Quarterly News & Updates July 2025

Summer is Here!!

Summer brings unique challenges for horse owners, requiring specific care to ensure their horses' comfort and well-being during warmer months but it's also one of the most anticipated times of the year for many! One of the best things about summer is the extra daylight hours. After months of riding and doing chores in the dark or near-dark conditions over the long winter, you can finally make the most of the extended daylight. You can quite literally, ride until the cows come home! It feels like unlocking a whole new level of freedom. Even if you are sweating like a pig from all the sunscreen and fly spray, at least you can enjoy a nice long ride in the evening sun without having to worry about rushing to get back to the barn before the sun sets at 4 pm. So be sure to get out there and enjoy the sunshine with your equine friends whenever you can and have a safe and happy summer from your KEC family!

What to Know about Health Certificates (CVIs)

Veterinary Health Certificates, or Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), are official documents required by law when transporting animals domestically. A vet health certificate for travel helps prevent the spread of diseases by verifying that an animal has been inspected for illnesses by an accredited veterinarian and was found to comply with movement regulations. If you plan to travel with your horse, here are some things to note when requesting a Health Certificate (CVI) from us:

1. CVIs are only good for 30 days from the date of the appointment.
2. CVIs are only good for ONE destination. If there will be a stop /layover in another state or change of carrier, a new CVI will be needed from that new point of origin. We are only licesensed to issue CVIs in the state of VA.
3. Finally, when requesting a CVI be sure to give us enough time to schedule an appointment to examine your horse. We will also need the Shipping Date, Shipper's information (name, address, phone #), Who is receiving the horse and its destination (name, address & phone #) and the reason for travel. The horse must also have a current Coggins. As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have regarding Health Certificates (CVIs).

How to Keep Horses Cool in Hot Weather

Tip #1. Turnout for Horses

If your horse is typically stalled during the night and turned out in the pasture during the day, try switching it up! Scheduling turnout at night, during the hottest months of the year, can significantly decrease the impact of heat stress on your horse. When the horse is kept inside during the day, this helps them avoid direct sunlight.

Try to keep fans going in their stalls. This will also help keep them cool and comfortable at the hottest point in the day.

Tip #2. Fans & Shade

If horses are outside during the day, it’s important to provide an area for them to move away from direct sunlight. Large shade trees and lean-to buildings can be excellent tools that provide a break from the beating sun.

If possible, try hanging fans in the lean-to buildings to help move some air. This will provide relief from the heat and pesky bugs.

Tip #3. Fresh Water

It’s very important that your horse has access to fresh, clean water 24/7. At rest, an adult horse in a cool climate will drink about 6 to 10 gallons of water daily. They will drink significantly more while exercising or if they are in hot conditions.

Consider adding salt to your horse’s feed or provide 24/7 access to salt blocks to encourage them to drink more water.

Tip #4. Fly Control

Keeping your horse comfortable means keeping the flies away. Excessive stomping can cause stress and increase exercise in the hot weather. Minimizing the amount of flies on and around your horse can help make them much happier this summer.

Try starting at the source. Stable and house flies breed in manure, organic matter and soiled bedding. Try keeping your stalls, paddocks, and pastures as clean as possible. Manure piles should be located 100 to 200 feet away from the barn to limit flies returning to the area.

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Upcoming Events

July 4th: Independence Day- KEC Office Closed! 24/7 Emergeny Services will remain unaffected

July 6-12: National Farriers Week- Pamper your Farrier this week!

July 11th: World Horse Day!

July 11-13: VADA - Dressage at Lexington, VA

August: National Back to School Month!

August 5th: National Night Out- Get out and do something fun!

Sept 1st: Labor Day- KEC office Closed! 24/7 Emergeny Services will remain unaffected

Sept 11: Patriot Day- Never Forget 9.11

Spotlight on Extended Equine CVIs (EECVI)

Now Available: EECVIs

EECVIs function just like traditional animal health certificates but last for six months and provide a better solution for frequent travelers with horses.

If you do a lot of interstate or intrastate traveling with your equine friends you may be excited to learn about Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspections or EECVIs for short. You may also hear these referred to as a Go-Pass. With an EECVI you get a six month health certificate for just a few dollars more AND you can create them yourself using your Global Vet Link account!

https://www.globalvetlink.com/compliance/eecvi/

Several state animal health departments allow veterinarians and horse owners the option of a six-month health certificate, as long as a current Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) / Coggins test has been provided. However there are some states that do do not participate in the EECVI program. **See the list below for participating states.

Extended Equine CVI Take Aways

Equine health certificate that lasts up to six months
Owners have 24/7 access in online account
Travel permits automatically submitted to states
Greater participation nationally and growing

**Acceptance of these six month equine health certificates continues to grow among states.
The states that are currently participating in the EECVI program include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.

Many additional states plan on participating but are not able to at this time due to the requirement of a legislative rule change period. We will share information as additional states join the program in the future.