| Your
horses’ Coggins papers are
one of the simplest, and yet can be one of the biggest, problems
of horse keeping. They
tear easily, the writing can smear and become illegible, and they
are readily duplicated or illegally manipulated without much fuss.
In 2004, at least three versions of Coggins papers were being produced
in Florida alone. The familiar “yellow” Coggins on
carbon paper, the newer E-Coggins with digital photos of your horse,
and also E-Coggins without digital
photos.
Because proof of negative EIA test (Coggins papers) is mandatory for every
horse in Florida (and some other states) traveling off its owner’s property,
the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division
of Animal Industry, realized it was time to advance the program. 
The Handy Little Card
In the past year, the FDACS began developing a durable little card – similar
in size and quality to a credit card – to update and eventually replace
the antiquated Coggins papers. The new card, officially called the “Negative
EIA Test Verification Card,” is a must-have for your 2005 records.
On the front side of the trendy new cards, your horse’s name, breed,
sex, color and age are printed alongside three small color photos to verify
his identity. Test date, lab accession number and lab name are also listed.
The back of the card offers even more data, including the horse owner’s
name and contact information, the veterinarian’s contact information,
dates and more. The card contains exactly the same information as the paper
version of your current Coggins.
“ We feel that having photos on the cards will definitely improve the process
of identifying horses,” said Dr. John Irby, Florida Diagnostic Veterinary
Manager for District 5. “On the paper documents, very few of the drawings
are drawn in as exact as the actual horse’s markings. The photos on the
new cards are small, but they are adequate to identify the horse.”
Dr. Irby ran a pilot project with the Coggins cards in 2004, and the response
was positive. Cathy and Byron Moore of Riverview, Florida, participated in
the experiment.
“ I loved it,” says Cathy, who is an avid trail rider and parade participant. “I
was showing mine off to everyone. I think people will be tickled with the new
cards because of their convenience. They aren’t bulky and they are easy
to carry.”
Cathy keeps hers in her purse, right alongside her driver’s license. 
How to Get a Card
Beginning January 1, 2005, the new Coggins card was made available
to all horse owners in Florida. Even better, cards will be issued
free of charge until June 30, 2005.
To participate, your veterinarian should take three digital,
color photos of your horse. She or he will then fill out an application
requesting the laminated cards. Next, once your horse’s bloodwork
is complete at a testing lab, your veterinarian will send test
results and the digital photos to the card production facility,
which is overseen by the FDACS.
A fast turnaround time is expected.
“From the time we receive the application, the test results and the horse’s
photos, we anticipate a turnaround time of less than a week,” Dr. Irby
said.
Within Florida, the cards will be fully accepted, and about a dozen neighboring
states have plans for similar programs. If you acquire a Coggins card and your
travel plans include long-distance road trips, call ahead to your state of
destination to verify that they have heard of and will accept the new Coggins
cards. Regulations change from time to time, and a quick phone call could save
some confusion later.
“ Another good feature of the cards is that they can also become regular
identification cards for your horse,” Dr. Irby added. “If your horse
is stolen, you have a positive I.D. for him right there, complete with color
photos.”
Horse Passport
The FDACS put forth advances in the Equine Event Extension form, as well.
For the past several years, horses hauled across state lines have been required
to carry not only proof of negative EIA test (Coggins), but also veterinary-assigned
health papers, which certify the horse in good health. Health papers are only
valid for 30 days, so people who travel out of state frequently with their
horses have been encouraged to apply for an Equine Event Extension form, which
is valid for six months.
January 1, 2005, the FDACS began offering this event extension form on a small
laminated card, too – very much like the new Coggins card – and
also complete with digital photos of your horse. The new card will be called
the Equine Interstate Passport Card. It will be valid for six months, just
as before.
“ The technology is available for more options,” Dr. Irby said. “We
can later include a magnetic strip and other possibilities.”
Convenient & Safer
Horse owners see the new cards as items of convenience. State officials
and equine event planners, however, are most interested and pleased
with the cards’ reliability features, thanks to the digital
photos.
As Dr. William Jeter, Bureau Chief for the FDACS Division of
Animal Industry, explained, “The old Coggins paper is confusing,
and doesn’t look official. Markings aren’t always drawn
in correctly. These new cards should help eliminate some of those
problems.”
Last year, Nancy Cloos, an endurance rider from Clermont, Florida,
participated in a pilot program for testing the new cards.
“ Normally, I haul out of state every month,” Nancy says. “The
new cards are great because you don’t have to have the flimsy papers.”
Merry and Alan Fuson of Cape Coral, Florida, also tested the cards.
“  We love the cards,” Merry says. “People say, ‘Wow! Where
did you get those? People are excited about them. We’re kind of new to
horses, so we’re always worried that we’ve forgotten something when
we take the horses somewhere,” Merry says. “So I made photocopies
of the cards and I’ll even leave a set in the horse trailer, just in case
we need them.”
The Bottom Line
- New Coggins cards are voluntary.
- Coggins cards are accepted throughout
Florida and several Southeastern states. Because this is a
new project, always call ahead if
you are traveling out of state – just to be sure that
your destination is aware of the cards and will accept them
without
confusion.
- Your veterinarian must submit all paperwork for the cards to
be created.
- Submissions must include application, proof of negative EIA
test, and three color, digital photographs of your horse.
- Applications and photos are sent to the card production facility,
which is overseen by the FDACS, Division of Animal Industry.
- Turnaround time for a new card, with all appropriate paperwork
and photos, is a few business days.
- To introduce the program, from January 1,
2005-June 31, 2005, horse owners can apply for the Coggins cards
and Equine Passport
cards
free of charge
- Beginning July 1, 2005, Coggins cards will cost $5 (in addition
to what your veterinarian charges you to run the original
test). Equine Passport cards will cost $15 per application,
and $5
for each addition card for additional horses on the same
application.
- Because this format was just released, your veterinarian
may be unfamiliar with the new cards.
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