County 4-H Youth Horse
Program Tracing/Tracking
Project
“Equine Identification”
2007
Grant Research Conducted By:
Penn State University Dairy
and Animal Sciences
Department in cooperation
with Equine Species
Working Group and the
Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture.
Why do we need an identification
system for equine?
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Protect our horse (s)
Control outbreaks of contagious foreign
diseases
Protect human health
Address the threat of bio-terrorism
Identify lost, stolen or displaced horses
Maintain a stable economic environment
Insure freedom of movement and export
of horses
Be a responsible member of the livestock
industry
What is the purpose of this project
for “Equine Identification?”
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Survey and determine the concerns
and issues facing the nation and
Pennsylvania’s equine owners
concerning the National Animal
Identification System
Who would participate in this
project?
4-H Members,
Leaders, and
Families
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With the support of County 4-H
Horse Program through Educators,
4-H Leaders, and 4-H Members
Registered premise (facility hosting
equine)
Willingness to report tracing/tracking
of equine’s movement
Project horses with current Coggins
and Rabies Verification
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Performance Project
Production Project
Horsemanship Skills
Project
Therapeutic Riding
Project
Competitive Trail
Riding Project
Who should receive a premise
number?
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Facilities Public and Private Stables
Rodeo Arenas
National or State Parks
Universities (Educational/Research
Facilities/Diagnostic Laboratories)
Ports of Exit
Dude Ranches
Ports of Entry
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Quarantine Facilities
Auctions and Sales
Fairgrounds
Breeding Farms
Boarding Facilities
Equine Clinics and Hospitals
Racetracks
Show/Exhibition/Competition
How do I register my premise?
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Call 1-717-772-2852 Ext. 208 for more
information and to request a form to
register your premise through the U.S.
Postal Services and PA Dept of Agriculture.
Complete the paper registration form and
mail to
BAHDS
Room 408
2301 N. Cameron Street
Harrisburg, Pa. 17110
Online Registration
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Complete an online registration
Visit https://PaFarms.org
Click on Register Your Premise or
Visit https://farminfo.psu.edu/
Click on Register Your Premise
NOW!
For More Premise Information:
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For Pamphlets, Fact Sheets, and
NAIS (National Animal Identification
System) Poster contact the AHC:
ahc@horsecoucil.org
What is the chip?...Where is it
implanted?...Who does the
implanting?...How does it work?
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The RFID chip is an electronic device
implanted into the horse similar to
how dogs currently are implanted
with micro-chips
Implantation site: nuchal ligament
on the left side, in the middle third of
the neck, halfway between the ears
and the withers
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For this program veterinarians will
provide the implanting to your horse
at no cost to the 4-H member. The
veterinarian will not administer other
types of equine care, inoculations,
examinations, etc.
Injection sites may develop
complications. Any additional
veterinary care after implantation
will be the horse owner’s
responsibility.
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You will not need to scan your equine
or purchase a scanner. The program
contact personnel will set up
convenient times and locations for
your horse to be periodically
scanned. A scanner will identify the
chip that is implanted in your
equine’s neck.
What does the chip look like?
RFID - Microchip
Magnified Interior of Microchip
Graphics courtesy of
Electronic ID Inc
Why is the National Identification
System so important?
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Premises identification and individual
identification benefits equine owners
Notification in the event of an equine
disease outbreak
Horses implanted with a chip can be
identified when stolen or lost to their
current premises
Why is this project important?
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Survey and assess the composition
and nature of the equine industry,
including its resistance to the
implementation of national ID and
the impact it will have on the quality
of life of equine owners and
participants in equine activities.
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Evaluate the potential use of
microchips, scanners and a webbased data collection system to
provide and effective and affordable
system for individual identification of
horses to meet the national
requirement for animal ID.
Provide data summary and analysis
as well as access to data
tracing/tracking of disease outbreaks
to ensure a healthy environment for
participating in equestrian events.
How will chipping and registering
my premise help in disease
outbreaks?
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PDA (Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture) at the present time does
not have the information to control
and eradicate an equine disease
outbreak
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Premise ID and Individual Equine ID
enables the Bureau of Animal and
Diagnostic Services to efficiently and
effectively respond to a disease
outbreak
How your premise is affected in a
disease outbreak!
What will I do to be part of the
grant survey?
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Register my premise
Agree to implant chip in my equine
Record project equine with contact
and report travels
Release Forms
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Veterinary Release Form
Parental Permission Form
References
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NAIS and Horses The facts surrounding
the National Animal Identification System
as it applies to the horse industry in the
U.S.
Grant Proposal: Develop Methods to
Overcome Resistance to the
Implementation of National Equine
Identification
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Penn State University
Credits
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Ann Swinker, PhD., Associate
Professor Equine Sciences, PSU
Patricia Comerford, MS,
ExtensionSpecialist, PSU
Nancy Dreschel, DVN, Animal
Science Instructor, PSU
Brian Egan, MS, Equine Science
Instructor, PSU
Edward Jedrzejewski, DVM, Horse
Farm Manager, PSU
Credits Cont.
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Helene McKernan, BS, Equine Research
Associate, PSU
Suzanne Myers PhD., Veterinary
Science, PA Dept. AG,
Animal Diagnostic Lab
Kadie Vanderman, PSU Student
Karen Vines, MS, Distance Learning
Coordinator, PSU
Jacob Werner, VMD, Animal
Resource Program, PSU
Any questions?