Having an equine: What are the rules?

Verified 20 July 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Are you a keeper or owner of equidae (horse, pony, donkey, mule, bardot)? You have several regulatory obligations. Your pet must be identified, you must register the property in the central file Sire and declare the place of detention of your pet if you are hosting it. If you have 3 or more equidae, you must designate a veterinary health officer at the DDPP: titleContent from your department. We present you with the information you need to know.

You can buy an equine from a professional breeder, a refuge or a particular.

Upon acquisition, the seller, donor or shelter must hand you over obligatory the following documents:

  • Original identification document of the animal including its origins, reporting and vaccinations, commonly referred to as paper, booklet or passport
  • Registration card indicating the name of the owner of the horse or sales certificate if the property is managed by the internet

The seller, donor or shelter may also provide you with the following documents:

  • Certificate of Assignment (sale or donation contract and/or purchase invoice)
  • Information document on the characteristics of the animal and its needs (including, where appropriate, educational advice)

As a buyer, you must register the change of ownership with the Equine Information System (Sire).

Report the purchase of a horse from the Equine Information System (EIS)

All equidae, present on French territory, must be identified by electronic chipaccompanied by an original identification document (passport). Besides, it must be registered in the national equine register : the Equine Information System (Sire), run by the French Institute for Horses and Horseback Riding (IFCE).

The animal's passport shall contain an alert on the animal, i.e. a statement of the visible physical characteristics of the animal enabling its identity and chip number to be easily verified.

Registration in the national register of equidae is a legal obligation. An identification number (Sire number) shall be assigned to the animal.

Identification at birth

In order to be in good standing, any equidae born in France, whether they are of unrecognized breed or origin (ONC), must have their identification document published within 12 months of birth.

The field identification step (identification of the visible physical characteristics of the animal and installation of the electronic chip) shall be carried out by means of an identifier within 8 months of birth, before weaning and transmitted to Sire before 31 December of the year of birth.

The equine animal shall be identified by an identifier declared to the IFCE (IFCE agent or veterinarian).

Find an equine identifier

Registration at the Sire is then automatic during the 1re equine identification for passports issued by the IFCE and breeds under agreement or must be carried out by the owner or keeper of the equine animal for other equidae.

Importing and introducing

If the animal is introduced into France from another Member State of the European Union or imported from a third country, it must be declared in the 30 days after arrival.

The costs of identification, if this has not been carried out, and of registration in the Site are at your expense.

This declaration will result in the issuance of an animal registration card with your name and address and the name and identification number (Sire number) of your animal or the dematerialized management of the property in your Sire Space.

Equine information system (Sire)

Change of ownership

In case of change of ownership, the seller must provide the registration card in paper format or a sales certificate if the property is managed on the internet.

The declaration of change of ownership is to be made online by the new owner to Sire within 30 days of purchase.

Equine information system (Sire)

The IFCE records the change and assigns the property in the new owner's CRS space.

After transfer of ownership, the new owner is responsible for the cost of issuing the new registration card (change of ownership).

Death of animal

Upon the death of the animal, as owner, you can choose to contact one of the following services for its removal:

  • Rendering service via the association called ATM (Dead Found Animals) Equidé-Angee allowing you to declare your equine animal's death online and pay the rendering costs through a shared tariff
  • Other rendering service of your choice: contact, regulations and removal procedures vary according to the company chosen
  • Cremation service where the equine animal is individually cared for by an animal crematorium

This professional will take over the identification documents of the equine animal and return them for registration of death in Sire (or the slaughterhouse or the DDPP: titleContent if the horse is slaughtered).

The burial of an equine animal is strictly prohibited.

However, if you have not given the equine animal's documents to the renderer or incineration business, you will have to send them back to the site to register the death of your animal.

The holder is the person responsible for the accommodation one or more equidae.

As a keeper, you must attest to your knowledge of the specific needs of the species.

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You're a professional

You must attest to your knowledge of the specific needs of the species by justifying:

  • Professional experience in direct contact with equidae, of a minimum duration of 18 months at the time of acquisition
  • Or the possession of a diploma, title or certificate appearing on a list, fixed by ministerial order, allowing you to attest to your knowledge of the needs of the species

You're an individual

You must have a certificate of commitment and knowledge for holding an equine animal.

This certificate shall be issued by a veterinarian or by a professional body appearing on a list drawn up by ministerial order, professional bodies in the equine sector which may issue such a certificate.

This certificate must be signed by you and contain a handwritten statement by which you expressly agree to know and respect the physiological, behavioral and medical needs of the animal.

That certificate shall specify what those needs are, including during transport, of the animal.

It also sets out your obligations with regard to traceability and identification of the animal.

It mentions the financial and logistical implications of meeting physiological, behavioral and medical needs throughout the animal's life.

If you are holding one or more equidae, you must declare their place of detention with the French Institute of Horses and Horseback Riding (IFCE).

The declaration is made online on the IFCE website from your personal area (Sire space - Equine information system) or by paper form available on the IFCE website.

