THE British Horse Society has applauded the fact that all horses and ponies in England and Wales are to be given a unique registration number and a passport for life.

By December 31, 2003, they and donkeys will need to have a passport, bringing the country into line with European legislation.

BHS chairman Pat Campbell said: "From a welfare point of view it will make identification much easier.

"In buying and selling horses it will be possible to get a full history as well as a medical record of vaccinations.

"Many horse owners may well resent yet further regulation and expense, but we must look at this from a wider perspective.

"This new step will mean that for the first time ever we shall know exactly how many horses and ponies there are in this country. This will give the BHS greater leverage with government, both local and central, when putting the case for horse owners."

The BHS is a passport issuing authority. This means all those horses who are not eligible to be registered with a breed society, a competitive discipline or other organisation will be able to apply to it for a passport.

Each animal will also have a unique identification number, which will indicate the identity as well as the country and issuing authority.

The International League for the Protection of Horses commented: "In welfare terms we hope that the need for every equine to have a passport will have a significant effect on indiscriminate breeding and overproduction."

Alongside the proposed passport legislation, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked the British Equestrian Federation to arrange and chair a planning committee so that horse organisations already issuing passports can be consulted about the possibility of establishing a new national equine database. It could be used for disease control.

Those animals which currently have passports will have to be issued with a new extended one containing details of veterinary medicines administered.

It is hoped that passports and registration will help improve the standard of care of horses and the quality of the British herd and cut down over-breeding of ponies in the Brecon Beacons, New Forest and Dartmoor.