Chennai: Horse and donkey owners operating rides along the city’s beaches, including Marina and Elliot’s, must obtain mandatory licences and microchips for the animals from GCC as part of a move to streamline the activity. Owners have been given 45 days, until March 28, to secure the licence. From March 29, unlicensed horses will be barred from commercial rides at the beaches.Based on a request from the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, the civic body passed a resolution on Friday requiring owners of horses and donkeys to obtain licences from local bodies and ensure registration with the board. Owners must also vaccinate the animals and secure fitness certificates from registered veterinarians.The civic body also issued a ban on the use of horses for rides between 10am and 4pm, and a mandate for individual stalls measuring 144sqft for each animal. GCC will enable online application downloads and microchipping at the time of licensing.
