turnaround times, improved data accuracy and a more transparent experience for foal owners and veterinary professionals.
This innovation represents a substantial investment in system design, development, testing and automation.
The objective is to increase efficiency in the process, particularly during peak periods, and introduce new automated workflows that will allow applications to move even more efficiently, from submission through to passports being issued. The improvements to Horse Source are being introduced later this year.
Late last year, HSI and its partners commenced software development aimed specifically at further improving turnaround times within the HSI national passporting system and adding convenience to the customer.
This work includes new digital tools, automated workflows and system integrations that reduce the number of steps involved in the process, and postal delays.
The investment reflects a long-term commitment to a modern, resilient and compliant passporting infrastructure that supports improved equine traceability and a better customer experience.
Currently, when a customer submitted a passport application through Horse Source:
- a DNA kit and blank paper marking chart were issued to the customer.
- the customer arranged a veterinary appointment to have the foal marked.
- the hair sample and completed chart were returned by post to Horse Sport Ireland before being sent on to the laboratory by post.
Even when everything runs smoothly, this stage alone can take a minimum of seven working days, depending on how quickly documentation and samples are returned.
The next phase of Horse Source introduces a fully digital and automated approach to marking charts and DNA sampling.
- when a customer applies, a digital marking chart is issued automatically to the nominated veterinary practitioner/clinic
- DNA labels with unique barcodes are generated at the same time
- the veterinary practitioner completes the marking chart online after examining the foal
- the hair sample is taken and placed in an envelope labelled with the system-generated barcode
- the sample is sent directly to the laboratory.
This removes paper forms, eliminates multiple postal steps and ensures marking data and DNA samples are linked accurately within the system from the outset. These changes when introduced will remove the use of paper marking charts.
DNA testing is carried out by Weatherbys. The laboratory testing phase takes 14 working days, which remains a fixed element of the overall process.
A further development is the introduction of enhanced step-by-step tracking within Horse Source. Customers will be able to see when the DNA sample has been received by the laboratory and when testing has been completed. A step-by step checking system within the laboratory is also currently being developed which will give extra visibility on the process, once that development is complete.
This provides a new level of visibility for customers and allows them to follow their application through each stage of the process, including the laboratory phase.
Once laboratory testing is complete, DNA results and the completed digital marking chart will upload directly to HSI’s registration and quality control systems.
This allows the internal verification and quality control process to begin immediately, without the need for additional manual data entry or document handling, supporting a faster and more consistent route to passport issue.
When combined with the fixed laboratory testing timeframe, these system innovations have the potential to reduce the overall end-to-end passporting process significantly, where applications, veterinary appointments and sample submissions are completed promptly. This represents another improvement in service delivery for foal owners and veterinary professionals.
Horse Sport Ireland CEO, Denis Duggan, said: “Our customers have experienced substantially improved passport processing times during 2025. Our priority now is to further reduce waiting times and continue to improve the passporting experience for our customers. This requires ongoing investment in technology, system design and testing. Our focus this year is to improve how marking charts and DNA samples move through the process.
“By introducing innovations such as digital marking and barcode tracking available to Horse Source customers, we are removing avoidable and unneccesary delays and creating a faster and more transparent passporting journey for Horse Source customers.”
To support the continued development and implementation of the Horse Source platform, updated passporting and related service fees will come into effect from the 1st of March, 2026. HSI has worked hard to ensure that these price increases have been kept to a minimum, keeping them broadly in line with inflationary rates.
The updated fees support the continued delivery of a secure, compliant, and efficient system. The decision reflects a responsibility to maintain service standards while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the platform.
A clear and transparent breakdown of all updated fees will be published on a dedicated webpage via the HSI website, including foal passport applications, change of ownership, amendments and replacements, importations and other passporting services.
HSI will be further engaging with veterinary professionals and will update breeders, owners and veterinary bodies over the coming period and will invite veterinarians to demonstrate the improvements prior to going live. Further communications will be issued having taken this feedback into account.
We thank our customers for their continued support as we strive to deliver the most efficient equine passporting system possible for the Irish equestrian community.