Paperwork

By Patty Wilber

I sold a horse and I bought a horse this month.

Lacey: Sold to Texas!

Bought from Texas: Surfboard

And Oh the Paperwork!

Health certificate: Must have this to travel out of state.  They are only good for a few weeks and they need to specify a particular destination.

Coggins Test: Gotta have this to travel out of state, too.  The Coggins test is to determine if the horse has Equine Infectious Anemia.  This is something your really don’t want your horse to have.  EIA  is caused by an virus that embeds itself in the DNA of the horse’s white blood cells–much like HIV does in humans– so once infected, it is for life.

Horses with EIA must then  be quarantined for life.  They cannot travel. Click this link for more information –kind of an interesting disease.

Lacey got a Coggins to go to Texas, Surfboard got one to come to New Mexico and LT got one because she is going to be showing Reined Cow Horse in Texas next month.

Heath Certs and Coggins are a pain, yes, but also important so that diseased animals are not transported across state lines or to big events.

Registration papers:  When a registered horse is sold, the seller must give the new owner the original registration certificate(s).  Lacey is American Buckskin Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association registered.

THEN the seller must also fill out transfer paper work .  The buyer then fills in their part and sends it all in with the requisite fees.

Surfboard only has Appaloosa registration, so only one set of transfer papers and fees to submit!

Indy had only Appaloosa registration, too, but she lacks two of the four Appy color characteristics.  She has white sclera and striped hooves, but no mottled skin (though I think she might be getting some on her nether regions) and no spots, so I had to get a DNA test to verify her Appy parentage and pay a bunch more money to buy a performance permit.

Her papers say “Performance Permit Issued” across the top. If that mottling mottles more, I can get her status changed to full registration (but I bet I don’t get my money back!)  The advantage of full registration is that I would have more choices if I decide to breed her.

Next, I need to call the NM Livestock Board and get “Travel Papers”, officially called a “Horse Transportation Permit”.  They cost about 35 dollars per horse and are valid for the life of the horse or until sold.  Then, the new owner has to get new papers.

These are needed if the horse ever travels out of the NM  Livestock District in which it resides.  Except, good luck reading the Livestock District Boundaries map. I don’t think anyone really knows the exact district boundaries!!

LT is heading to a Texas show in a few weeks, so I will need to fill out and mail in her show fees, stall fees, cattle fees, office fees, show insurance fees and RV parking space fees (for me!).  And make sure they have her Appy registration papers, her negative Coggins, her National Reined Cow Horse Permit, my NRCHA membership number and her health certificate.

I have a notebook in the house full of  certificates and forms and I have duplicates in a notebook the trailer in case I ever get stopped or need these at shows.

Geez.  Look at the time! I better stop writing this right now and finish Surfboard’s transfer paper work and LT’s show paper work.

It might take me a few hours! (and 500 bucks) LOL!