HAULING HORSES?

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COUNTRY VET

Crossing state lines, health papers, and other travel tips.

By Carol Erikson, DVM.

Photos William A. Cotton

I bought a horse in Kentucky and I need to haul him home to New Mexico in a few months. I was told I need a vet to issue health papers on him so I can cross state lines. What does this involve? Will I need to get vaccinations? What is the reason for this inspection?

-Paul Matthews
Corona, NM

Health papers for livestock were developed to control the spread of contagious disease as well as to protect the owner/mover from unforeseen health problems during transport. Regulations governing vaccination and testing vary from state to state. Your vet will be able to tell you what is required before entering a specific area.

Your horse should always be current on vaccinations anyway. A four-way tetanus, influenza, and sleeping sickness vaccination should be given annually regardless of transportation status. Other vaccinations depend on age, breeding status, and use of your animal. These would be: streptococcus equi, rhinopneumonitis and Potomac horse fever. Vaccination not only protects your horse when entering a new area, but also other horses that s/he may contact.

A blood test for equine infectious anemia, commonly called the Coggins Test, may also be required when crossing state lines. Your vet must fill out the proper forms, draw blood for serum, submit this to a lab, and get results before your horse can be moved. It pays to start early when considering shipping livestock.

In Western states, your move would require obtaining a brand inspection regardless of whether your horse is branded or not. A brand inspection confirms that the horse in question is being moved legally, and not being stolen. This would be similar to carrying vehicle registration papers in case you're pulled over by the highway patrol. It may also be wise to carry your horse's registration papers and the bill of sale should proof of ownership be necessary.

Certain tests and inspection papers have time constraints as well. You need to be well-prepared for all regulations that your horse may encounter. This can really be frustrating to owners who need a horse shipped yesterday. But believe me, the reasons behind these laws have far-reaching implications.

This summer/fall we had a disease called vesicular stomatitis (v.s.), spread across the Southwestern United States. This disease mainly effected only hoofed creatures causing oral blisters and general malaise. Thankfully this disease wasn't lethal, but it was economically crippling. The beef, dairy and horse industries suffered major setbacks.

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