How do you read a TB tattoo?
Tips for Reading Lip Tattoos
A Thoroughbred tattoo is a letter followed by four or five numbers. The letter represents the year of foaling (see chart). Note: In tattoos that contain five numbers after the letter, the first number will be from zero to five.
Are thoroughbreds still tattooed?
The TRPB currently has 58 Technicians operating throughout Canada and the United States who are fully trained in Digital Tattooing and are prepared to scan, photograph, and certify your Thoroughbred for official identification purposes.
How do you read a Thoroughbred tattoo?
A Thoroughbred tattoo is a letter followed by four or five numbers. The letter represents the year of foaling (see chart). Note: In tattoos that contain five numbers after the letter, the first number will be from zero to five.
Why do horses have tattoos on their lips?
Most breeds of horses racing in North America are required to have a lip tattoo for identification purposes prior to their first race. This tattoo is inside the upper lip and is linked to the registration papers to identify the horse and owner.
Do they still lip tattoo racehorses?
The longstanding practice of branding horses on the inside lip was discontinued at the end of 2019; however, horses that already have a lip tattoo will be permitted to compete for the rest of their racing career.
When did they stop tattooing racehorses?
2020
Tattoo Removal: Changing Horse Identification and Its Impact on Aftercare. When it was announced in December that the tattoos used to identify racehorses would be discontinued by 2020, it seemed like a logical next step.
Do racehorses still get lip tattoos?
The current practice of branding horses on the inside lip will be discontinued at the end of 2019. The TRPB website will contain additional information leading up to the rollout of the digital tattoo.
When did Jockey Club stop tattooing?
From 2017 onward, all horses registered with The Jockey Club have to have a microchip, and racetracks must use microchip readers to identify horses, so in the years to come, tattoos will eventually become unnecessary as a means of identification.
What horse breeds have lip tattoos?
Lip tattooing is found on Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, Appaloosas, Arabians and Quarter Horses, because these breeds also race.