Government cease equine database funding

The National Equine Database (NED) is to close down this month (September), due to government cuts.

NED was initially set up in 2006, as the soul source of information for any horse in the UK with a passport. It includes the data of over a million horses, such as their pedigree, competition results and grading data.

NED Online was launched two years later, allowing the above data to be viewed publicly. The NED website also enabled reports of lost, stolen and recovered horses.

The government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) were initially required to set up such a database by the European Union, however, following budget cuts, they can no longer afford to operate it.

Though the database is mostly funded by DEFRA, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) give guidance and support towards the running of NED. They are concerned that it will be harder to monitor equine diseases once it is closed down.

Chief executive officer of NED, Nick Meakin, said: "We and the BEF are trying to find ways of persuading DEFRA to change their mind or to find ways to fund NED from within the industry."

Nick is urging users to email DEFRA ministers giving their objections to the decision to cease funding, and to sign an online petition.