For those that have had microchips implanted...

[relocatedTXjumpr]

For those that have gotten their horses microchips implanted…how are you registering them?

I am getting the run around. The vet sent me the information regarding the manufacturer and serial number and advised to call them. When I call them I was told to contact the Vet supply company the chip was sold to…when I called them I was told they have no way of registering the chips and to call the manufacturer or the vets office.

I thought it would be similar to registering my dogs chip…just did that online and voila, DONE. Apparently this is not that easy…can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Libby2563]

That’s annoying.

Is the horse registered with the USEF? I’m sorry, “US Equestrian”? If so, you can log in there and there’s a button to add microchip info for your horses. (Unfortunately when I tried to do so for my young horse the other day, it told me that my microchip is not valid because it starts in 900 and some of those are not unique numbers. I’m really peeved because I guess it means my vet has to put in another one??)

If you mean a third party registry like Home Again for dogs/cats, I think there are a few options. I did this one because it was free and not brand-specific, and I was confused by all the options: https://www.savethislife.com/. I would be curious to hear what other people say though.

[relocatedTXjumpr]

Libby, mine starts in the 900’s as well…

But yes, I mean some sort of registry like PetLink or Home again…something so that if scanned, my information comes up. For instance, horse is stolen (God Forbid)…if a vet or auction house scans for a chip and locates one, will the USEF registry information come up with owner information? Or is that strictly for showing purposes?

My vet was under the impression you could register the chips just like you could your dog, which is the reason I went ahead and chipped the horse. He’d leased and in the event something happens I want to be able to have an extra layer of proof of ownership.

But, I am not having much luck.

[dynamite0319]

My vet implanted the same type of chip into my horses as he put in my dogs (HomeAgain). The registry for the horses was the same as the dogs and they all show up on the same website.
The USEF did send out a FAQ with info about not using chip numbers starting with 900: Q: Should I have another microchip put in my horse if it doesn’t have a compliant microchip?
A: Yes. You need to have a 15-digit ISO-compliant 11784/11785 microchip that does NOT start with the pre-fix 900 implanted into your horse. Once a compliant microchip is implanted, you should report both numbers to the USEF.

[Libby2563]

I just looked at PetLink and if you have a different brand of microchip it appears you pay $20 to register it with no annual renewal fees. Home Again is also $20 to register and they try to suck you into paying annual membership fees but they aren’t really necessary. See the FAQs here:

[I]If pet owners decide not to renew their annual membership, will their pets’ microchip ID codes and information still remain in the HomeAgain database?

Once entered in the HomeAgain database, microchips are registered for life, whether or not pet owners renew their annual memberships, and contact information may be updated online anytime free of charge by logging into HomeAgain.com. However, if a non-member’s pet is lost, they are not eligible for the value-added benefits included with the annual HomeAgain membership, such as proactive outreach to local PetRescuer volunteers, medical insurance for lost pets, travel assistance for found pets, the 24/7 medical hotline, etc.[/I]

My dogs are registered with Home Again and I used to pay them annually until I realized I didn’t have to. I would probably use that for my horse as well since I already have the account and the company is pretty well-known.

My question (and yours maybe) is why there are so many different companies that offer this same service and which are the best, most widely used, etc. Does anyone know?

ETA to Dynamite: I did see that advisory when I looked into it. I wish my vet had read it before he implanted the chip.

[relocatedTXjumpr]

I logged into the PetLink website that my dogs chipped is registered with and I can add the horses chip to the registry for $20. I am assuming that if I do that and someone scans it my information would come up. It worries me that there are so many registry’s…I would hope that information is obtainable by scanning ANY chip, but who really knows?

The paperwork that came with my chip from the vet says it is an ISO microchip…but the number on the little bag the chip came in start with a 900 number.

[rememberthenight]

I use the petlink website, but implant the petlink/datamars microchips so it is all included. I would recommend them. It is a one price and done deal, no additional money grabbing and you can add plenty of additional information on the website.

