Premises Registration 
As from 1 May 2012, any premises (which includes shows, fairs and markets) where horses or other equines are gathered must be registered with the Department.  Owners/persons in charge of such gatherings are required to submit a completed application form for registration and to keep records of movements on/off their premises. 

Records must be retained for at least 3 years as they may be required by the Department for the purposes of tracing disease. Records required are

• The name and address of the owner/person in charge of the premises from which the equine came
• The premises registration number from which the equine came and 
• Passport number/UELN number of the animal

It is important therefore that Show organisers should contact their local Regional Veterinary Office in advance so that consideration can be given to compliance with the requirements outlined above. 

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/form/19428-application-for-registration-of-an-equine-premises-under-the-control -on-places-where-horses-are-kept-regulations-2014/

Equine Identification
All Equines (which include horses, ponies and donkeys) must be identified in accordance with EU and national legislation. 

• It is an offence to be in possession of an equine that is not properly identified.  
• Equine passports must be issued by approved Passport Issuing Organisations [PIOs] not later than 12 months from the date of birth of the animal and, in any event before the equine leaves the establishment of birth for a period exceeding 30 days, except in limited circumstances.  The passport is valid for the lifetime of the animal.  A list of the PIOs approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is set out in Appendix 5.
• Microchip - all equines issued with a passport after 1st July 2009 must have a corresponding microchip implanted by a veterinarian, the details of which are recorded in the passport and in the central equine database, thereby creating a link between the passport and the animal. 
• In respect of each equine in their care, a keeper must ensure that
  • the equine is registered with an approved PIO; 

  •  the animal’s passport is issued in accordance with EU and national legislation;

  • they are in compliance with the provisions of the legislation whereby the passport issued in respect of the equine must accompany the animal whenever it is moved to events such as shows, sales and to slaughter plants, etc.    

Further information is available from Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, - at Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade Division, Farnham St, Cavan (Phone +353 49 4368200) in respect of studbook equines and from Animal Identification and Movement Division, Backweston Administration Building, Stacumny Lane, Celbridge, Co Kildare, W23 X3PH (Phone +353 1 5058881) in respect of equines that do not qualify for entry into a studbook.

Sheep

Identification
All sheep must be identified individually with appropriate ear tags issued in accordance with the requirements of the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS).

Movement Documentation
All consignments of sheep being moved must be accompanied by a completed dispatch document.  Individual details of each sheep in the consignment must be recorded on the document.  Sheep from non-restricted flocks only can be moved to shows.  In the case of flocks restricted following diagnosis of scrapie, sheep possessing the ARR/ARR genotype only may be exhibited .  The movement of these ARR/ARR genotype sheep must be accompanied by the relevant movement permit (SCR/10), which can be obtained from the Regional Veterinary Office responsible for the county in which the flock is located. 
 
AIM Notification
The movement of sheep to and from an Agricultural Show within the State must be recorded on AIM.  This is done using a copy of the owner’s sheep dispatch document as follows:
1.    The owner/keeper presents the signed and completed dispatch document to the show secretary who checks it to ensure that it is completed in full.
2.    The show secretary fills in the MART section of the dispatch document with (i) the show number, (ii) the date of the move back to the source holding (iii) stamps it with the show stamp and (iv) signs the dispatch document. 
3.    The show secretary then forwards the completed pink section of the dispatch document to the local RVO within 7 days of the show movement.
4.    The show secretary keeps the white copy for their records.
5.    The source/destination keeper keeps the bottom yellow copy to enter it into their flock register.

Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling this requirement lies with the Show Secretary.  

Flock Register
All movements of sheep to and from shows must be recorded in the keeper’s flock register. 

Movement to Northern Ireland
All sheep must be accompanied by an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) for ovine animals.  A TRACES message, corresponding with the ITAHC, will be sent for each animal or consignment being dispatched to the show (this will be performed by Department officials from the RVO).  Exhibitors are advised to contact the show society in Northern Ireland well in advance of any show to determine the suitability of the show for return of animals (e.g., premises and sheep status), and whether the authorities will have officials and veterinary staff present to supervise and process documentation for animals returning to origin.

Agreement for the movement and immediate return of sheep to a Show in another country or vice versa currently applies for movements between Ireland and Northern Ireland only – it does not apply for movements to Great Britain or further afield.  Movements to shows other than Northern Ireland will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and you should contact your local Regional Veterinary Office at least one month prior to the Show.