Cumbria Trading Standards are reminding people that the deadline is looming to get your equestrian animals microchipped.

From Thursday, October 1 it will be mandatory in England for all equine owners to microchip their animals as part of a move to tackle horse theft, improve equine traceability and improve animal welfare.

The Central Equine Database will mean local authorities and the police can track down owners who abandon their horses, donkeys and ponies, helping to improve animal welfare standards, while also helping prevent horse theft.

Owners are legally required to make sure that their animals’ details are up-to-date on the Central Equine Database. This can be accessed online via the Digital Stable and holds information on all horses in England.

If equine owners do not microchip their animals by October 2020 they could face sanctions from their local authority including a fine.