Explain The Legal Requirements Of Horses

There are many different legal requirements when travelling a horse, this is to ensure the horses are kept safe at all times. This includes no one shall transport an animal in a way that they are going to be injured, journeys time have to be kept to a minimum and the animals must be fit to travel to make sure they do not hurt themselves. This means that a horse shouldn’t travel if they are ill (unless a qualified vet has given permission), fatigued or if a mare has given birth to a foal during the previous week.
Other legal requirements include those handling the horses must be trained and competent if it is a transportation company, the vehicle and loading facilities must be safe and designed to avoid suffering and injury to the animal. Water,
It also states that unbroken horses and ponies mist not be travelled in groups more than four due to it being deemed unsafe. Horses that are tied up must not travel with horses who are untied.
Legal requirements also include that horses must travel with their passports, horses going on long journeys (over eight hours) must have an experienced driver who has a type 2 driver authorisation issued by DEFRA. They must also ensure that the vehicle has been inspected and approved, complete an ATC (Animal Transport Certificate) if travelling in the UK, ensure a journey log book is completed and make sure they have a contingency plan in the event of an emergency.
For shorter journeys under eight hours, the driver must ensure that they have a type 1 driver authorisation, complete an animal transport certificate and they must have a certificate of competence. This is important to make sure the animals are safe during transport.
Under the legislation Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No 3) Order 2003, transporters must ensure that they disinfect their vehicles before travelling any