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Burial of Pet Horses

The Animal By-Products Regulations 2005 require that horses, when they die, are disposed of without delay at a premises approved under the regulations for proper collection or disposal, for example at an approved knackers yard, incinerator or renderer, either by private arrangement, or under the National Fallen Stock Scheme.

To locate an approved knacker, incinerator or renderer contact your local Animal Health Office.

However, Regulation 28 states that pet animals may be buried (a pet animal being defined as any animal belonging to a species normally nourished and kept, but not consumed, by humans for purposes other than farming).

In the EU the horse has a different status to those in the UK in that they are used for work and are kept and bred for human consumption, thereby not falling within the definition of a pet animal. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are of the opinion that some horses in the UK are genuinely kept as pets by some people, and if this is the case then they ask local authorities to adopt a flexible approach and permit the burial of pet horses.

Stratford on Avon District Council will adopt such an approach, and if a horse is a genuine pet, it may be buried when it dies. If you want to bury a pet horse you are advised to contact the Environmental Protection team on 01789 260854 to advise them of the burial. You will be asked to submit a map or plan to show the approximate location of the burial site.

The burial must be on land in the ownership of the horse owner or on land that the horse owner has written consent from the landowner to use. The location and depth of the burial site must comply with the following:

be at least 250m away from any well, borehole or spring that supplies water for human consumption or to be used in farm dairies;
be at least 30m away from any other spring or watercourse, and at least 10m away from any field drain;
be deep enough for at least 1m of soil to cover the carcass;
when first dug, the bottom of the hole must be free of standing water;
the carcass must be covered with topsoil straightaway.

More information about the Animal By-Products Regulations 2005 is available on Defra's website.

External links:
nfsco website | defra - Animal Health Offices | The Animal By-Products Regulations 2005 - Regulation 28 | defra website | The Animal By-Products Regulations 2005

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Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House,
Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX

E: info@stratford-dc.gov.uk
Tel: 01789 267 575
Fax: 01789 260 007
Minicom: 01789 260 747
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