Minister Heydon says Equine Census Report provides most accurate picture yet of Ireland’s horse population
- Foilsithe: 28 Samhain 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 28 Samhain 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today published a report on Ireland’s equine population based on the returns of the equine census.
The Minister thanked all equine owners and keepers for their engagement with the census and stated that this is very positive for traceability:
“The census return rate of 78% is the highest since the census was introduced and means that my Department now has the most accurate picture yet of our equine population. This information is vital to ensure the ongoing health and welfare of our horses so that we can respond swiftly to disease risks, prevent outbreaks and ensure high standards of care.”
The headline figures in the report are:
- Total equine population: 120,912
- Total active equine premises: 22,593
The average number of horses listed on a census return was five but when nil returns were removed that figure went up to seven. 88% of premises listed ten horses or less.
In addition to providing vital statistics on Ireland’s equine population, Minister Heydon further explained how important the census returns have been in the development of the new central equine database:
“Strong traceability is essential for the welfare of our horses, while gaps in traceability allow for neglect and mistreatment without accountability. The census returns that have been submitted over the last 12 months have been converted into herd profiles and will form the basis of our new central equine database which will be transformational for the sector.”
The new central equine database can be viewed by keepers at MyAgFood.ie.
Notes to Editor
The equine census was introduced in 2021 to comply with the requirement under the EU Animal Health Law to know where horses are habitually resident.
Equine operators were informed last November that their census return would form the basis of a new equine traceability system, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued a number of reminders to encourage engagement. The first letter asking holders of equine premises registration numbers (EPRNs) to complete the 2024 census issued in November 2024 to 29,107 active EPRNs. Reminders issued in March 2025 and May 2025 to 13,828 and 9,680 EPRN holders, respectively.
On foot of these efforts there remained 6,360 holders with active EPRNs that did not respond to the requests to complete a return. These EPRNs have now been made dormant and will not be able to register foals or export horses.
The new equine traceability system will associate your horses with your registered premises number according to your census return. This will be your “Equine Operator Profile”. New registrations will be added and deaths and exports will be removed. You will be required to keep your profile up to date by recording the horses that come in and out. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine plans to build critical control points into the system over time which will mean you will not be allowed to present your horse for sale unless they can show that they are on their profile.
Equine operator profiles are now available to view on MyAgFood. The move to a new profile-based system represents major reform to equine traceability. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine acknowledges that inaccuracies will be inevitable until the system reaches its full potential. Equine keepers are encouraged to view their profile and ensure it is kept as up to date as possible.
