Foal becomes the first to be issued with Weatherbys ePassport

The Weatherbys ePassport, hailed as the world’s most advanced equine digital passport, has gone live for the British and Irish Thoroughbred markets.

The first foal to be issued with an ePassport and the accompanying smart card is a foal by Calyx out of Skipinnish and born on February 14. He was bred by at Julian Richmond-Watson’s Lawn Stud.

His is the first ePassport to be issued and over the coming months every thoroughbred born in Ireland and Britain this year will be receiving their own ePassport.

In its simplest form, the Weatherbys ePassport is a single, secure platform for all regulatory and legislative requirements relating to identification, health, welfare, movement, and ownership. It is available through both the Android and iPhone App stores and Weatherbys is contacting users with more detail around functionality and registration.

Elements of the Weatherbys ePassport are already in use in Britain, Ireland and other jurisdictions. These include vaccination and movement functionality to support the British Horseracing Authority and Horse Racing Ireland with their ‘Return to Racing’ protocols last year. The same technology has also helped trace the movement of breeding stock – working alongside the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Brian Kavanagh, CEO Horse Racing Ireland, said: “The importance of the Weatherbys ePassport cannot be understated and we see it as a central part of the welfare and traceability strategy for Irish Racing over the coming years.”

And James Given, Director of Equine Health and Welfare BHA, said: “The vaccination functionality within the Weatherbys ePassport played an important role within the protocols that allowed for racing to resume last year. The additional functionality that comes with the full rollout of the ePassport will be vital for the traceability of Thoroughbreds – a central pillar of our Horse Welfare strategy."

Weatherbys is continuing to work closely with both HRI and the BHA on the rollout of the ePassport, which HRI have made the central digital recording and data repository tool within their five-year Welfare Strategy.

As well as movement and vaccination functionality the ePassport now includes stallion, mare and foal registration functionality, medication recording, along with ownership updates and full identification details. Having downloaded the ePassport App users will simply have to register by entering their contact details and on receipt of a confirmation code can then follow on screen instructions.

On the ePassport home page are the horse’s details and from that point users can then interact through the full ePassport functionality – this will include assigning a vet who will be also able update medical information.

A smart card that, along with the traditional printed passport, will be issued for all British and Irish Thoroughbred foals born this year and can also be used to access the ePassport App. More details will be released in the coming weeks.

Claire Sheppard, CEO Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, said: "The movement functionality within the Weatherbys ePassport was hugely important when it came to maintaining the movement and traceability of stock during the 2020 and 2021 breeding season as part of the TBA’s Covid 19 protocols. The enhanced functionality within the ePassport will bring many more benefits to breeders and the thoroughbred industry, and we welcome its introduction. We will be working closely with Weatherbys and Breeders to ensure an effective rollout and application of this exciting new technology.”

Shane O’Dwyer, CEO Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, said: The Weatherbys ePassport functionality will bring with it identification, traceability, health and welfare benefits for the Thoroughbred industry and the ITBA looks forward to continue working with Weatherbys on the ePassport rollout.”