Horses F.A.Q.s

Mon, 2010/03/15 - 1:14am — admin
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What are the regulations / rules that must be followed when keeping stallions on a farm (housing, fencing, welfare, etc.)?

Horse farming is protected under the Right to Farm Act. Animals must be contained as required by the Livestock Act and be cared for according to the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Horses (also see the SPCA definition). Please also see the Livestock Lien Act on information for boarders and horse keepers.

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What are the regulations regarding horse riding on roads?

The riding of horses on the road and road shoulders is regulated under the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations.
Riding on a highway is prohibited by the Act.
Langley residence can look under the Langley Township Traffic Bylaws (go to Municipal Services, then Council, then to the Bylaw site, and go to Highway and Traffic Bylaw No.3500, Section 24).
Abbotsford residence can look under the Abbotsford Traffic Bylaws website (go to the bylaw site, and then go to Traffic Bylaw No. 2516, Section 3).
Delta residence can look under the Delta Traffic Bylaws website (under Council Business, click the Delta Council Information link, and then go to Highways Bylaw No.4900).
Surrey Residence can look under the Surrey Traffic Bylaws website (click on the Council Information link, select Bylaws, then click on “Regulatory by Subject” and then scroll down to Highways and select “Highways and Traffic” bylaw and read Part III and IV).
You may wish to contact your local municipality for regulations regarding horse riding if you are outside of the jurisdictions listed above.

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What are the regulations and safety practices regarding transport of horses?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands provides information on normal farm practices for transportation. The Commercial Transport Act covers all the regulations regarding motor vehicle regulations, registration and licensing for commercial transport vehicles as well as commercial vehicle configuration and safety standards. Rules regarding motor vehicle operations are covered in the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations.

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Why should I brand my horse and when is a brand inspection required?

The Livestock Identification Act Regulation states that “a brand on livestock is evidence that the registered owner of the brand is the owner of the livestock”. It protects owners from theft, straying, or misappropriation. Horses should also be branded when heading south of the boarder to avoid problems in other jurisdictions. See the OII Ownership Identification website to find out when a brand inspection is required to learn suggestions and legislation requirements.

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What are the legal requirements regarding the movement of horses across the USA/Canadian border and throughout Canada?

When bringing horses into the US you will need to accompany them with a Veterinary Health Certificate.
Please see information from Alberta.
Horses going south of the border should be brand inspected before departure to avoid problems in other jurisdictions (see previous FAQ for more information).
Horses require an inspection if they are being consigned to a public sale in the prescribed area of the Province (east of Hope) or Alberta or if going to slaughter or a feedlot within or outside of BC.
Some of the neighboring jurisdictions have requirements that are considerably different so it would be advisable to check with those areas if you are traveling outside of BC.
See the Alberta web site or call (403) 509-2088 and the Washington State web site or call (360) 543-7383.
Equine Canada also has an export section, please refer to "Hot Topics" on the homepage.

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How do I manage waste on my farm?

Waste on a horse farm usually includes manure and bedding material. You can manage stable waste by composting. See the “BC Agricultural Composting Handbook” for a complete guide. See our publication page for a list of waste management options.

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How do I manage dead stock (removal & burial)?

There are guidelines for on-farm disposal of large animals through composting and burial. For a list of companies that take away dead stock, please contact the Horse Council of BC.

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What are the guidelines concerning the use of wood waste as bedding material for horses?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Land (MAL) has a fact sheet that provides precautions to horse owners concerning the use of wood waste.

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How is a horse operation classified as a farm for “Farm Property Tax Status”?

In determining what qualifies for Farm Class, the Assessment Act requires that BC Assessment value all real property within Province and classify it into one of nine property classes. Class 9, farm land is governed primarily by BC Regulation 411/95. This regulation defines what is considered a “farm operation” and sets out criteria for the classification of a property as farm, primarily on the basis of a gross income. The standard requires the sale of at least one horse annually. This arises out of Section 5 requiring some cash sales annually. In the case of a horse that is purchased grown and sold at a profit, the qualifying income is the sale price less the original purchase price. For more information on property assessment in British Columbia visit BC Assessment.

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What should I know about horse farming and taxes?

Provincial
British Columbia Social Services Tax.
Bona Fide Farmers (those that have farm property tax status) in BC are exempt from paying social services taxes on specific input items. These items are listed on bulletin SST 023 of the Consumer Taxation Branch of the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue.

