Client Center

Dear Valued Clients,

Please read this important information regarding coggins and health certificates. Both informational forms are available to be filled out and submitted on our website.

While health certificates often seem like unnecessary and tedious paperwork for travel, they serve a very important purpose in the veterinary world. Health certificates are issued by USDA accredited veterinarians and certify that an individual horse does not show outward evidence of infectious disease, is fit to travel, and is not coming from an area with an established outbreak of infectious disease. Additionally, they provide traceability. Because these certificates are maintained by the veterinarian's office, the state in which it was issued, and the state in which the horse is traveling, the travel of any horse can be tracked. This is important when it comes to outbreak situations at destination facilities. For example, if a horse is found to have EHV-1 in the days following a show in Oklahoma, every single exposed horse, no matter where they are in the country, can be identified so that proper precautions can be taken.

With the increase in outbreaks of disease across the country, it is imperative that health certificates be handled correctly for the safety and wellbeing of the equine community.

Health certificates are required to cross state lines and may be required by specific in-state facilities. Per federal law: In order to issue a health certificate, a negative goggins test must be current as dictated by the state of destination AND the horse needs to have been evaluated by the issuing veterinarian within the last 10 days. This is federal law, and there can be no exceptions.

If a coggins test is not current OR the horse has not been seen by a CKE veterinarian in the last 10 days, you will need to schedule an appointment to complete these requirements.

An examination can be performed at the time the coggins test is drawn provided that the horse is traveling in the next 30 days. When scheduling appointments for these services, please keep in mind that a health certificate is only valid for 30 days from the date of examination. Please call as soon as you have made travel plans, emergency scheduling is more difficult and may incur additional fees. Late scheduling may result in postponement of your travel plans.

To obtain an estimate for these services, please contact the office at 877-499-9909 and we will gladly help you. Costs will include a call charge or office visit (split per horse), a health certificate (per horse), an examination (per horse; cost will vary by the number of horses evaluated), and a negative coggins test (if not current).

As a reminder, the following information will need to be provided to the office to complete the health certificate:

• Name and address of the horse owner

• Address of the home location of the horse

• Name, breed, color, gender, and markings

• Date of departure from home farm

• Physical address of destination (not a PO Box)

• Name and phone number of the person hauling

We sincerely appreciate your trust in us to care for your horses year-round and prepare them for travel across the country and locally. If you have any questions or need clarification on any of the above information, please do not hesitate to call or email us!

Indiana Horse Council

Lance Kendrick Horseshoeing

Braided Love by Wenda Boyer

American Association of Equine Practitioners

American Veterinary Medical Association

Indiana Farriers Association