Coggins

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

someone who's been there klondikekatemule@cs.com
Howard - 
As a chronic lurker on ridecamp, I usually enjoy your entertaining articles/comments, but this time I must respond as your blatant ignorance of this subject has got me running around the room screaming and pulling my hair out.
EIA does exist. It is real and it kills.  Those lucky enough to survive become a source of infection and therefore propagate the killing.  I have seen what EIA does.  I have seen entire barns come down with EIA - many have died (not via euthanasia solution or guns) but rather have suffered a long, slow, miserable, and very ugly death.  The liklihood of a carrier being the source of infection for others is very probable in this state as there are multiple biting insects here.  The liklihood of a bug having it's blood meal disrupted, and thus moving on to another "victim" to finish it's meal is high - isn't that why horses have tails????
I have no idea where the author of that slanted article got their (mis)information.  The numbers are readily available if you know where to look.  How can the vet make $10 and the lab make $10 and someone has to pay for the needle, the vacutainer tube, the paperwork, postage, and lab materials when I only pay $18 for a coggins.  Seems to me like you guys are using some kind of new math.
The disease has not been eradicated because testing is not required in all states.  It is only required under certain conditions which involve transport or congregating.  It has not been listed as a disease for eradication as it does not have significant economic impact.  It would if we as a country raised horses for meat - I guarantee you this disease would have long been eradicated by now.  So what is so money driven?????
A positive coggins does NOT mean instant death - anyone with a clue knows that further testing with other tests are performed (often by the goverment for no charge  - is that money driven?)
before any actions are taken.  Most states allow for quarantine of postive animals that are not that difficult to follow.  No one can be forced to euthanize their positive horse, but I don't want them near my horses.  My horses are tested annually (and it doesn't even hurt!) and I will only take my horses to places where all other equines are also negative.  Oh my, it costs money to test! - If you don't want to spend the money - don't have the horses!  Be responsible - keep your horses healthy and happy - vaccinate for diseases we can control and keep them away from the diseases we can't.
I was always taught that it is better to look at both sides of a subject, become informed about said subject and make an educated decision rather that spouting off in an irresponsible and emptyheaded manner about something you know nothing about.
I am under the assumption that the readers of ridecamp are caring enough about their horses to seek complete and accurate information when it comes to the healthcare of their animals.  The internet has provided a wealth of information to our society, but one has to remember to read all with a grain of salt as the nuts ar allowed to place their opinions online too.
Last I checked, there was no intelligence requirement for posting.
What are my credentials?  I make my living in the horse industry, have a few assorted letters after my name, and know a number of you personally -  Look around - it may be me.  See you in camp.