Transporting Horses Long Distance

What Paperwork do I need to transport horses across state lines? 
Paperwork needed for transporting horses across state lines
It's been confusing to figure out what paperwork is needed, as this varies from state to state and we will be driving through half a dozen states. Almost every state requires a negative Coggins taken in the past 12 months, a health certificate made out in the past 30 days and a brand inspection. Other paperwork depends upon what equine outbreaks might be present in any given state. If they are particularly concerned about a certain disease, they will add that to their required paperwork either permanently or short term. Took some work to figure this all out, but in the end it turned out not to be so hard...
NOTE: While brand inspections and Health Certificates can be issued as quickly as you can get appointments with a vet and Bran Inspector, the Coggins test needs extra time to be processed. There are often ways to pay extra and fast track this process, allowing you to receive your coigns test within a couple of days, but you can't always count on that and typically this paperwork takes a couple of weeks to be ready. Plan ahead!!
Paperwork that is always needed to transport horses across state lines
There are a few things which you can assume are needed by every state, every time you travel across state lines with a horse. Often these are the only things you will need.
  1. A Brand Inspection - This is done by a brand inspector and has nothing to do with whether or not your horse has a brand. Brand inspectors are state officials who help reduce and deal with theft of horses or cattle in that state. Each state has Brand Inspection Offices in various locations around the state, plus individual people who have been certified to work as Brand Inspectors but don't work in the state office. You can locate your closest Bran Inspection Office by going to your official state government website and looking for the Department of Livestock or the Department of Agriculture (the name varies state to state). Or just google your state's name with the words "Brand Inspection Offices" You may be able to get a brand inspector to come to your property, or to meet you somewhere convenient, or you may need to transport the horses to a local brand inspector's office. Brand Inspections can be obtained which are good for a limited amount of time, or are perminant for the life of the horse (as long as ownership has not changed).
  2. A State Health Certificate, made out within 30 days of travel - This must be done by a vet and has to be current.
  3. A negative Coggins made out either within 6 or 12 months of travel (there are different kinds - the 6 or 12 months will depend on which kind you get). This can take weeks to get, so don't leave it to the last minute.
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Additional Paperwork And Questions
Here are some questions I had about this process...
  • Do I have to find out the paperwork requirements for every sate I pass through, or just the states I start and end in?
Just the state you start and end in. You need to meet the requirements for paperwork for the state you are leaving from and the state you are going to, but not the states in between, even if you are overnighting in one of those in between states
  • How do I know if there is any additional paperwork I need to worry about?
​Most additional paperwork results from local outbreaks which the states are trying to keep from spreading. Most states refuse entry to any animal coming from an area which is presently having certain kinds of disease outbreaks. The best way to find out about present state regulations beyond the most common 3, is at www.Interstatelivestock.com This is a great site for getting travel requirements for all states, all in one place. Click on this link and look on the right side of the page for the box that says, "Find Requirements..." then answer the questions it asks you. (When it asks if your horse comes from a quarantined premise, this means has the specific property your horse is living on been issued a quarantined order by the state - if this has happened it is something the owner of that property will know about.)

Of course, the most reliable way to find out about local outbreaks is to call your local brand office (or sometimes, your vet) and ask them if there are any local outbreaks you need to worry about which would effect another state allowing you to transport a horse from this area. Almost always the answer will be no, but if it is yes, there may be additional tests you can run to allow the transport to go ahead anyway. Again, ask your brand inspector or your vet just to be sure there isn't anything the website may have missed.

  • How do I know if I've come from a state with an outbreak of something I need to worry about?
​For this, see the information above. www.Interstatelivestock.com and your local brand inspection office (or, sometimes, your local vet) are your best sources for this information.