New Import requirement for horses coming in to Michigan:

This past spring the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has updated/changed their requirements for horses entering Michigan from another state. These new requirements do not apply to most horse owners in Michigan, because their horses are already here. Currently, if you take your horse out of state and return within 30 days, the health certificate that you had done when you left is valid for re-entry into the state as well. However, if you take your horse out of Michigan for an extended period of time (greater than 30 days) then you would have to comply with these requirements when a new health certificate is issued for the return trip. Also, if you purchase a horse from out of state, that horse would have to meet these new requirements. Here are the new/current requirements for horses entering Michigan.
1. Negative Coggins (EIA) test within the current calendar year.
2. Health certificate issued no more than 30 days prior to arrival.
3. If originating from a state that has had at least one case of Vesicular Stomatitis within the previous 12 months, a special statement must be included on the health certificate.
4. If originating from any state in which there has been a case of piroplasmosis in the past 12 months, any horses coming into Michigan must have tested negative to prioplasmosis nor more than 30 days prior to arrival, and have a special statement written on the health certificate.
5. Any horse with evidence of tick infestation must be treated by an approved product.
6. Any horse originating from a premise currently under quarantine for piroplasmosis is not eligible for importation.

The Coggins and health certificate part is nothing new. The stuff about piroplasmosis is what the state is really trying to ward off. Fortunately, this is a relatively rare is not known to exist in Michigan. In fact, Texas is currently the only state to have known cases of piroplasmosis.

The take home message is that if you plan on bringing a horse into Michigan from a state that is known to a have a horse infected with piroplasmosis within the past year, then be sure you plan ahead to allow sufficient time to get the piroplasmosis test back, but still not be more than 30 days from coming to Michigan.