Coggins-  Scary Facts

What You Don't Know May Hurt You

A Coggins is done by drawing blood to test a horse for Equine Infectious Anemia, also known as EIA or Swamp Fever.  It is a viral disease of horses and is spread primarily by bloodsucking insects.  If a horse tests negative, a veterinarian issues a Coggins certificate which is valid for 12 months in most states.  Quite a few readers have pointed out that the Coggins test is really only valid for the 15 seconds of the blood draw. The vet may take a blood sample and immediately afterward, the horse could be infected by a bloodsucking insect.  Many horse people question the effectiveness of the entire EIA program, but until the regulations change, here are some of the facts:

A current Coggins certificate is required to enter most U.S. states.  In other words, if you cross a state line with your horse, you're probably going to need one.
According to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service pertaining to the Coggins certificate:
In compliance with U.S.C. Section 1001, falsification of the form or knowingly using a falsified form is a criminal offense and may result in a fine or imprisonment. 

If you buy a horse without a valid Coggins certificate and you discover the horse has EIA or carries the antibodies, you are suddenly faced with dreadful options.  You can:

  • Euthanize the horse immediately
  • Send the horse to slaughter immediately
  • Have the horse branded (required) and keep it in permanent quarantine.  The conditions of quarantine are fiercely regulated and much more than just putting a padlock on your pasture gate
  • Find an EIA-positive horse sanctuary and hope they have an opening

To Complicate Matters Even More

Each state has its own requirements. Your friendly fact-finders at Horsetradertricks spent no small amount of time pouring over state regulations.  We've tried to summarize our findings here.  Please note:  It is your responsibility to double-check the regulations in your own state.  We cannot be certain that our research is the most recent for any individual state.  In fact, we've been getting lots of notes from readers.  Rather than try to describe the regulations of each state, we urge you to contact your equine vet and inquire about the specifics of your area.

The following states require a Coggins any time a horse changes hands; whether it is sold, loaned, leased, or given away:

Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Texas
Vermont

The following states require a Coggins any time a horse is moved on public roads throughout the state:

Florida
Louisiana
Mississippi
New York
Oklahoma
Texas

Many states (like Virginia) require a Coggins for public assembly.  For example, Coggins would be required for horse shows, racing, auctions, organized trail rides, and parades.

Arkansas requires each horse to be tested yearly.

Wyoming does not typically require or ask for a Coggins certificate when horses are sold within the state.  Again, ask around and find out what is normal procedure for your state. 
If it is recommended in your area, get a Coggins certificate before you buy.