A NEW “transformational” central equine database will require all horse owners and keepers to engage with the Department of Agriculture far more frequently than before as the system aims to vastly improving equine traceability in Ireland, according to Minister Martin Heydon.

The Department of Agriculture plan to launch the database in the coming weeks. Last weekend, Minister Heydon raised the topic at the Irish Racehorse Owners Awards. He said: “The central equine database contains every active equine premises number and the number of horses located on that premises. Over time, critical control points will be built into the system and operators will not be allowed to present a horse for sale, export or competition unless they can show the horse’s location on the database.

“This system will be transformational for the sector and will require all horse owners and keepers to engage with the Department far more frequently than before. I know change is uncomfortable, but my Department’s IT team has developed an easy-to-use system to keep your administrative burden to a minimum.”

Last March, the Department published a report compiled by Prof Paddy Wall, which proposed a series of recommendations to strengthen equine identification, traceability and welfare. The report was commissioned following the broadcasting of an RTÉ investigation into the equine sector and how rogue traders and operators were falsifying horse passports in order to make money.

The foundation of the new system was the 2024 equine census returns and these have already been converted into equine herd profiles, similar to the cattle system.

The Minister acknowledged: “The most frequent request emerging from stakeholder engagement and the public consultation was for more visible enforcement of the legislation governing traceability and welfare. The majority of stakeholders take excellent care of their animals, and they are frustrated by what they see as a lack of consequences for those that don’t take the same care.”

Abattoir

Minister Heydon also said he hopes an equine abattoir will be up and running in 2026, as one submission has passed the initial stage. There has been no slaughter facility for horses on the island following the forced closure of Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Co Kildare in mid-2024.

Last month, the Minister said that there have been 560 horses exported out of the country for slaughter on the continent since August 2024, according to the European Commission’s online animal health certification database.

“My Department is working with interested parties to facilitate the establishment of an end-of-life facility. Two notifications of intent have been submitted to operate an equine slaughter premises. One submission has passed the initial stage and that applicant is engaging with the relevant departments to progress their application. I’m hopeful that an equine slaughter plant will be established in 2026,” Heydon added.