Ready to take your horse on a riding vacation? You’ll need to put the same
thought and preparation into your trip whether you’re hauling your horse 350 or
3,500 miles, and whether you’re going east, west, north, or south. Here, we’ll
give you planning and preparation tips. Then you’ll find a comprehensive
directory to State Veterinarians (to find out the health papers you’ll need —
and health risks your horse might encounter), as well as contact information for
regional offices of the National Forest Service, the National Park Service, and
the Bureau of Land Management (to help you plan overnight layovers).
Find Your Way
• Plan your route. To plan your route, buy a copy of the latest United States
Highway Map (www.amazon.com; $4.95). This map shows the entire nation, as well
as individual states you might be traveling through. You can also find maps
online, but make sure you have a good hard copy for planning purposes. Once
you’ve determined your route, type up step-by-step directions in big, bold
letters, and attach a copy to your sun visor for easy reference.
• Organize your information. On the front of each state map, attach contact
information for state highway patrol headquarters, State Veterinarians
, potential and confirmed overnight layovers, and even feed-store locations.
(Tip: Keep a small three-ring binder in your towing vehicle to write down
valuable information at a moment’s notice, then transfer that information to the
appropriate state map when you have some downtime.)
• Be aware of weather. One would naturally go south in the winter and north
in the summer, but don’t forget that states have individual climates. Arizona
and New Mexico can get cold and snowy in the mountain regions. Texas and other
warm southern states have hurricane seasons, and in the Midwest, tornadoes
sprout from clouds during summer months. Check weather conditions in advance.
• How far, how fast? Determine how far you’ll haul per day. Consider
distance, road and weather conditions, plus time to get there. In good
conditions, you should be able to haul 400 to 500 miles before an overnight
layover or at least unloading your horse for a long rest break. Regardless of
daily distance traveled, plan frequent stops to unload your horse for a rest
break outside the trailer.
You’d naturally go south in the winter and north in the summer but don’t forget that states have individual climates. Florida’s trails, shown, are nice much of the year, but the state experiences heavy thunderstorms and hurricanes. Check weather conditions before you go. Photo by Cindy Mickell.
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Book Your Layovers
• Plan overnight layovers. At least six months before you leave, plan where
you’ll stop overnight; some places are booked well in advance. For good
sources
of overnight accommodations when traveling with your horse, see
"Resources."
Also note that you can stay overnight on public
lands, primarily west of
the Mississippi. Call the relevant agency for
information and reservations.
• Plan backup layovers. Weather can change in an instant, delaying or even
halting your progress. As you plan your layover stops, select a few
others along
the way to use as backups. Call each one to find out its
policy, and whether the
managers think they might have room for your
horse on short notice. (Tip: Ask
the State Veterinarian’s office for
fairground accommodations. Many states will
let you stay in a
fairground stables for a day or two, which can be a blessing
if caught
on a road late at night and in-between layovers.)
• Keep in touch with layover facilities. Before you leave and while on the
road, call your planned layover facilities to confirm your
reservations. Also
make sure someone will unlock a gate if you’ll be
arriving late at night and
that a stall will be ready for your horse.
If you’re going to be late or miss an
arrival date altogether, ask the
manager how long the facility will hold a stall
for you.
Pack Up
• Pack feed. Haul your horse’s feed from home, and add new feed along the
way. Many states require Certified Weed Free feed; ask the respective
State
Veterinarian’s office. If you’re traveling onto public lands
managed by the
National Forest Service, the National Park Service, or
the Bureau of Land
Management, inquire about feed requirements. Note:
If you typical feed your
horse in the trailer (a matter of personal
choice), avoid filling the manger or
hay net to the top (so he’ll have
some breathing room), and tie him so he can
lower his head even with
his withers. He’ll need to put his head down to rest
his neck and clear
his airways.
• Pack meds. If your horse is on a special medication, make sure there’s
enough in the first-aid kit to cover the whole trip. Ask your home
veterinarian
to help you stock your first-aid kit. Also ask him or her
to prescribe any
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as
phenylbutazone or flunixin
meglumine) that he or she thinks your horse
might need on the road. Make sure
you know how to administer any
medications.
• Pack veterinary records. Pack a three-ring binder with your horse’s
veterinary records from the last couple years, so a veterinarian in
another
state will know your horse’s history. This information can be
life-saving. (Tip:
Your vet’s invoices will likely have a complete
record of each call.)
