In Finland horses must be registered to a register held by Suomen Hippos ry, a Finnish breeding and trotting association. Before a horse can be registered it must be identified by a representative of a local horse breeding federation. The subject of this thesis is occupational safety in horse identification and the subject was studied by running a questionnaire in internet. Hämeen Hevosjalostusliitto ry is the commissioner of this thesis.

The main goal of this thesis was to gain current information about the occupational safety and practice in horse identification. In the theoretical frame of the thesis, identification, registering and occupational safety in equine field is explored in detail. The subject was studied by running a questionnaire in internet about occupational safety. The questionnaire was intended for the representatives of horse breeding federations.

The report tells that horse identificators are mainly women. Majority of the identificators are under 40 years old. Employments lasting decades are very rare in the branch. The identificators who answered to the questionnaire, categorized a horse unaccustomed to being handled and breeders weak horsemanship skills to be the most impeding factors in the process of horse identification.

The occupational safety in horse identification can be improved significantly by improving the hygiene of the methods and increasing the usage of protective tools. Informing and consultation are the most effective methods to improve the horsemanship skills of the clientele.