Federal Taxation
Goods and Services Tax.
The GST applies to all transactions in the horse industry. Those that are established as a farm or a business can apply for tax credits to offset any GST paid for legitimate business expenses. Those businesses that are small suppliers, under $30,000 gross income are eligible to register but are not required to register. Registration can be done by contacting Canada Revenue Agency and requesting a business number for GST.

Income Tax
It is advised that those investing in the horse industry obtain the services of a professional tax advisor to assist with business tax decisions. Some areas of concern you may wish to discuss with your advisor are:
- Is my business a farm and how is this determined? (see question 9)
- Will I be able to write off all my losses from the farm against my non farm income or will I be restricted by the inventory adjustments and restricted farm losses?
- Can I file my tax on the accrual or cash basis?

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Where can I find assistance on various horse topics?

Check out the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands website for horse related information. The Horse Council of BC is an excellent source of information and assistance. The BC Standardbred Association and Breeders Society provide information regarding Standardbreds (harness racehorses). The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC Division) is a good source of information regarding Thoroughbred horse (flat) racing.

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Where can I find building plans for the constructions of barns and buildings?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL) has a number of building plans on their Horse Publication page. See the MWPS site for a great “Horse Facility Handbook” that can be ordered online.

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What plants are poisonous to horses?

Owners of horses should be aware of certain plants and weeds in their fields that may be poisonous. The Ministry of Agriculture and Land has an article on Alsike Clover Toxicity along with a list of publications on poisonous plants in BC.
Both Cornell and Purdue Universities have online database on toxic plants. The Horse Council of BC is a good resource for poisonous plant alerts and information.

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Where can I find statistical information on horses?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL) has a publication giving an overview of the horse industry. There is a National Horse Industry Study that was done in 1998 which is provided by Equine Canada. There is also additional statistical information on the Equine Canada website.

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Where can I find agritourism related information?

See the Fraser Valley Guide for horse lessons, trail riding, wagon rides and camping adventures. The BC tourism website has a list of horse riding companies throughout BC. The Hidden Trails website is an international site which contains various equestrian vacations throughout Canada and the rest of the World.
If you are interested in horse agritourism as a business, check out the Agritourism community in InfoBasket.

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Where can I find horseback riding trails in British Columbia?

Please see the BC Parks website. Here you can run a search by selecting “horse back riding” and picking your desired region.

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Is there government support available for horse farmers?

There are several federally and provincially funded programs that provide support for start-up horse producers. Each program has different aims - some focus on exports, while others focus on research. These programs have strategic priorities and formalized eligibility and application guidelines. And many programs provide services rather than funding. Funding programs include:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Electronic Information Service
Provides information on inspection, regulations, industry information, research and technology, and human resources.
Website: http://www.agr.gc.ca/

BC Investment Agriculture Foundation
A non-profit agricultural association that helps fosters growth in the agri-food industry. A secondary role is to assist industry in responding to current issues facing the sector.
Phone: 250 356-1833
Fax: 250 953-5162
Website: http://www.iafbc.ca/

Business Development Bank of Canada
Provides information on financial products, venture capital, and consulting services.
Website: http://www.bdc.ca/

Canada/British Columbia Business Service Centre
A business resource centre that provides information on starting a new business, entering new markets, accessing government programs and services, taxation, and regulations.
Phone: 604 775-5525
Fax: 604 775-5520
Website: http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/

Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
Assists companies to succeed in the global marketplace.
Website: http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/

If you are looking for general information on export marketing, financing and logistics, go to Canada Business - Exporting.

Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)
There is an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program. Horse farmers who develop and have an approved EFP become eligible to apply for the cost-shared incentives through the National Farms Stewardship Program (NFSP) to implement actions identified in their plan.

Export Development Corporation
Provides programs that can assist Canadian exporters to compete in foreign markets.
Website: http://www.edc.ca/

Farm Credit Corporation (FCC)
The FCC offers innovative products and services to farmers and small- and medium-sized agri-businesses. The family farm has been and will continue to be the main focus of their lending operations. They also support farmer-controlled diversification initiatives and value-added agricultural operations on the farm and beyond the farm gate.
Website: http://www.fcc-sca.ca/

Industry Canada
Provides programs and funding to assist with exporting and research and development.
Website: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/

New Business Risk Management Suite
The new suite replaces the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program with new programs that are more responsive, predictable and bankable for farmers. This 4-part program integrates investment, stabilization, recovery and insurance, helping producers protect their farming operations from both small and large drops in income.
Website: New Business Risk Management Suite

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
WD offers a network of business professionals to help with business planning and development, accessing capital, export or trade development, selling to government markets, and providing information on government programs and services for which a business may be eligible.
Website: http://www.wd.gc.ca/

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