Traveling With Your Horse? Understanding Coggins Tests and Health Certificates
Whether you're headed to a horse show, hauling out of state for the winter, moving to a new barn, or planning another trip with your horse, there are a few things you may need before loading the trailer.
Two of the most common are a Equine Infectious Anemia(Coggins) test and a health certificate.
They’re related, but they aren’t the same thing. Depending on where you’re going, you may need one or both.
What Is a Coggins Test?
A Coggins test is a blood test that screens your horse for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), a potentially serious viral disease affecting horses, mules, and donkeys.
One of the challenges with EIA is that an infected horse may not always look sick. Testing helps identify infected horses and reduce the risk of the disease spreading within the equine population.
Because horses frequently come together at shows, events, barns and other facilities, proof of a negative Coggins test is commonly required for travel, events, sales and other activities. Requirements can vary by state and destination.
Here in Arizona, horses six months of age and older entering the state generally need a negative EIA test performed within the previous 12 months.
What Is a Health Certificate?
A health certificate, also called a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), is different.
Rather than testing for one specific disease, a CVI documents information about your horse and certifies that the horse has been examined by a veterinarian for travel.
The certificate includes information such as the horse's identification, owner, origin and destination. It may also document required tests, vaccinations or permits based on where the horse is going.
Think of it this way:
Coggins = a test for a specific disease.
Health Certificate = documentation that your horse meets the health requirements for the planned movement.
So...Do I Need Both?
Very possibly!
For interstate travel, most states require horses to be individually identified and accompanied by a CVI. The destination state determines additional requirements, including whether proof of a negative Coggins test is required.
That means your Coggins information may actually become part of the documentation used to complete your horse's health certificate.
Requirements can also vary depending on where you're going, why you're traveling and how long you'll be there. A show or facility may have its own requirements in addition to state regulations.
International travel is another story entirely. Horses traveling outside the United States can be subject to country specific testing, identification and health certification requirements, and many international health certificates require USDA endorsement.
Don't Wait Until the Trailer Is Packed
If you know you have a trip coming up, this is one of those things that's better handled early.
Some paperwork can be completed fairly quickly, but laboratory testing takes time, and requirements can change depending on your destination. Incorrect or incomplete travel documents can cause delays or even result in an animal being refused entry.
Before you travel, make sure you know:
Where your horse is going
When you're leaving
Whether you're crossing state or international borders
Whether your destination, show or facility has additional requirements
When your horse's last Coggins test was performed
Jackpot Can Help Get You Road Ready
If you're planning to travel with your horse, give the Jackpot Veterinary Center team a call before your trip.
We can help determine what documentation your horse needs, perform the necessary examination and Coggins testing, and complete applicable health certificate paperwork so you're prepared before it's time to load up.
And if you're not sure whether you need a Coggins, a health certificate or both? That's okay. Start with your destination and travel dates, and we'll help you figure out the rest.
Safe travels!