Be Road Savvy
• Roger that! Communications is a must when hauling long-distance. Charge up
your cell phone, and pack a car-charger. (Note that you won’t have reception in
all areas.) If you’re driving in tandem with those in another vehicle, consider
two-way radios, reliable for short-range use. Also consider taking along your
laptop computer; if you can find Internet access, a wealth of travel-related
information will be at your fingertips.
• Stop to rest. Off-highway stops are necessary to keep your horse happy.
Look for wide open spaces for easy reloading and turning around your rig. Truck
stops can do in a pinch. Drive to the farthest corner of the facility, and
unload your horse only if he isn’t spooky. No one wants a loose horse running
around! While you’re stopped, clean out the trailer and refill the hay bag or
manger. When stopping to fuel up, grab a bite to eat, or just check a map, also
check your horse. Open the feed door, and talk to him. Let him look around.
He’ll appreciate the break.
• Offer water. Offer your horse water at all rest stops. Keep track of how
much water he drinks; a horse needs about 10 to 30 gallons of water per day to
stay hydrated and healthy. If your horse won’t drink after 12 hours, he’s at
risk for dehydration. To tempt him to drink unfamiliar water, add an eight-ounce
can of apple juice per one gallon of water. (Tip: Do this at home a few times
before you leave to accustom him to the apple flavor.) Another technique: Blend
some of the water you brought from home with the local water source to disguise
the taste difference. If your horse refuses to drink in the trailer, plan extra
"watering" stops.
• Stay on schedule. If you’re off on travel time, plan to stay at the layover
facility an extra day or two to get back on schedule and/or to notify facilities
down the road. And plan an "off-hauling day" to give your horse a chance to
relax outside the trailer while you catch up on shopping, check road conditions
ahead, make last-minute layover arrangements, and even do laundry.
Prepare Papers
If you cross state lines, you’ll need to meet each state’s requirements
proving that your horse is healthy; you might also need to prove that you’re the
legal owner. Each state is different in terms of both requirements and how
recently a health check must be performed. Regulations are subject to change —
and if there’s a disease outbreak somewhere, they can change literally
overnight.
To find out how to obtain each state’s requirements, call the respective
State Veterinarian. (Find out whether photocopies are acceptable, or whether you
must carry the original document.) Generally, here’s what you might be expected
to produce:
• Proof of negative Coggins test. This is a test performed by a veterinarian
for equine infectious anemia (or EIA, also known as swamp fever), an untreatable
blood virus.
• Certificate of veterinary inspection. Also called a CVI (or, incorrectly, a
health certificate), this is essentially a clean bill of health. The CVI must be
signed by a licensed veterinarian and must specify the states you plan to enter.
It’s required by all states, but some states require more detail than others
(e.g., your horse’s temperature).
• Proof of ownership. To prove you own your horse, you may be asked to
produce a brand-inspection certificate or registration papers/proof of
ownership.
• Passport Health Certificate. If you plan to travel only through California,
Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington or Montana, your life will be a little easier.
These states have a reciprocal agreement by which a horse can get a "Passport
Health Certificate," good for six months. That said, outbreaks can still occur,
regulations can still change.
Region-by-Region Directory
Here’s a regional guide to State Veterinarians, as well as National Forest
Service, National Park Service, and BLM offices. First, here’s a rundown on how
each
agency can help you.
• State Veterinarians. As mentioned, each state establishes its own
regulations for hauling out-of-state horses into or through the state. Contact
the State Veterinarian’s office at least 30 to 60 days prior to travel to find
out the latest requirements for entry.
• National Forest Service. The National Forest Service has thousands of acres
of public lands open to horse camping and trail riding. Most NFS lands are west
of the Rockies, but the Eastern states also have NFS land available to the
equine traveler. Find out which lands are open to horse use and camping
requirements. Contact information for each Regional Headquarters and the
states each administers.
• National Park Service. Many National Parks allow horse camping and
trail riding. Each has its own regulations, so check in advance before hauling
in. Visit www.nps.gov to find information on all National Park Service units, or
contact the regional offices listed.
• Bureau of Land Management. The BLM administers more than 260 million acres
of public lands essentially in 12 western states. Mostly undeveloped, the land
is available for horse camping and trail riding.