[ladymcts]

I did mine three years ago, and it seemed like a straight-forward registration at
https://microchipidequine.com/

About six months after implantation, I had another vet check that the chips existed and were readable (I wasn’t present when they were implanted). So that made me feel at ease that they could read them. Now whether that means this will all do any good in the event they get lost or stolen, I dunno. I also can’t remember if I took those ID’s and registered them on AKCReunite, where I have my dog and Cats registered. I’d check but can’t seem to get into AKC at the moment.

[Peggy]

My vet’s office gave me the Petlink information and I registered with them. I don’t think it cost anything to register.

I also put it into USEq.

[Lord_Helpus]

This is exactly my problem. My vet just today put in a microchip — the number starts with 956000000 and then 7 more numbers.

It is from AKC REUNITE (which is a company and no part of the AKC, I believe).

I have gone to their site and tried to register, but the STUPID registration form is so poorly put together that, once I put in all the info for the 1st 2 pages, it will not let me continue because “I must select and item” from a list that does not exist.

AARRGGHHHHHHHH. I do not have time for this shit.

I will email my vet to see if this chip is recognized. She told me that the prefix indicated it was a “universal” chip and it can be read by any scanner.

The URL to register with this company is

http://www.akcreunite.org/petowner/register/

for those who have chips from them.

[M_O_Connor]

The FEI compliant microchip is not required to be registered with a chip service such as PetLink or HomeAgain.

Once the chip is inserted, the number should simply be reported to the USEF (which is easily done through the member portal on the new usef.org website), and also (ideally) to your horse’s registry if there is one.

That’s it!

[Libby2563]

[QUOTE=M. O’Connor;9020976]
The FEI compliant microchip is not required to be registered with a chip service such as PetLink or HomeAgain.

Once the chip is inserted, the number should simply be reported to the USEF (which is easily done through the member portal on the new usef.org website), and also (ideally) to your horse’s registry if there is one.

That’s it![/QUOTE]

I know that’s true as far as complying with USEF and FEI requirements, but what about for people who are simply concerned about identifying a lost or stolen horse? Are there registries that vets, animal control agencies, auction houses etc are more likely to check with than others? (I’m sure it’s wishful thinking that most auction houses would check with anyone, buuuut…) Or is it truly universal in that the scanner will reveal the info regardless of which registry is used? That’s the part I’m confused about.

[M_O_Connor]

They are likely to check with our National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport, US Equestrian. I think at this point that there are many groups checking horses at auctions; I’ve not seen these in action but have been told there are Apps that will quickly cross check registries and the USEF.

[M_O_Connor]

And yes the scanners used now for horses are universal. (for some reason the internet isn’t letting me add this to my previous post…

[Peggy]

My understanding is that any chip reader can at least detect any chip, even an old one, but may not be able to pull the number from it.

M. O’Connor - the lack of editing is a new feature on the BB after the great hack. Apparently they’re in the process of doing some sort of major upgrade and didn’t want to go back and fix what is going to be replaced.

[Tackpud]

When I had my mare done, the vet gave me a form for equine registration that has an address on the bottom. Filled out the form and sent it in - haven’t heard of anything else to it. Along with adding her number to her USEF registration, that is.

[invinoveritas]

HomeAgain keeps the chip # in the database without you paying those annual fees. My vet registered my animals with HomeAgain.

Make sure you update with them if you change phone # or address.

They have identified and returned dogs to their owners after years of the dogs being stolen and hundreds of miles away. Every year or so the local newspaper has an article about a recovery and reunion.

One horse at a Texas slaughter house was IDed by his chip years ago and was identified as having been stolen from a barn in California. An article on him and his owner was in one of the horse magazines several years ago.

[vxf111]

I’m waiting a little while to chip, even though I think it’s a terrific idea, because I am worried about “wrinkles” like this

[Blinky]

Agree. My barn is not chipping until the fall.

[rememberthenight]

The answer is that we should be implanting proven microchips, not random microchips that are unable to be properly monitored and recorded. There are many companies(particularly the random Chinese companies making cheap 900-prefix) that are not being properly monitored and the companies dot track who they sell the chips to so there is no way to back track a chip.

I have even seen duplicate 900 microchips come up because they are truly not getting the oversight required. (I even called the shelter where that dog was to confirm the #!!!

I really do feel that the Datamars (my preference because the companies ease of use, and the chips make-up) or homeagain chips are the chips to use.