Disease control and traceability for equines has created some difficulties due to the lack of a unique individual animal identification for equines in Canada. In the past, Thoroughbreds have been identified through written descriptions of markings which have not been accurate enough to easily identify Thoroughbred horses. Although tattooing has been in use for a number of years only Thoroughbreds who have arrived at a racetrack for the purposes of racing are tattooed. The tattoo itself is problematic as it can be extremely difficult to read especially as the Thoroughbred ages.

Beginning in 2008 The Jockey Club began offering microchips for sale to interested owners and breeders for use in Thoroughbreds residing in the U.S.A. and Canada however their use was not a requirement for Thoroughbred breeders or owners. Registration and participation of microchip usage was voluntary.

In 2016 The Jockey Club put into place the mandatory requirement that beginning in 2017 all Thoroughbred foals would be required to be microchipped. This requirement made the acceptance of microchipping easier for the Alberta Thoroughbred Microchipping project to be introduced to the Thoroughbred industry however as The Jockey Club chose a different microchip location than the Alberta Thoroughbred Micro-chipping project. The suggested implant site from The Jockey Club is in the nuchal ligament in the left side of the equine in the middle third of the neck. The implant area promoted by The Jockey Club created some challenges to the project however these were addressed and led to a compromise between The Jockey Club and the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.