Microchips for Horses

Key Takeaways

• Equine microchips provide permanent, reliable identification that helps link horses to their owners during emergencies, competitions, veterinary care, natural disasters, and theft prevention. 
• A horse microchip is a small RFID device implanted under the skin that stores a unique 15-digit identification number, functioning like a secure identification record rather than a GPS tracker.
• Some equine microchips include a built-in temperature biosensor, allowing owners and veterinarians to quickly monitor a horse’s temperature using a compatible reader.
• Microchipping is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed by horse owners using a syringe-style applicator, with placement typically in the nuchal ligament of the left side of the neck.
• Microchips help streamline reunification of lost horses and support accurate identification throughout a horse’s lifetime, making them an important tool in modern equine management.

Equine microchips are an important part of linking horses to their owners. From a practical standpoint, accurate identification becomes crucial in various contexts such as adverse weather events like hurricanes, competitions, veterinary emergencies and even preventing horse theft.

Microchipping horses is a minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a small device under the horse's skin containing a unique identification number. A microchip is a unique RFID (radio frequency identification) device that communicates between a reader and a chip. The chip only holds 15 digits. It's not a GPS; it's more like a social security number for the animal. This method not only acts as a deterrent against theft but also streamlines the process of reuniting lost or separated horses with their owners.

In addition to a unique ID code, microchips for horses can also contain a patented built-in temperature biosensor, and are therefore able to measure a horse’s temperature at the implantation site. It is an easy, safe, and quick alternative method of taking multiple temperature measurements. Using a reader, horse owners can check their horse’s temperature.

How to Microchip a Horse

In essence, identification and microchipping serve as practical tools in safeguarding your equine companions. You can microchip a horse yourself. Administering a microchip to a horse involves a straightforward and minimally invasive process. Using a syringe-like applicator, the microchip is injected beneath the horse's skin, typically in the nuchal ligament area on the left side of the neck. This quick procedure ensures the microchip is securely in place, providing a reliable means of identification for the horse. Please view the video in this article for Dr. LaColla’s detailed instructions.

Watch the video below as Marta LaColla, DVM, Veterinarian and Associate Director of US Companion Animal and Equine Technologies at Merck Animal Health, provides an overview about equine microchips and microchipping horses.

Whether for horse, livestock, or pet, Valley Vet Supply is your one-stop shop for trusted care. Explore more of our horse category at ValleyVet.com