STATE VETERINARIANS
PACIFIC REGION
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N St., Room A-114
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-0881
www.cdfa.ca.gov
[Nevada] Division of Animal Industry
350 Capitol Hill Ave.
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 688-1182, ext. 261
dthain@govmail.state.nv.us
[Oregon] Animal Health and Identification Division
Oregon Department of Agriculture
635 Capitol St., NE
(503) 986-4680
aclark@oda.state.or.us
[Washington] Food Safety and Animal Health
Washington Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 42577
Olympia, WA 98504-2577
(360) 902-1878
www.wa.gov/agr/animal
SOUTHWEST REGION
[Arizona] Dr. Rick Willer
1688 W. Adams
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2617
(602) 542-4293
e-mail, rick.willer@agric.state.az.us
[New Mexico] Dr. Steven R. England
300 San Mateo, Ste. 1000
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 841-6161
e-mail, statevetlb@prodigy.net
Texas Animal Health Commission
P.O. Box 12966
Austin, TX 78711-2966
(512) 719-0714
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
[Colorado Department] of Agriculture
700 Kipling St., #4000
Lakewood, CO 80215
(303) 239-4161
e-mail, wayne.cunningham@ag.state.co.us
[Idaho] Division of Animal Industries
P.O. Box 7249
Boise, ID 83707-9985
(208) 332-8540
[Montana] Department of Livestock, Animal Health Division
P.O. Box 202001
Helena, MT 59620-2001
(406) 444-2043;
