General Chips4Tack Information

Adding basic and indisputable ID to your tack, particularly your saddles, is sensible, inexpensive and easy to achieve. Chips4Tack is the only system on the market offering a 'complete' tack identification solution,  invisible tagging by microchip, supported by visual ID coding, of a type preferred by the police.

Visible marking is administered with the Saddle-Scribe Coder. The system engraves the last seven microchip digits and a 'UK' country code, in case the saddle should find it's way abroad onto the stirrup bar. Then the complete microchip number and the visual code are both registered on the Immobilise database, the only personal property database accessed through the NMPR system by all UK police forces.

 
Our special Saddle-Scribe Coder
etches the Chips4Tack ID code into your saddle's Stirrup Bar 
NEW!

We are always looking to improve our products and add relevant items to our stocklist.  Our latest addition is an inexpensive saddle plate that screws on to the cantel informing everyone that the saddle is microchipped.  The plate also carries the Chips4Tack website address so if someone wants to check registered ownership they can do so by contacting us.

As some police forces openly admit to not check-scanning any items for microchip ID if they are not carrying a visual tag that states the item is microchipped this saddle plate is a must.  It is only available to people who have, or have had, their saddles microchipped by one of our fitters.

Click on the photo for a larger image

Having spoken to some of the best saddle makers in the country we have taken their advice on best microchip placement points.  Also, we will be talking to the major saddle-makers to encourage them to chip their saddles during the making stage to ensure the most secure chip placement.
For those with Gigs, traps or other 'drawn' carriages - don't forget to get your harness marked; by microchip where possible and also visibly ID marked as described above or with a code stamped into the leather.

 

The microchip transponder, more frequently referred to as a 'chip' is about the size of a grain of rice.  It is placed in the saddle or into suitable harness at a recommended point. The 'chip' does nothing but hold a fifteen digit ID code that is written on the chip during manufacture.  
The ID code and owners details must be registered on 'Immobilise', the personal property database, as soon as possible. Failure to register will mean your tack is unidentifiable by the Police if it should get stolen!
If you pass a Microchip Reader close to the chip, the radio frequency signal emitted by the reader excites the microchip and causes it to give up the special code written to it during manufacture. That is the ID number that is registered on the database.

Chips4Tack supply a small range of readers but we strongly recommend the PetScan 

The PetScan reader has a very good read range for a hand-held scanner and will recognise all ISO (15 digit) microchips used in Europe for identification in horses, horse tack, dogs, cats, birds, fish and most zoo animals.  

 

(The PetScan reader checks a chip inside it's needle prior to being fitted).