Thursday, April 28, 2011

Horse Transportation Laws

Laws surrounding the commercial transportation of horses have been slammed by the Equine Protection Network in the wake of the horror smash in Illinois which claimed the lives of 17 draft horses. The horses were being transported on a trailer that was meant for cattle and pigs, had they been transported on an trailer meant for horses the outcome may have been different.
This led to the Equine Protection Act to revise the law considering horse transportation.

In the 1950s, with the advent of automobiles that were capable of hauling horses over long distances, it became more important than ever to have transportation laws to protect horses and the general public, and to prevent the spread of disease.
The requirements were fairly simple back then and consisted of the driver being an american citizen and having a valid drivers license
In the state of NY in the 1980's the Horse transportation law came into effect..
The law stated...

1. Horses shall have proper ventilation
2. Proper flooring should be ensured to prevent horses from sliding during transport
3.The interior of the trailer shall be made of smooth surfaces to prevent any sharp objects from harming the horse
4.Doorways shall be of sufficient height and width to allow horses to pass safely in and out
Ect.


A negative (good) Coggins test that is less than one year old. Some shippers require a negative Coggins test less than six months old. Certain states such as Arizona, California, and Florida require the original documentation, while copies of the document are sufficient for horse transport to all other states. Remember all Equine legislation acts are different in each state, be sure to check them out before transporting your horse to ensure a happy and safe voyage on the trailer!

Sources:



No comments:

Post a Comment