Are You Legally Transporting Your Horse Across State Lines - Even to a Show?

Interesting article about what licenses and paperwork you are required to have when transporting a horse across state lines, even if you are just going to a show. It appears state troopers are aware of this and will pull you over to check.

http://instrideedition.com/2014/09/are-you-legal-transporting-horses-across-state-lines/

Thank God for a Suburban and a 2-horse! :smiley:

The rider should expand her research to include brand inspections.

I once boarded my horse by the Missouri-Kansas state line and rode across the border almost daily – no papers at all.:wink:

[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;7771466]
The rider should expand her research to include brand inspections.

I once boarded my horse by the Missouri-Kansas state line and rode across the border almost daily – no papers at all.;)[/QUOTE]

That explains why I saw a Wanted Poster for a horsewoman in the Post Office. :wink:

As a former OTR trucker who is getting back into a rig in two weeks, along with my husband, daughter and son (all truckers), the DOT has tightened down the hatches and is nit-picking like there is no tomorrow. The smokey’s, county mounties and local yokels (like how I used all those words?) need to make quota and the state, county and city needs the money in this day and age. About the quota, I know people will say they don’t have one but I’ve had staters and weighmasters tell me they do. Even if you go through a weigh station, they are looking closer than ever at your logs or paperwork. They will stop you to “check your paperwork” and are looking closer for even 15 minute boo-boos.

When the speed limit says 55, it means 55. In WA, you can’t eat or drink anything while driving with a CDL. There are states which have odd laws you may never have heard but will get you a $$ ticket.

Talking about WA, there was a fuss a few years ago. Up here in Canada we can buy farm gas and use that vehicle on the roads as well as on the farm.
In Washington, that vehicle has to stay on the farm, but nobody knew of this law up here, not Horse Council or any other farmers.

A farmer was over the line shopping for farm equipment in Lynden and he was pulled over and I believe it cost him about $1,000.00 all told because the ultra-bright state trooper noticed he had farm licence plates and decided to check his fuel for colour.

Washington state lost out on a sale to BC.

Horse show people are up and down all the time and many have farm plates.
Even we have to think twice before we go over and leave the truck home and take the car, just for a trip to an outlet center, visit friends or whatever.

Next time my daughter bugs me for a goose-neck trailer I’ll know to say no. The two horse tag is going just fine.

I was once stopped in CO because I didn’t have my headlights on. There was the sign, I passed it and by the time I could read it, comprehend it and was reaching for the switch, a she-bear swung around and stopped me. I didn’t get a ticket but got a warning. It would have been a moving violation if I had gotten one. Yikes. Like a hen on a junebug, she was there. We sort of figured she might have been a “Ricky Recruit”, fresh out of the academy, trying to impress her boss. Those types are The Worst.

ETA: I used to see her whenever I went that way, about once or twice a week, and I’d flip her the bird when I went by. Not that she could see it (probably another ticket of some sort) but made me feel better. I know, so very mature on my part. Heh…

Another you’ll have to deal with…a lot of towns are doing multiple speeds on a road. So, you’re going 35mph and all of a sudden, there is a 25 sign, usually sort of hidden. They’ll nail you for 10 over, which is a big deal.

Or will come up beside you and pace you, while checking your axles and so forth. I was a flatbedder and had them come up beside me to check my straps (laws for that, too) and tarps. Or better yet, will pace you IN FRONT of you, by about a quarter mile. Say, you’re going along and notice a stater seeming to stay at the same distance from you, in front of you. He’s pacing you. If you are going too fast (or too slow, there are tickets for that, too), he’ll then either pull off or fall back, you pass and then he stops you.

Oh, yeah, there are all SORTS of things to foul you up!! When stopped, your paperwork better be in pristine shape!

Oh, and BTW, do you know about the Hours of Service?? Better bone up on that one, too!!

[QUOTE=Mike Matson;7771524]
That explains why I saw a Wanted Poster for a horsewoman in the Post Office. ;)[/QUOTE]

Ironically, this same horse, plus four others, was stolen from another farm in the area, transported to Nebraska and sold to a dealer. The guy got caught and prosecuted.