permit phone: (406) 444-2976
[Utah] Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 146500
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6500
(801) 538-7160
e-mail, agmain.mmarshall@state.ut.us
[Wyoming] Livestock Board
2020 Carey Ave., 4th Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-6433
www.wlsb.state.wy.us
MIDWEST REGION
[Illinois] Bureau of Animal Health
P.O. Box 19281
Springfield, IL 62794-9281
(217) 782-4999
[Indiana] State Veterinarian Animal Health
805 Beachway Dr., Ste. 50
Indianapolis, IN 46224
(317) 227-0300
e-mail, animalheath@boah.state.in.us
[Iowa] Department of Agriculture
Wallace Bldg., 2nd Floor
E. 9th & Grand
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-5305
e-mail, john.schiltz@idals.state.ia.us
[Kansas] Animal Health Department
708 S. Jackson
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 296-2326
e-mail, gteagard@ink.org
[Michigan] Department of Agriculture
Animal Health Division
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-1077
www.michigan.gov
[Minnesota] Board of Animal Health
90 W. Plato Blvd., 119 Agriculture Building
St. Paul, MN 55107-2094
(651) 296-2942, ext. 27
[Missouri] State Agriculture Board
1616 Missouri Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-3377
e-mail, jhunt01@mail.state.mo.us
[Nebraska] Animal Health Board
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509-4787
(402) 471-2351
e-mail, larrylw@agr.state.ne.us
[North Dakota] Department of Agriculture
600 E. Blvd. Ave., Dept. 602
Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 328-2655
www.agdepartment.com
e-mail, lschuler@state.nd.us
[Ohio] Department of Agriculture
Division of Animal Industry
8995 E. Main St.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 728-6220
www.state.oh.us/agr/animal
www.state.oh.us/agr/animal/addl.htm
[Oklahoma] Animal Industry Division
2800 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
(405) 522-6131
[South Dakota] State Veterinarian
411 S. Fort St.
Pierre, SD 57501-4503
(605) 773-3321
[Wisconsin] Animal Health Division
2811 Agriculture Dr.
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 224-4872
e-mail, clarence.siroky@datcp.state.wi.us
MID-ATLANTIC/NORTHEAST REGION
[Connecticut] Department of Agriculture
765 Asylum Ave.
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 713-2505
e-mail, regandinsp.ctdeptag@po.state.ct.us
[Delaware] Department of Agriculture
2320 S. DuPont Hwy.
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-4811
e-mail, wes@dda.state.de.us
[Maine] Department of Agriculture
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-3701
e-mail, chip.w.ridky@state.me.us
[Maryland] Department of Agriculture
50 Harry S. Truman Pkwy.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(401) 841-5810
e-mail, olsonre@mda.state.md.us
[Massachusetts] Bureau of Animal Health Department of Food and
Agriculture
251 Causeway St., #500
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1795, ext. 1791
e-mail, david.sherman@state.mass.us
[New Hampshire] Division of Animal Industry
P.O. Box 2042
Concord, NH 03302-2042
(603) 271-2404
www.state.nh.us/agric/aghome.html
[New Jersey] Division of Animal Health
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 330
Trenton, NJ 08625-0330
(609) 292-3965
e-mail, aghzirk@ag.state.nj.us
[New York] Division of Animal Industry
1 Winners Circle
Albany, NY 12235-0001
(518) 457-3502, fax (518) 485-7773
[Pennsylvania] Department of Agriculture
2301 N. Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 772-2852
e-mail, jenck@state.pa.us
[Rhoda Island] Division of Agriculture
Animal Health Section
235 Promenade St.
Providence, RI 02908
(408) 222-2781
[Vermont] Department of Agriculture—Food and Markets
116 State St., Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620
(802) 828-2421
e-mail, tjohnson@agr.vt.state.us
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST REGION
[Alabama] Animal Industry Division
P.O. Box 3336
Montgomery, AL 36109-3336
(334) 240-7255
e-mail, stvet@agi.state.al.us
[Florida] Division of Animal Industry
407 S. Calhoun St., Room 335, Mayo Bldg.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 410-0900
http://doacs.state.fl.us/~ai/aiindex.htm
[Georgia] Department of Agriculture
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Room 106
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-3671
[Kentucky] Department of Agriculture
Animal Health Division
100 Fairoaks Lane, Ste. 252
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-3956
[Louisiana] Department of Agriculture
5825 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
(225) 925-3980
e-mail, maxwel_l.@ldaf.state.la.us
[Mississippi] Animal Health Services
P.O. Box 3889
Jackson, MS 39207-3889
(601) 359-1170
[North Carolina] Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 26026
Raleigh, NC 27611-6026
(919) 733-5657
www.agr.state.nc.us/vet
[South Carolina] Clemson Livestock Programs
P.O. Box 102406
Columbia, SC 29224-2406
(803) 788-2260
[Tennessee] Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 40627
Nashville, TN 37204-0627
(615) 837-5120
www.state.tn.us
[Virginia] Division of Animal Industry Services
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
P.O. Box 1163
Richmond, VA 23218-1163
(804) 786-2481
[West Virginia] Department of Agriculture
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-2214
NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE OFFICES
USDA Forest Service Northern Region 1
(Northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, slice of South Dakota)
Federal Building
200 Broadway
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 329-3511; www.fs.fed.us/r1
USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region 2
(Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado)
740 Simms St.
Golden, CO 80401
(303) 275-5350; www.fs.fed.us/r2
USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region 3
(Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, section of eastern Texas)
333 Broadway Southeast
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 842-3292; www.fs.fed.us/r3
USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region 4
(Nevada, Utah, lower Idaho, small section eastern Colorado)
Federal Building
324 25th St.
Ogden, UT 84401
(801) 625-5306; www.fs.fed.us/r4
USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region 5
(California)
1223 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 95492
(707) 562-8737; www.fs.fed.us/r5
USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region 6
(Oregon, Washington)
333 SW 1st Avenue
P.O. Box 3632; Portland, OR 97208
(503) 808-2468; www.fs.fed.us/r6
USDA Forest Service Southern Region 8
(Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, section of eastern Texas)
1720 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30367
(404) 437-4177; www.fs.fed.us/r8
USDA Forest Service Eastern Region 9
(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhoda Island, Vermont, West Virginia)
310 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 580
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 297-3600; www.fs.fed.us/r9
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OFFICES
NPS Northeast Region
United States Custom House
200 Chestnut St., Fifth Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 597-7013
NPS Midwest Region
601 Riverfront Drive
Omaha, NE 68102-4226
(402) 661-1524
NPS Intermountain Region
12795 Alameda Parkway
Denver, CO 80225
(303) 969-2500
NPS Southeast Region
100 Alabama St. SW
1924 Building
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-3100
NPS Pacific West Region
One Jackson Center
1111 Jackson St., Ste. 700
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 817-1304
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OFFICES
Arizona BLM
1 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 417-9200
www.az.blm.gov
California BLM
2800 Cottage Way, Ste. W1834
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 978-4400
www.ca.blm.gov
Colorado BLM
2850 Youngfield St.
Lakewood, CO 80215
(303) 239-3600; www.co.blm.gov
Eastern States BLM
(Includes all states east of the Mississippi River,
plus Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota)
7450 Boston Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22153
(703) 440-1600; www.blm.gov
Idaho BLM
1387 S. Vinnel Way
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 373-4000; www.id.blm.gov
Montana BLM
(Includes North & South Dakota)
5001 Southgate Dr.
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 896-5000; www.mt.blm.gov
Nevada BLM
1340 Financial Blvd.
P.O. Box 12000
Reno, NV 89520-0006
(775) 861-6400; www.blm.gov
New Mexico BLM
(Includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas)
1474 Rodeo Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 438-7400; www.nm.blm.gov
Oregon BLM
(Includes Washington)
P.O. Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208-2965
(503) 808-6026; www.blm.gov
Utah BLM
440 West 200 South, Ste. 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(810) 977-4300; www.ut.blm.gov
Wyoming BLM
(Includes Nebraska)
5353 Yellowstone Rd.
Cheyenne, WY 82009
(307) 775-6256; www.wy.blm.gov
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