Interesting. Every barn I was associated with in SO Cal was having a Coggins run regularly from the mid to late '70s on.
Many, but not all of them, were show barns though and traveled out of State. As soon as the test became available, everyone I knew used it. It was a great advance Veterinary-wise.
The system works when people choose to use it, they shouldn’t have to be forced to do so.
I will rephrase, the system only works if we have critical mass. We will not have critical mass unless people are forced to do it. People are already terrible about biosecurity for other diseases and I don’t see the entire horse owning population of California deciding to start testing their horses yearly for something that they have never heard of unless they are forced to do it.
They are, thankfully, at least forced to do it if they take their horses out of CA.
I’m surprised you see so many people in CA who have horses that are ignorant regarding the existence of EIA. I suppose the folks that have backyard horses may never have heard of the disease but you can bet that every individual or show barn that takes their horses out of State, are very well aware of it.
I am sure there are plenty of backyard horses here that have never had a test. In fact, at one of the Purina seminars where a vet spoke, somebody asked why they had to get a Coggins test for their horse. “I’ve never heard of no Coggins Disease so why do I have to get the test?” But I think even the smaller backyard shows, trail rides and barrel races require one within the year. It has been decades since I have heard of a positive horse anywhere around my area. But some do show up in the state and neighboring states. I am sure the increased numbers of flies here makes it more likely to pop up than in a drier climate.
When I was a teen in Pony Club the test was rare but one year it was required. My friend’s horse that she had just bought had a positive test. Boy that was a mess. We had to retest all the horses several times. Her horse was positive on the retests. None of ours were. The horse went to live isolated for many years in her parent’s back yard. He finally died of old age, never getting sick. Ours never tested positive so he had not passed it on.
There are lots of people at show barns that don’t take their horses out of state. California is huge and I know two barns off the top of my head that regularly leave the state for shows. We have a lot of options here even if we have to drive far. 
Additionally, the average horse owner here is much more ignorant than the average horse owner on the East Coast. Maybe it’s because most barns here require you to be in training and the trainer handles all of that? I had many more clients in Florida that had their horses in their backyard and were 100% responsible for their care.
I think we are talking about different types of show barns. Still, people who take their horses to shows should know to have a Coggins done. The current situation with this racehorse trainer, should wake those people up.
I know that CA is a big State, as I mentioned I grew up in SO Cal and when I was a kid, everyone was thrilled that the Coggins test had come into being. Even then, when the Arabian people went to Scottsdale for their big shows Arizona was on your horse’s health papers with a fine tooth comb. Even bringing fruit across the State lines was fraught with regulations. 
I can promise you we are not. I know you like to sh*t on me and think that I’m a hack but I’m certain that the hunter/jumper and dressage barns with six figure 1.40m horses that I am thinking about are exactly the ones you are thinking about.
Yes, I think we all should and I think a good first step is horse shows requiring it.
Thankfully, every major H/J and Dressage show in the U.S. already requires a negative Coggins test for a horse to be allowed on the grounds.
WEF, WEC (both of them), any show at the Kentucky Horse Park, Hampton Classic, Penn National, Capital Challenge anything in Arizona etc… It seems that CA is lagging behind for some reason, though at least a negative Coggins is required to cross State lines, not just on the East Coast.
That is patently false. It’s even bolded!
I don’t know about you, but I’d consider a show with a $1,000,000 jumper class to be a “major H/J show.” 🤷
I did note that CA is lagging behind, remember?
There is really no reason to be defensive about this.
The racehorse trainer in question has put many horses at risk and not just his owners’ horses. Testing is important and thankfully it is taken seriously by most reputable venues in the vast majority of States.
Yes you did say CA is lagging. You also said “every major show in the US.” Last time I checked, we hadn’t seceded (yet).
Anyway, I’m not being defensive. I’m simply saying that this is the whole reason I started this thread: I think that we should have these requirements and I disagree that people are just going to test their horses out of the goodness of their hearts.
I agree that it is crazy that the big California shows do not require a Coggins test, especially within 6 months. Sure the horse can be exposed after the test is run but at least it is a start. There are horses popping up with positive cases in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and I suppose they are originating from the pockets of untested horses in rural areas. Those horses can move from state to state from low end sales on FB (I think all of the low end auctions do a Coggins test on the horses sold there). If you are buying a $800 horse you are not getting a vet check and probably are not getting a Coggins test either so those asymptomatic horses can move all over. Supposedly you have to have one to cross state lines but I have never seen a trailer pulled over in Alabama.
It is absolutely crazy. I’m not one for more rules but this seems like a pretty obviously important thing to do.
I’ve never paid for a Coggins test in all my years owning and showing horses in California. I’ve been in fancy barns and now they’re at home. I’ve also never hauled across state lines. My OTTB came with an expired Coggins that had been run when she was on the track and going through a sale. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen.
California doesn’t seem to have the insects that spread it here nor the same reservoir. Obviously not running them regularly in California in the four decades the test has been available has not resulted in any significant EIA outbreak.
This outbreak is obviously terrible, but they already know it wasn’t insects but people with needles who spread it.
At the risk of drawing further ire, me neither (in NorCal). My vets charge almost $200 for a Coggins and since I’ve never crossed state lines and no longer show in USEF-rated shows, that’s money I choose to put elsewhere towards their care. I have never had a hauler, boarding barn, or show ask for one. Health certificate, yes, but not a Coggins.
Coggins tests used to be $25 back in the good old days and I think they are $40 or $50 now (I would have to look at my vet invoice). The funny tale I have from a few decades ago: A horsewoman new to the area was trying to sell her OTTB dressage horse which was wildly overpriced for what the horse was and its training. And way too hot for the buyer. But the buyer decided she wanted the horse and paid the price accepting the Coggins test that the horse had.
Somehow it was discovered that the Coggins test was a forgery. It was a photocopy that had been doctored up. So the USDA got involved. And because the seller was new to the area and not well known it was assumed that the horse really was positive. Nope. Seller just didn’t want to pay the $20 bucks that a test cost at the time. So she took another horse’s test, doctored it up and made a photocopy. I know she got into trouble with the USDA because they don’t like people to do those things. Better to have spent $20.
I believe it still is.
This is what I do too, with my one horse that does not go anywhere, still do regular coggins just in case I need to take that horse somewhere.
But then, I live in a state that a current negative coggins is required just to transport a horse within the state.
COTH will never stop surprising me with the things I learn…today it is that there are some states that do not require a negative coggins at all.
I’m also surprised at some states not requiring a negative Coggins. I need one just to trail ride at a local ranch. I also need a Coggins and a health certificate to haul into other barns for clinics, lessons, or riding.
I will say that I went to a competition in the spring with all of the requested documentation and they looked at none of it. So that was a bit…relaxed.
I grew up riding and showing in SoCal. Always knew about EIA and Coggins but never had a Coggins required, or drawn, unless traveling to show out of state.
When I moved to Arizona, there’s so much traveling across state lines for competition that we just do Coggins tests as part of annual vet care.
Of note, I’ve probably competed at Westworld down in Scottsdale a dozen times, and while there’s a big sign at every entrance stating we must have proof of a negative Coggins, not once has it ever been requested.
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