Thursday, May 31, 2007 Horses used for rigs must be registered
FOR the first time, the Cebu City Government will register all horses used in carriages or “tartanillas,” complete with their distinctive marks, vital statistics and veterinary records.
Rig drivers will no longer have to worry about their horses being stolen, as the registration was designed to prevent or solve theft cases involving horses and carriages.
The color of the horse’s mane, weight and height, birthmarks, scars and other distinctive marks on their hooves and face will be recorded once they are registered with the City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).
The registration will help establish ownership of the animal and ensure its good health and welfare, said DVMF chief Dr. Alice Utlang.
She lamented that most horses in the city are not given proper care, unless owned by wealthy families and ranchers, who send their horses to competitions.
“Unlike the dogs and livestock whose illnesses are monitored by our office, there are several diseases affecting horses that owners are not aware of. A big percentage of horses in the city are not registered and have no credentials. Nalimtan intawn ni sila na sector (They are a forgotten lot),” Utlang said.
Horses will also be given proper medical care once registered, including vitamins and deworming tablets. Fecal samples will be taken to diagnose illnesses, if any.
The free registration of horses is one of the activities for the 5th Tartanilla Festival, which will kick off on Friday and end on June 12, during the City’s Independence Day parade.
Since the registration started last Monday, 20 of the 200 horses used in “tartanillas” have been registered, but Utlang is confident they will be able to get the credentials of all 200 before the festival ends.
One of the diseases DVMF is looking out for is the equine infectious anemia, which affects the immune system of the horse. The disease is often likened to HIV.
Like the previous years, this year’s festival will give rig drivers a chance to spruce up their horse-driven carriages and join the competition, which includes 75 carriages operating in the south district downtown area.
The festival was first held in 2003 to help preserve the “tartanilla” tradition in the city, and to educate and discipline rig drivers in terms of traffic rules. (LCR)
