USEF TO REQUIRE MICROCHIPS FOR SOME EVENTS

By the fall of 2018, all horses competing in the hunter/jumper, jumper and equitation divisions of United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)recognized events must be microchipped for identification purposes.

Tiny computer chips encased in glass, microchips are implanted into the nuchal ligament of a horse’s neck by a veterinarian. Each chip stores a unique identification number that can be recorded in multiple databases, including those of the company that inserted the chip, sport organizations and breed registries. A horse’s identity can be verified within seconds by simply passing a scanner over the area where the microchip is embedded.

USEF officials say the reasons behind the new microchip rule have as much to do with equine welfare as they do managing competitive events. “Identification protects horses,” says Summer Stoffel, who worked on the USEF Horse Recording and ID Task Force Committee. “When you can’t quickly and reliably identify horses, you can’t track their welfare. You can’t track their history and experiences. Many breed organizations have already realized this and require microchipping for registration; we are now working from the other end of the line to help get as many horses caught up in this net as possible.”

Widespread use of microchips will also aid in biosecurity efforts, says Mary Babick, the National Breeds and Disciplines Council Chair for USEF and Vice President of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). “A few years ago, in Ocala,