Equine Microchipping
Information for Retired Thoroughbreds.
All retired thoroughbreds are microchipped, but following retirement and rehoming the microchip details need to be maintained on a secure database in association with the new guardian's details. This is to provide peace of mind, ensuring they can make it home if lost or found following a national emergency.
Equine microchipping and registration on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) provides lifelong identification, helping reunite lost horses with their guardians.
The New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) is New Zealand's lost and found microchip database for companion animals - including horses.
- We focus on positive identification of horses in order to protect their welfare.
- There is a one-off fee ($15) to our registered charity meaning your horse's microchip details are registered with us for life.
- Our database is accessible by 950+ Approved Users including vet clinics, SPCA, shelters, and Animal Control, who can easily scan the chip, enabling quick identification in case of emergencies.
Our organisation also runs EQuiChip® events, which are community events to microchip and register horses. At these, we implant a Thermochip®. Thermochips not only tell a veterinarian your horse’s microchip number, it can also read their temperature (if read with an appropriate scanner). This is a fast and safe way of keeping an eye on your horse’s health.
Information for retired thoroughbred horses
The NZTR are dedicated to ensuring full traceability of every thoroughbred, from foaling to retirement. This includes keeping track of retired racehorses, and they've partnered with Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) to register all retired thoroughbreds on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register.
What does this mean for you?
- Free lifetime registration: NZTR covers the $15 registration fee, ensuring your horse’s microchip is linked to your details (referred to as 'guardian' details) for life.
- Peace of mind: Your horse’s identity will be securely linked to you, offering support if your horse is lost, found, or during national emergencies.
- Future-proofing: When a National Equine Database is launched, your horse’s details can be easily shared across systems, thanks to your NZCAR registration.
- One place for all animals: If you have other pets like cats or dogs on NZCAR, you will already have an account and be familiar with it. If not, it’s quick to create an account and manage all your animals in one place.
The NZTR will take care of the registration initiation and payment and once your horse is registered, or when it is transferred to you at adoption, you’ll receive a confirmation email from NZCAR with details to finalise your account details.
Learn more from our guardian FAQ section here.
About Companion Animals NZ
Companion Animals NZ is the registered charity that owns and manages the NZCAR. Funds derived from the Register support research, education, and advocacy work to advance understanding of companion animal welfare needs, so that animals in New Zealand live ‘A Good Life’. Companion Animals NZ publish research and helpful tips to be a responsible animal guardian.
