Weaning & Update From SPSBS

Today we've moved the foals into one of the stables. Brought them down from the field with their Mum's. Then took Mum's back. They seem to have settled ok. Lil was calling to Apollo for a while, but then went back with the other girls.
Mark came to turn the hay today, we are due good weather for the next few days. Hopefully, we will be able to make some hay, instead of haylage.
Tomos the Blacksmith is coming in the morning to do the Ponies hoofs. Noticed that Apollo has chipped one of his.
Also got a news letter from The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society today, concerning the Micro chipping of all foals next year. This is what it states, that as from the 1st January 2009 every SPSBS passport application, will have to be supported with a document signed by a Veterinary Surgeon, declaring that the Vet has implanted a microchip into the equine identified on the application.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of the 6th June 2008.
officials who were accompanied by their legal and veterinary representatives, the understanding was that although the enforcement date was July 1st 2009, this actually meant that any person applying for any equine passport before this had to have that passport in their possession The legislation is not enforceable until the 1st July 2009. However, at the meeting with SEERAD, prior to the deadline of 1st July 2009. It did not mean that applications had to be received prior to that date but would mean that if owners of foals born prior to the deadline wanted to registrar them without the microchip implant, they would have to send in the registration application to the office early enough for the application to be processed and the passport back with the owner by the 1st July 2009. Members will appreciate that this could cause considerable problems for the office, as a number have to be returned to owners for various corrections, before being completed and any delay could man the application being done after the deadline, which would then require a microchip implant confirmation.
Seerad appreciates that small Societies with only a couple of hundred applications each year, would be able to effectively implement this but stressed that larger Societies with thousands of applications would need to bring this into force much earlier in order to provide a satisfactory service to Members and fulfill the legal requirements of the Regulation.
Therefore the SPSBS Council has decided for the benefit of the Society as a whole and to be able to provide a continuity of service without confusion and unacceptably long delays at a time of the year when passport applications are at a high due to foaling and Autumn sales, that all passport applications as from the 1st January 2009 must be supported with a declaration from a Vet that a microchip has been implanted into the equine identified on the application.
The good news is that the Society has negotiated an excellent cost on Microchips. The cost of a Microchip will be £5.80 including VAT and Postage and these will be posted recorded delivery to any nominated Veterinary Surgeon. Alternatively, members are free to chose to buy microchips directly from their own Vet.
In order to make sure Members have the correct information the Society has obtained written confirmation from both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Microchip Manufacturers and the following is correct:
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons considers the micro chipping of Equines within the Nuchal Ligament an act of Veterinary surgery and therefore only a qualified Veterinary Surgeon can legally do this. There is no minimum age for the micro chipping of Equines.
The Avid microchip company who manufacture as well as supply micro chips have confirmed in writing they have no minimum age set for Equine implantation and simply state that the implantation should be carried out by a Vet with the Nuchal Ligament as the implant site.
There is no longer a requirement for the Silhouette to be completed once a microchip is implanted.