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A License to own a Horse
2009-04-15 17:00:00 - by Horsetype
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[ LAWS ] All horse owners will tell you: owning a horse is a great responsibility. However, to really take care of horses, it is initially necessary to know their needs. Currently, in several countries, it is up to each owner to learn this important equestrian knowledge and all owners are free to have as many horses as they wish. When certain owners neglect their responsibilities, the horses can pay the price…
To change this situation, Switzerland decided to attack the problem by imposing a mandatory license to equidae (horses, asses, ponies, mules, etc) owners. The license is given following an obligatory course. The needs for the horse, its food or its care and the essential infrastructures needed are many subjects which will be taught.
The new law is in force since September 2008, but the Federal Veterinary Office (FVO) gives the owners until 2013 to take the course, after which, fines or even the withdrawal of the animals is possible.
The license is mandatory for private owners of more than five horses and for the professional owners with more than eleven horses. The training cost is much higher for the professional owner than for the private owner.
To apply the law, it will be necessary to identify the owners in order to control them. Meaning, one would need to register all the horses in Switzerland, but this registry is non-existent. It is currently impossible thus, to know who has more than five or eleven horses. While waiting for the set-up of such a registry, the FVO will have to base its data on the honesty of the owners.
Will other countries follow the step of Switzerland? Only the future will tell...
