Horse passports will be a legal requirement on February 28th, 2005, but the National Assembly is this week urging owners to make their applications as soon as they can, to avoid a backlog building up in the new year.

All owners of horses, ponies and donkeys in Wales will need to have a passport for each animal that they own, whether owned for business or recreation or simply left to graze as a family pet.

Restrictions on the use of horses will be imposed on those horses without passports after this date. Owners who do not comply may be liable to a £5,000 fine.

Countryside minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "We are advising people not to leave this until the last minute.

Spring is always a busy time in the equestrian calendar and the competition scene in Wales is vibrant.

It would be extremely unfortunate if riders missed out on the chance to compete in events simply because they did not have a passport for their horses."