Why the long face? Horse ID cards are off!

The UK's horse population has completed a process that us humans will have to go through over the next few years if Home Secretary has his way.

Yesterday (30 June) was the deadline for applying for horse passports - the equine equivalent of national identity cards.

For us, ID cards are about preventing terrorism and tackling fraud. For horses, passports support EU legislation to ensure they are fit for human consumption.

But other parts of the scheme may prove to be familiar.

The introduction of horse passports has been repeatedly delayed due to protests from lobby groups.

And the plan will be supported by a central register of personal information - inevitably called Ned, the National Equine Database. Last month, the government awarded a £570,000 contract to AEA Technology to develop and support the system.

Zebras are exempt, although their near relative, the half-horse, half-zebra hybrid called the zebroid, will need to register!