Traveling with your equine partner and not sure what you need to do beforehand? You have come to the right place! I have owned horses for years and was never sure what documents even existed for horses or how to get them. Googling left me confused, so I decided to compile a quick list for ya'all.
Needed documentation for Equines (originals on hand at all times when traveling):
- Brand inspection
- Coggins
- Health Certificate
A brand inspection is an official piece of paper that lists all of the information on a specific horse (depending on the state it may have drawn or printed pictures of your horse as well) as well as all of the owner’s information. It is not required in all states, but if it is, make sure you have one!
You must have a brand inspection on each horse in YOUR name. If you buy a horse, you need to get a new brand inspection in your name as soon as possible (if you wait too long you may be fined).
Brand inspections are required before:
- Crossing county lines (in MT, some states may be different)
- Crossing state lines (you must either have one in each state you cross into or pay for a lifetime one which covers the whole US and Canada)
- Change of ownership AKA sale of horse (the seller’s responsibility; though if the seller doesn’t get it put into the new owner’s name, it is the new owner’s responsibility to get a new one done as soon as possible in their name)
- Sale at a livestock auction
- Slaughter (at a licensed facility)
All inspections have to be done in daylight and will only be completed if you have proof of ownership either by:
- Bill of sale signed by the seller that describes the equine
- A brand inspection already in your name
You have 2 options for brand inspections. You can do:
- Yearly. Cost is $10. Good for a year and only in the state you got it in. This will be a piece of paper.
- Lifetime; one and done deal. Cost is $30 and it is good as long as you own the horse in all of the US and Canada. You are issued a temporary piece of paper and then mailed a laminated card.
If the horse changes ownership, the old brand inspection (lifetime or year) is void and a new one must be done promptly by the new owner
Life happens, so if you lose your brand inspection, have no fear! You can contact your state Department of Livestock (DOL) office for a replacement. The cost is $10.
Though not required, it is super helpful if you know the brand inspection # for a replacement. It makes the process much easier and faster. Record it or take a picture of it and you will be golden (though it won’t help you if you are asked to show the paperwork, as it must always be the original!)
Coggins
A coggins is a document that states that a horse does not have Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). It is required by all states and all horses are supposed to have one (whether they are traveling or not).
A coggins test is done by drawing blood from a horse and sending it into a lab for testing. The lab will test the blood for antibodies associated with Equine Infection Anemia (EIA) and if the horse comes back negative (as in, doesn’t have EIA) paperwork will be sent to you within a week. It is a fairly cheap and easy process.
If a test comes back positive, the horse must either be put down or quarantined for the rest of it’s life.
The test is done yearly and is required to cross state lines or enter big events with your horse (though you should really have one regardless).
The average price is $35 per horse.
Health Certificate (also known as a certificate of veterinary inspection of CVI)
This document states that a horse has been given a physical by a veterinarian and that the horse is healthy. It is simple and fairly cheap (the avg price is about $35 per horse). The purpose is to make sure that each horse going into a new state is disease free and has a negative coggins ( a health certificate will not be issued if the coggins comes back positive).
You must have a health certificate done if you cross state lines and they are only good for 30 days (so make sure you don’t get them done too early!).
Import Permit
This is a document that must be obtained 10 days or less from the time you will be entering a new state. It just gives the state a heads up that you are coming and makes sure all of your paperwork is in order. It is only required by a few states and is either done online or over the phone.
Websites
https://www.interstatelivestock.com/
The website I have listed above is super cool! You put in the state you are going from and to and it will give you the required livestock documents that you need!
**You can also check out your state's Department of Livestock or Department of Agriculture (what it's called depends on the state) website for more info!
Livestock Reporting
Some states also require annual livestock reporting. You either fill out a paper or an online form where you report the type and amount of each livestock that you own and then pay a fee per head of each type.
It is cheap and a way for the state to make money for the Department of Livestock and goes towards things such as livestock monitoring and investigations.
I know it seems like a lot of work, but it is much easier (and cheaper!) to get the proper documentation done on your horses than it is to get caught. Fees can run anywhere from $150-$500 per horse depending on what you are missing. Plus, traveling without getting the proper documents not only is breaking the law but puts other horses at risk. Do yourself (and your horses) a favor and do it right the first time!
Livestock Reporting
Some states also require annual livestock reporting. You either fill out a paper or an online form where you report the type and amount of each livestock that you own and then pay a fee per head of each type.
It is cheap and a way for the state to make money for the Department of Livestock and goes towards things such as livestock monitoring and investigations.
I know it seems like a lot of work, but it is much easier (and cheaper!) to get the proper documentation done on your horses than it is to get caught. Fees can run anywhere from $150-$500 per horse depending on what you are missing. Plus, traveling without getting the proper documents not only is breaking the law but puts other horses at risk. Do yourself (and your horses) a favor and do it right the first time!
