THERE will be no equine census in 2025, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed, as it prepares to launch the new central equine database.

The database will link horses to the premises at which they are resident, creating Equine Operator Profiles (EOPs) thereby negating the need for an annual census as the Department will be tracking equines via the EOPs, a spokesperson has said.

“The EOPs are currently under development and available to view on the MyAgfood portal. Keepers will be asked to review their profiles and update where necessary on an ongoing basis. A formal call to confirm profiles (which will replace the census) is planned for August 2026.”

The spokesperson added: “There are still a number of gaps in terms of data available to ensure the profiles are as accurate as possible and we ask operators to be patient with us while we work to identify and resolve those gaps.

“The EOPs will develop and become more accurate over time. In the interim, operators can add or remove equines from their profiles if they can give the EPRN of the herd of destination or origin. All enquiries can be addressed to horseID@agriculture.gov.ie.”

The 2024 equine census garnered the best response since it began in 2021 with a 78% response rate, the Department told The Irish Field this week. A total of 22,593 responses have been received covering 120,912 equines. That number indicates an additional 1,964 equines added to the system since the last update in August 2025.

EPRN deactivated

A total of 6,360 non-respondents have had their Equine Premises Numbers (EPRN) deactivated and have received a letter to this effect. “This means they cannot register foals or export equines. Next year, they will not be able to present equines for sale.

“This has generated a large response and the Department is continuing to receive details of equines held on premises. EPRNs may be reactivated on submission of a return to horseID@agriculture.gov.ie,” the Department spokesperson said.

In 2021, the Department of Agriculture launched the first equine census to gain a more accurate understanding of the equine population within Ireland and link horses to the premises where they are kept for the first time.