According to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), a 14-page dossier has been sent to Michel Barnier, the European Union’s (EU) chief Brexit negotiator, and his United Kingdom counterpart Lord Frost.

The FEI, of which De Vos is President, makes up the IHSC along with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

And De Vos has warned the industry in Europe could "shrink by as much as a third" with a "potential €17 billion (£15.5 billion/$20 billion) reduction in economic contribution" and "the potential loss of 250,000 jobs" should a deal not be reached in the EU-UK withdrawal agreement.

As part of the proposals, the IHSC plans to launch a digital passport - which the FEI believes will facilitate "seamless international transport of guaranteed high-health status horses" - and wants zero tariffs for cross-border movement of horses.

The IHSC, together with the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation, European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders Associations and the European Equestrian Federation, has proposed what are termed "simple and workable solutions" that will "ensure horse welfare and safeguard both European and British interests".

It is hoped that, post a withdrawal agreement, high-health horses in the UK will have the same status as those in EU countries as is the case at present.

The IHSC is also lobbying for tariff-free cross-border transport to be extended to geldings, as only stallions and mares are eligible as things stand pre-Brexit.

The FEI says the digital passport will provide the EU with "full traceability" and "sanitary guarantees", offering access to "fail-safe" identification and ownership information as well as "real-time monitoring" of a horse’s movements.

"The high health status of each horse can be instantly validated through access to up-to-date vaccination and medical records," the statement added.

"If approved, the e-passport would have no financial implications for the EU as costs around final development, implementation and running of the system will be met by the equine industry."

The proposals also include regional agreements on the bio-secure traceable movement of high-health horses signed between neighbouring EU Member States.

De Vos claims the equine industry is "crucial" to the "economic, social, sporting and cultural fabric" of both the EU and the UK.

"We believe that there are simple solutions that can guarantee a secure future for the European equine industry," De Vos, an International Olympic Committee member, added.

"It is one of the most important animal breeding and production sectors in Europe, larger and with greater economic impact and employment than a number of other European agricultural sectors, with a net worth of over €52 billion (£47 billion/$62 billion) per annum, providing 210,000 direct and more than 500,000 indirect jobs.

"Our goal is to reach an agreement that will allow for a continuation of the historical expedited movement of horses for breeding, sale and competition between EU Member States and Britain.

"While there are some sectors currently under discussion that seem to remain difficult in the negotiations, we believe that there are simple solutions within the equine industry that can be readily included in a Free Trade Agreement. 

"Indeed, they are also workable even in a no deal scenario.

"We are asking the negotiators on both sides of the table to take our proposals on board and incorporate them into the texts of the Trade Agreement, if there is one, and the EU to include them in the incoming EU Animal Health Law, which comes into effect next April.

"Without agreement on this, we estimate that the industry in Europe could shrink by as much as a third, with a potential €17 billion reduction in economic contribution, and the potential loss of 250,000 jobs in a marketplace already threatened with critical unemployment levels and a significant reduction in foreign direct investment in the European Union as the economic focus shifts to North America and Asia.

"So failure is not an option."

The UK formally left the EU on January 31, although a transitional period is in place until the end of this year, meaning the UK is still in the EU single market until then.