THE Weatherbys E-Passport will be available for all thoroughbred foals born in Ireland and Britain in 2021 alongside their paper passport.

This will be the digital lifetime document for equines supporting traceability, welfare, biosecurity, anti-doping and the whole herd health from cradle to grave.

The E-Passport will allow the user to record and update information on the key events in a horse’s lifetime including those listed below. The Weatherby E-Passport solution is already being adopted by other jurisdictions and other disciplines.

Digital movement

The E-Passport provides the ability to record historical movement, real-time movement and future scheduling of movement.

Owners, keepers, vets, governing bodies and local authorities can integrate remotely into the data repository to validate and authorise certification required for local and cross-border movement including Ireland and Britain.

All information collected is visible in real-time using the geo-location functionality, enabling digitally signed authorised health certification. Here is a summary of what the E-Passport allows:

  • Historical, real time and future scheduling of all movements.
  • Payment gateway (if required for cross border movement).
  • Remote integration into data repository – for owners, keepers, vets, regulatory bodies and local & national authorities.
  • Remote validation/authorisation of movement (pre-clearance).
  • Supports protocols for natural service coverings.

    • Digital Ownership

    Ownership is a key element of the E-Passport. Recording and approving ownership throughout a horse’s lifecycle is critical to the integrity, traceability and welfare of equines.

    Ownership details and records ensure responsible management and accountability, enabling a transparent and self-policing industry. The E-Passport will display the following real-time information.

  • Notification of transfer of owner from seller to buyer.
  • Ownership acceptance and new owner updates.
  • Verified/updated/amended by authorised passport issuing authorities and competition regulators (shared data repository).
  • Records equine premises & geo-location.
  • Encourages responsible horse ownership and traceability.
  • Digital vaccinations and medical records.

    • All vaccinations and medical records can be easily recorded and tracked by owners, keepers, vets and regulators.

    In the event of an outbreak of equine influenza, the data captured by the app will provide instant access to Irish vaccination data, assisting in the control of this infectious disease. The features include:

  • Vaccinations are recorded securely and in real time.
  • No lost vaccination records with lost passports.
  • Automatic alerts when boosters due.
  • Pre-clearance before raceday, competition, sale and movement.
  • Medication treatment recorded via medicines register.
  • Instant access for regulatory bodies to medical treatment and health data for tracking, tracing for disease containment.

    • Two elements of the E-Passport have been successfully released in the last 12 months:

  • The vaccination app, with over 28,930 vaccination records logged by over 1,200 trainers and assistant trainers with over 936 registered in Ireland and Britain greatly assisting in pre-clearance of vaccinations for raceday.
  • The Digital Equine Movement System (DEMS) which is being used by thoroughbred breeders in Britain for all breeding movements.

    • Email: Contact Sharon O’Regan (soregan@weatherbys.ie) for more information.