Through the Broke Horse Moms podcast, newsletter and social content, we make equestrian life more accessible, understandable, and connected for all the 'non-horsey horse moms' who didn't grow up in this space. Whether youโre buying your kiddo's first pair of paddock boots, figuring out horse shows, managing the costs of riding, or simply wondering if everyone else knows something you donโt, youโre in the right place.
๐ BHM: What IS a 'Coggins'?
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Hi Reader, Popping in to share the answer to last week's 'Are We Supposed to Know This' question AND the winner of a Broke Horse Moms sticker! What is a Coggins test? Winner, winner, chicken dinner is.....Heather Brushwood who answered: Itโs the thing you have to have that tells all the info on your horse in order to compete :)
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'Thing' being a technical term. Certification is probably a better word. Shows you have had all of your annual things and horse info.
Congrats, Heather! In Broke Horse Mom language, you're spot on. In vet language, you're a little off, as we all likely are. Here's a bit more insight. What is a Coggins test? The term 'coggins' really refers to the 'Coggins test,' not the piece of paper we all think of. A Coggins test is a blood test used to identify the presence of antibodies for equine infectious anemia (EIA), a potentially fatal disease with no current vaccine or treatment available, which is why the test is so important. New horse mom fear unlocked. How is the test performed? A vet draws blood from the horse and sends it to an accredited lab for analysis. The lab conducts a test to detect the EIA antibody (a protein that's only present if the horse has had the EIA virus). We want a NEGATIVE test, which indicates no presence of the antibody. What IS that paper we have to keep up with? The lab reports the results back to the vet and we end up with the form we all know, love, and routinely print. The form, which we typically just call the 'coggins,' is required for horses traveling across state lines and, usually, within the state for shows and other events. A couple of items to note:
Thinking I knew all of this? I appreciate your faith in me. I, in fact, did not. Thanks to the Penn State Extension site for filling in the numerous gaps in my knowledge. What's a question you're DYING to know the answer to? Let me know and you might see it in next week's 'Are We Supposed to Know This?' In the meantime, feel free to binge the podcast! ๐ง Most popular Broke Horse Moms episodes
Happy horsing! P.S. Love what we're doing here at Broke Horse Moms? Pop on over to โhttps://buymeacoffee.com/brokehorsemomsโ and contribute as little as $1 to support us. P.P.S. Missed a newsletter? See previous posts here.โ |
Broke Horse Moms
Through the Broke Horse Moms podcast, newsletter and social content, we make equestrian life more accessible, understandable, and connected for all the 'non-horsey horse moms' who didn't grow up in this space. Whether youโre buying your kiddo's first pair of paddock boots, figuring out horse shows, managing the costs of riding, or simply wondering if everyone else knows something you donโt, youโre in the right place.
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