Horse Show Prep
Are you getting ready for a show? Plan ahead! The staff at Alta Equine Sports Medicine has put together this preparation list for your reference.
Vaccination Compliance
Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and that you have a letter from your veterinarian indicating when your horse was last vaccinated. AESM clients can access this documentation through their client portal.
USEF Equine Vaccination Rule GR845: "At Federation licensed competitions, horses entering the grounds must be accompanied by documentation of Equine Influenza Virus and Equine Herpes Virus (Rhinopneumonitis) vaccinations within six months prior to entering the stables."
Traveling Documentation
Virtually all U.S. states require that owners or professional shippers moving horses within and across state lines carry documentation of Coggins testing and a health certificate.
Coggins
A negative Coggins test proves that your horse has tested negative for equine infectious anemia (EIA) and has been examined by a veterinarian. Most states require proof that a horse has tested negative for EIA within the 12 months prior to travel. Some states require horses to test EIA negative within the 60 or 30 days before entering the state.
An AESM doctor or technician will draw the necessary blood sample and send it to the testing lab along with the required identification paperwork. The process takes 3-4 days to get results. A "rush Coggins," using an ELISA testing procedure, can be completed within 24 hours if time is a concern, but it is significantly more costly to perform.
Health Certificates
Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), more commonly known as "health certificates," are required for each horse when traveling out of state (or country). Most horse shows are also starting to require CVI's for horses entered to compete regardless of their origin. Most states require the exam to take place within 30 to 60 days before travel. Others, however, require documentation showing that a veterinarian examined the horse within the 10 days before entering the state.
For a health certificate/CVI to be written, AESM will conduct a physical exam to be sure that no overt signs of illness or disease are apparent. We must also have the following information:
Current location of the horse
Owner information (if separate from the origin)
Destination-full address with zip code required
Shipping date
Shipper-who is shipping your horse? If commercial, address of the shipper
Vaccine history, especially since some states/shows require specific vaccines before entry.
Reason for shipping
Early notice is essential for international transport, as there are more regulatory steps required for this travel.