Equine information system (Sire)

The declaration shall include your name and address and the address of the place(s) where the animals are kept, if different from your address.

The IFCE shall identify each place of detention by a unique national number.

The declaration must reach the IFCE before the arrival of 1er equine. .

Any change of holder and any change of place of detention must be reported to the IFCE within 30 days.

If you have 3 or more equidae on the same site, you must designate a veterinary health officer for each place of detention for which you are responsible welcoming 3 or more equidae.

The declaration is made with the Departmental Directorate of Population Protection (DDPP) of the prefecture of each place of detention.

The list of veterinarians with health clearance in your department is available on the website of your prefecture or on request from the DDPP.

The health veterinarian is designated by means of the dedicated form, which must be completed and signed by the veterinarian of your choice, and then sent to the DDPP.

It exists 2 types of forms whether you are an equine keeper or a non-equine keeper (responsible for the temporary or permanent animal assembly center or event).

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Every animal is a sensitive being and must be placed in conditions compatible with the biological requirements of its species.

To be properly informed, you can refer to the available good practice guides:

The mistreatment animals are liable to criminal sanctions.

An equine animal must be kept in good health and in good repair.

The detention of an animal shall not cause avoidable suffering or any adverse effect on the health of the animal.

Any animal that appears ill or injured must be properly cared for without delay.

A veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible, if the situation warrants it.

The materials used for the construction of stables, and in particular for floors, walls, walls and equipment with which animals may come into contact, must not be harmful to animals.

They must be capable of being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

The premises must be cleaned, disinfected and disinsectised as necessary.

Stables and equipment for attaching animals must not have sharp edges or protrusions likely to injure them.

Floors must be impermeable, kept in good condition and have a sufficient slope to ensure the flow of liquids.

They must allow the waste to be disposed of.

Air circulation, dust levels, temperature, relative humidity of the air and gas concentrations must be kept within limits which do not harm the animals.

In order to compensate for this, an indoors horse must be able to enjoy regular physical activity and daily outings, including outside work sessions, favoring moments of freedom, if possible with congeners, essential for the horse to relax and roll.

Animals kept in the open must have facilities to protect them from cold or heat.

Every measure shall be taken to minimize the risk of damage to their health.

Pens and enclosures must be designed in such a way as to prevent animals from escaping.

Pens and enclosures must not be an accident for animals.

At night and during the day, even between 2 periods of use, the animal must be released from its harness, particularly at the time of meals.

The harnesses used must not cause injury.

You must ensure your pet a adequate food of its species and quantity to keep him in good health. Ask a professional.

It is imperative that you always leave fresh, clean water available to your pet.

This water must be renewed as necessary and protected from frost in winter.

Feeders and drinking troughs must be designed in such a way as to limit the risks of contamination of food and water.

They must also be designed in such a way that all animals can access them.

If you are transporting your pet, you must ensure that it is not likely to be injured during transportation.

You must also comply with the following conditions:

  • The duration of the trip is limited to the minimum
  • The animal is fit to undertake the intended journey
  • The transport vehicle and loading deck shall be designed, maintained and operated in such a way as to avoid injury and to ensure the safety of the animal
  • The transport vehicle must have a sufficient floor area and height, taking into account the size of the animal and the intended journey
  • The animal shall be handled without violence and without recourse to methods which may frighten it unnecessarily or injure it
  • The welfare conditions of the animal during transport shall be regularly monitored and maintained in an appropriate manner
  • Water, food and rest periods are offered to the animal at regular intervals and adapted, in quality and quantity, to its size.

In the context of an economic activity, any transport of equidae over 65 kilometers is subject to specific regulations. Check with your DDPP.

As the owner of an animal, you are liable for any damage it may cause, whether it is in your custody or whether it has gone astray or escaped.

It is forbidden to let your pet ramble.

If you entrust your equine animal to a professional under a deposit or loan contract and you stop paying the custody fee, he can demand that you collect your animal.

This can also be the case if your pet is unfit or unable to perform the activities for which it was raised.

If you do not recover your equine animal within 3 months of receiving the letter of formal notice, your equine depository professional can sell it.

For this purpose, the professional presents a request to the President of the Judicial Tribunal.

The trader may request the designation of a third party to whom the equine animal will be entrusted if the animal cannot find a buyer.

Who shall I contact

If the President of the Judicial Tribunal considers the request to be justified, he shall issue an order authorizing the compulsory auctioning of the equine animal.

The professional must give you a copy of the judge's order within 3 months.

The sale can only take place at least 1 month after you have received the judge's order.

Within this period of one month, you can recover your equine after payment of your debt to the depositary professional.

You can also oppose the sale and present your situation to the judge.

The amount of the sale shall be remitted to the trader up to the amount you owe him, as determined by the order of the judge, plus the costs of the proceedings.

The remaining amount of the sale is deposit with the Caisse des dépôt et consignments, in your name.

You can claim this amount back under the judgment.

FAQ