You just bought your first horse and you will be boarding him at a public stable. Or, you will be taking your horse to your first 3 day Event and he will be stalled for a few days. What information is needed for the horse in case of an emergency? What kind of paperwork is needed? There are a number of things that either the owner of the boarding stable or the show staff will need to know about your horse in case anything should happen.
In both instances, a copy of a recent, negative Coggins will be needed. A Coggins test is done once a year to make sure that the horse does not have Equine Infectious Anemia (better known as EIA or Swamp Fever). In addition to that, if the horse is going over state lines, it will most likely need a Veterinary Certificate from within the past 30 days or so, stating that the horse is healthy and that it is up to date with current vaccinations. (Each state requires different vaccinations. So, check with your veterinarian as to which ones are needed for your destination.)
At a show, each stall normally has a stall card on the door so the information is readily available in an emergency. The following information is needed on the card:
- Horse's name, age and sex
- Horse's color and description, including the markings.
- Breed
- Vices (if any)
- Allergies (if any)
- Name of Owner and phone number
- Name of Insurance Company (if horse is insured) with the policy number and phone number of the company
- VERY IMPORTANT Vitals need to be included (pulse, respiration, temperature) and include any other comments about the horses health
- Rider's name and entry number should be on there, and where they are staying, including the phone number
- Chaperone's name and number should be included if the rider is a minor
- Veterinarian's name and number
- Farrier's name and number
All of the above information is important for the boarding stable owner to have also. Photos may be included on the stall card to help identify your equine friend.
Make sure this information is available to the necessary staff. You will never know when a life or death situation will arise when you are not around. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Hi Brigita,
Good post and well researched. I think you should include several pictures of the horse to simplify identification. Much easier than a written description.