So with announcement of two horse’s euthanized because of EIA in my state, I was happy that a local schooling show series was requiring a current coggins. Unfortunately the upcoming show was cancelled because of weather so later this month, we were looking at others. I inquired about the coggins requirements and it seems many schooling shows don’t require it.
Am I overreacting in thinking I don’t want to even risk bringing a horse to a property not requiring negative coggins to be shown?
Not over reacting at all.
I wouldn’t attend, either.
I’m in New England and I think every schooling show I’ve been to here has required it.
Hunter paces and organized trail rides are hits and misses depending on the organizer, but the horses aren’t generally that close together at these events.
Obviously the test is only a point in time, but I’m surprised they’re not requiring it and think you’re being perfectly reasonable to opt out.
I agree, you have a right to be concerned.
Having lived through and experienced the rampant spread
Of EIA back in the 70’s where many of my friend’s good show horses tested positive, with no outward symptoms, I would not risk it.
It would be a very solid no for me, as well. I have a boarder who didn’t want them done this year because she doesn’t go anywhere. That is a non negotiable for me. Coggins or leave.
What state?
I was also curious.
Just in April, the have been positives in Texas, Colorado, and California:
Colorado.
Is it clear if infection was due to flies/biting insects or instruments and needles? Personally I would show where they don’t require coggins tests. Even if it’s a moment in time.
Coggins is seldom required here in UT unless you are coming from out of state. I think it’s a western states thing.
Not over-reacting at all. Shows in my area require proof of coggins and have forever.
Colorado? One of those was confirmed dirty needle from the Texas outbreak. The other hasn’t had a source identified and they have quarantined horses it was in contact with. It’s hard to say what the real risk is in terms of the general horse population but requiring Coggins seems like common sense under the circumstances even if you are not crossing state lines. EIA has popped up often enough in wild horse herds that an untraced case is concerning.
People need to remember how much bigger the west is, crossing state lines to show isn’t particularly common. I know people who’ve been showing for 40 years in CA and never gone out of state with a horse. When all horses need a negative test to enter the state the risk at a local show under normal circumstances is very, very close to zero and history bears that out. The occasional positive test is usually very quickly traced, typically to medical cause or horses being smuggled across borders.
An untraced positive result in a domestic horse out west is pretty unusual. I can’t remember the last time I heard of one tbh.
It’s usually very required in mosquito or fly biting states. And honestly should be everywhere… Given that besides being transmitted by insects that suck blood… The other way is some nefarious or incorrect instrument or needle transmission, which can happen anywhere
Or blood doping products which is quite often the cause in racing QHs at bush tracks which are like 99.999% of the positive tests west of the rockies.
Absolutely true
Personally, I’d just not go period, Coggins requirement or not, with known EIA cases in the area. Better safe than sorry, and IMO an “up-to-date” Coggins is pretty worthless, as “up-to-date” is usually considered less than a year old. In that year, or six months, or even one month, that horse could have been hauled all over Timbuktu and exposed any number of times.
Eventually someone is going to smuggle an Iberian or QH over the border that ends up breeding a number of mares or at a large facility and causing an outbreak in the SW. There have been rumors of positive horses disappearing and being replaced between tests. Especially with USDA losing funding to trace and enforce.
That’s horrible 
But completely possible.
How interesting. Our state requires every horse event to require current Coggins and report them to the state. I actually assumed that was universal until now.
Not sure but I think I read somewhere that it had something to do with a vet clinic not having correct sanitation practices.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
