The issue
From the moment a horse is born to its golden years, proper identification is essential to ensuring its well-being. Having a system that monitors your horse’s identification is essential to understanding a horse’s age, health needs and ownership history – no matter where it goes or who now owns it.
In the horse industry right now, horses can have multiple forms of identification, such as ID numbers from breed registries, microchips, competition passports and health records from the vet. The problem is, that these records are often issued and stored separately from each other, which can lead to gaps in information and making it harder to track a horse’s full history.
For example, Microchipping is only effective if you know where to check for the information associated with it. Every microchip is registered in a specific database, and access to key information depends on the manufacturer, breed registry, or competition body that manages that specific ID. Without knowing the correct database, it can be difficult to verify an animal’s history or update its records.
Equine Register Canada (ERC) solves this issue with its data-sharing platform, which connects multiple registration databases in one place. By integrating breed registries, competition bodies, and microchip manufacturers, ERC provides a centralized lookup tool, making it easy to transfer and update a horse’s records. Owners will have a fuller and more comprehensive view of their horse’s past, and will help them to take better care of their horses in the future
The solution
Equine Register Canada have created a solution to this issue, through the Canadian Equine Register (CER). The CER serves as a comprehensive data hub designed to centralize and connect all your horse’s data in one profile. Through consolidating the information into one secure, easily accessible digital profile, every horse’s identity is protected, and owners, veterinarians, and authorities can make informed decisions about its care and welfare. Understanding a horse’s full history helps when it comes to equine ownership and caretaking because making informed, fact-based decisions is essential. Having access to verified information can significantly reduce the risks of fraud, misrepresentation, or inadequate care.
How does it work?
When you register your horse on the CER, you receive a digital passport for each horse, like the systems used across many European countries, including the UK. This passport centralizes all essential information, including ownership history, health records, and physical identifiers, into one secure profile. Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on breed registration or competition licenses, the CER issues official identification documentation even for horses that do not qualify for breed registration or have never held a competition license. By offering a verified identity for every horse, regardless of its background, the CER promotes responsible ownership, supports transparency, and ensures that every horse is protected throughout its life.
To register your horse on the CER, all you need to do is download the Digital Stable app, available on iOS and Android stores or create an account at www.equineregister.ca, and set up your horse’s profile. To do this you will need your horse’s name, basic information such as age, breed and gender, and their recent vaccine history.
The process takes around 15 minutes to complete, and then you can relax, knowing that you have taken the necessary precautions to protect your horse.
What happens to my horse’s current IDs?
The CER isn’t here to replace breed registries, microchip providers, or competition authorities—it’s designed to work alongside them. These organizations play a crucial role in identifying horses, and the CER strengthens their impact by linking their data into a single, secure profile, enhancing the value and security of each form of identification. This collaborative approach ensures better transparency and accountability across the equine industry while making it easier for owners to manage their horse’s identification.
So how can this help with my horse’s long term welfare?
Registering your horse on the CER means that a permanent record of your horse, which allows important information to be kept secure. It provides a single source of truth around their identity, birthdate, ownership history and health history, meaning that this horse can be cared for in the best way possible. The CER is designed to help you with:
- Seamless Transfer of Ownership Information: When a horse changes hands, their health history, linage, and registrations remain intact, preventing gaps in essential care.
- Better Emergency Preparedness: In cases of natural disasters or emergencies, having a permanent identification and lost/found reporting record helps reunite horses with their rightful owners and ensures they receive appropriate care.
- Better health care: Having a documented history of your horse’s vaccines, Coggins certificates, management needs, and much more, can help you and others give your horse the unique attention and treatment that they require. The Digital Stable app allows you to share this information with trusted people to ensure they can care for your horse in your place, should they need to.
- Less susceptibility to disease: Through registering your horse on the CER and taking advantage of features such as the ‘Track a journey’ and ‘Disease notifications’, you can ensure that you are aware of any health threats to your horse regardless of your location, helping to keep them protected against disease.
Keeping track of a horse’s identity isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about ensuring their well-being and long, healthy life. A centralized identification system helps make sure every horse gets the care they need, from birth through their senior years, by recording important details like birthdates and ownership changes. It also promotes a more responsible equine community built on transparency, accountability, and putting horse welfare first.
At Equine Register Canada, we’re passionate about creating a standardized identification system that protects horses at every stage of life. By working together, we can build a safer, healthier future for all equines.
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