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Source: Acera Insurance

Have you ever had to round up your horse’s records when you changed barns, entered a horse show, or crossed the Canada/US border — vaccinations, Coggins, proof of ownership, breed registration, and more? Some of those records were likely electronic while others were probably hard copies in a file folder somewhere. It can be painful having to dig everything out. 

Well, now there’s an app for that. But not just an electronic file folder. Equine Register Canada (ERC) maintains your horse’s private records while screening them to send you alerts if there’s a recordable disease that may affect horses located in your area. It’s a system that’s been in use for ten years in the United Kingdom, but the Canadian version is tailored specifically for Canadian horse owners. 

In 2024, Ontario Equestrian and Horse Council British Columbia signed agreements with ERC to provide horse registration services to members at a reduced rate. Three other Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) are in discussions with ERC. Equestrian Canada (EC) is also working on a horse registry system but has selected a different route — a microchip system that will be compatible with ERC. 

What are the benefits of ERC? Essentially, they bring traceability and horse identification together to create biosecurity. Here’s what that means. 

1. Centralized passport 

“Part of the problem in Canada is that many groups issue identification documents to the same horse,” says Kristy Laroche, National Strategic Partner Manager for ERC. “For example, if a horse is breed registered, they get a breed registry certificate which has a number. Horses that compete in EC shows have a horse recording number. If a horse competes in national snaffle bit or Quarter Horse competitions, they get another number.” 

But ERC is different. They issue the horse a “social insurance number” and create one central passport that covers all the identifiers that a horse may be issued throughout its life. 

“That way, the horse’s history doesn’t get lost every time they change hands or sanctioning bodies or even countries,” says Laroche. 

2. Biosecurity and emergency management 

During a disease outbreak, managers need to know how many horses are involved, where they’re located, and their vaccination status. Having a sole piece of identification for each horse really helps in an emergency. 

“The ERC program sends out targeted disease notifications based on where the horse is located,” says Laroche. 

3. Document management 

ERC also stores all your horse’s documents digitally. 

“If you transfer ownership, everything goes with the horse,” says Laroche. “You don’t have to go through a binder or filing cabinet to find your proof of sale, breed registry documents, and passport numbers. It’s all online and when the horse goes, it goes with them.” 

4. Better welfare 

If you acquire a horse with an ERC passport, you know how old they are and don’t have to rely on a vet check or the seller’s guesstimate. That means you can treat them appropriately for their age. 

5. Scannable QR code 

ERC provides a QR tag that can be attached to the horse’s halter or bridle. In the event of a fire or other emergency, you can braid it into their mane or tail. If someone finds the horse, they can scan the QR tag, and the horse owner will get a notification that someone scanned the code. The person who found the horse can provide their phone number and email address, and the owner will receive a push notification, email, and SMS right away to say that the horse has been located. 

5. Read any microchip 

Ultimately, a microchip is the best way to identify a horse. But the problem with microchips is that a microchip reader is required to read the chip. Plus, microchip providers in Canada all have different registries. If you don’t know which type of chip is in the horse that you found (or lost), you probably won’t know which microchip database to search to identify them. 

However, ERC accepts any microchip number from any company. If the owner of a lost horse has registered their horse’s microchip in ERC, the horse will be “findable.”  

Acera Insurance has been a proponent of the ERC system, understanding that an overarching horse registration service will substantially assist horse owners across the country. 

“ERC is offering a level of secure data for our Canadian herd that has never been seen before,” says Mike King, Director of Equine Insurance at Acera Insurance. “We strongly urge all individuals and herd managers to utilize this economical and proven technology to their advantage.”   

Free and subscription levels of the ERC system are available at Equine Register Canada and PTSO members in Ontario and British Columbia are eligible for reduced subscription rates. 

Acera Insurance

Photo: AdobeStock/Loreanto