IN Ireland and in the EU, when you travel with a horse over 65km, one person in the lorry or horse box has to hold an equine transport licence. You would be forgiven for thinking this is related to driving the horse box or lorry, but it is in fact to ensure those travelling with the animals are able to care for them properly.

In the UK, it is now a requirement that every person travelling in the horse box holds one of these certs. Since this is a new rule post-Brexit, a lot of stable staff who have travelled to the UK with horses in the past do not have this cert.

DEFRA will recognise training carried out in Ireland for the purpose of granting drivers and attendants certificates of competence (equine transport license).

If you have an Irish certificate of competence, you can apply for the UK equivalent via the APHA by completing an application form. You’ll need to provide a copy of your training and assessment, and your valid certificate of competence.

Safety course

The second hurdle stable staff will need to jump in order to gain access to a UK racecourse is completing a Covid-19 safety course.

This course is free and can be completed online through the BHA Racing2Learn website. You will need to show proof of completing this course in order to gain access to the racecourse.

RACE is currently working towards holding a certificate of competence for transport of equines course online and is calling on all those interested to get their applications in as soon as possible as they will be running this course in advance of Cheltenham.

For more information on any of the above, call Sandra Hughes on 087 3781739.