Page 93 - Speedhorse December 2019

VETERINARY VIEWS
The veterinarian uses a large gauge needle to inject the chip, Lastly, the chip is scanned again to ensure that it is transmitting which is the size of a grain of rice. readable information.
Horse owners need to be proactive about registering their microchips. Once registered in a database like Equine Protection Registry (EPR) offered by Microchip ID, Inc., it is easier to track down a lost, stolen, or displaced horse.
HOW IT WORKS
Regardless of manufacturer, the chips used today should meet specific requirements set by the International Organization of Standards (ISO). Each chip:
• Has 15 numbers – the first three designate the manufacturer or country code, with the othernumbers unique to each individual horse
• Must be an ISO chip
• Must operate at 134.2 kHz, which can
be read by a universal scanner compatible with ISO 11784 or ISO 11785
The microchip receives a radio wave signal from the scanner and then the chip instanta- neously transmits the identifying number and other information to the scanner. This number is a positive, foolproof, unalterable, and unique number that remains with the horse for its entire life. Entering the horse’s unique number into a database connects that horse with its owner’s contact information.
The transmitting frequency of the microchips, set by ISO, enables European and US scanners
to read them. The European Union has required microchipping of new foals since 2009, so it is likely that any appropriately aged European im- port is already microchipped. In the United States, Louisiana has been using identification through microchips, brands or tattoos in conjunction with EIA testing since 1994; it is important to identify
those horses already equipped with a microchip in order to avoid duplication.
Many large chip companies use codes that begin with a 9 - such as 985, 981, 933, 985, and these are legitimate microchip numbers. How- ever, it is advisable to check the chip number before implantation, as any chip with a prefix of 900 (that is, 9-zero-zero) is unacceptable and has a potential for duplicate numbers.
CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
Many times, horses change hands and
are sold to new buyers. How is the microchip information then changed along with new own- ership? The starting point for a change of owner- ship assumes that there is an owner of record in the first place who is listed when the microchip is registered within the database. Then, the seller must release ownership by contacting the mi- crochip recording company. Once permission is granted, the new owner registers the chip under a new agreement with the chip manufacturer and/or breed/sport registry.
FOR BIOSECURITY TRACKING
In the event of an infectious disease outbreak at certain venues, microchips have the added benefit of identifying which horses have been to specific venues. Not only is there information about the horses’ presence at an event site, but also all horse owners’ contact information is readily available.
With microchip identification on board, it is easier for state vets to understand which horses were in attendance at a competition. Because these microchips are read only and do not con- tain GPS software, the horses can’t be tracked. However, the connection of the horse with its paper records at an equine event makes it easier to follow the trail. Some shippers are also plan- ning to scan horses to track horse movement.
FOR NATURAL DISASTERS
Microchips are also instrumental to reunite displaced horses with their owners following
a natural disaster. For a very small expense,
this life-long identification proves that a horse belongs to its owner. This is important for dis- placement not just during natural disasters, but also if a horse is stolen. Many sport disciplines – polo, hunter jumper, racing – are a small world, so by getting the word out with a horse’s description and identification number, it is pos- sible to locate a stolen horse.
A wonderful era of technology has allowed us to incorporate electronic identification devices into sport and breed registrations rather than having to rely on less humane procedures, such as hot or cold branding or lip tattoos. Mi- crochips are invaluable for ensuring an honest and equal playing field for competition horses as well as ensuring a means of tracking a horse during disease outbreaks, or if a horse is lost, displaced, or stolen.
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