Ignorant horse buyer and Brand inspection.

Shocking, isn't it? (Almost as shocking as me finding something on line using Google.)

Do not tell anyone. I am sure they will quickly see it as a revenue source and we will require an updated brand inspection to walk our horse down the driveway.

If I'm reading right, it's required to move out of the [WA] state. Isn't that what papers are for, though? To prove the horse in your hands is the horse on the papers is the horse you own?

I'm not really looking for answers. I personally don't care. I can prove I own the horse, so if I happen to get pulled over moving them from one facility to another, there's nothing they can do. If I ever cross state lines, I'll deal with it then.

As a side-note, when my friend moved her mare from Washington to Montana, she got a brand inspection in Montana after the move without any problems. Another friend is moving her three horses to Utah from Washington, and she just has to get a health check and Coggins pulled. She wasn't told anything about a BI.

If you get pulled over in states that require brand inspections, which most western states do, and you do not have one, they can confiscate your horse until a brand inspector shows up and finds out information on your horse, etc. It doesn't matter if you have paperwork that shows the horse is yours, registrations papers, bill of sale, if a brand inspection is required, you can get a HUGE fine and the horse can be stabled until a brand inspector deals with it.
In Wyoming, even if you cross county lines, if you don't have a brand inspection, you can be turned around and not allowed in the county.So, crossing state lines without one is even worse. Same as a Coggins, if it is required, and most states require a current one, if you are asked to show your Coggins and do not have one, the horse can be stabled and has to stay there until a Coggins is drawn, sent in and received back.
Here is the law pertaining to Washington. They require brand inspections going into or out of Washington. Plus,Transportation of livestock on the public highways of the state must be accompanied by an official certificate of brand inspection or an original certificate of permit.

Brand inspections don't cost much and so much easier to carry the paperwork in the trailer for wherever you go.

She needs to check the laws, Utah requires BI's into and out of the state, WA requires them leaving the state. And according to the WA laws, a bill of sale or registration papers are not enough to show ownership, you must have a BI or permit.
Just call the vet, they have a book that shows what ALL states require. Call the livestock board for your state, they will tell you all about BI and when they are needed.

So I just got finished with the BI and we were able to get enough done to get a TRANSPORT ONLY BI done. The previous owner had apparently felt I did not need it since he (I paid him) he paid for it...grrr. None the less Lady will be on her way at 7 am to her new pasture and friends. The Brand inspector, totally schooled the previous owner about it and I would not have wanted to be on the other end of the phone when that man went off on him LOL...needless to say, read the laws before you buy or transport!!!

Good, sounds like your hard work paid off. Glad the BI inspector was able to help so you can move her. Will the old owner give you the current BI that you paid for?
Yes,it does pay to make sure what the laws are. Had an interesting scenerio from a dog show back east, seems folks were stopped and asked for rabies certificates on the show dogs they had. They did not carry them and got in trouble, fined and almost had their dogs confiscated. They did not know the laws crossing state lines. Like I said about the horses and BI, carry rabies certificates in your vehicles and if you ever get stopped, you have them
Copies of these kind of things don't cost much, and sure saves alot of headache. Most law enforcement are nice, but what happens if you just get one that is a "stick by the book" kinda officer and you do not have the correct paperwork, horses or dogs???? Not worth the risk or trouble if you ask me.

The brand inspection laws are strict, and a bit convoluted, in Montana and you are expected to know all the details. Better not cross county lines without a current one in your trailer. So many people do not understand them and some new comers don't even know they are required. My suggestion to anyone in a BI state, call the brand inspector when you purchase or sell a horse, before you make the transaction, and get the scoop.

Brand Inspection laws are so strict that here if you are transporting a horse without a copy of it's BI paperwork and you have a Commercial Driver's License, you will automatically lose your license, even if you are hauling for personal reasons, not as a business.

The papers for the horse are irrelevant when it comes to Brand Inspections. If you get pulled over, they don't even want to see the papers.... just Brand Inspection and Coggins.

My hubby has a Commercial License, so we are very careful to ensure that we always have the Brand Inspection (just a copy, original is in a filing cabinet) and Coggins when traveling.

Now this is truely interesting...what if your horse doesnt have a brand?

Just curious...Im from TX and this doesnt affect me...so long as you have coggins your good down here...but its interesting to say the least.

But really if for say you had a horse without a brand...what would become of the BI restrictions? Neither of my two horses are branded...

There is no actual "branding" of the horses for a Brand Inspection.

Basically the Brand Inspector visually examines the horse, colors it's markings/defects onto a diagram of a horse and adds any comments, then compares it to the markings/comments noted at the last Brand Inspection to ensure it's the same horse and then signs off on it. If the horse was branded or tattooed, that would also be noted.

My horse has no "brand" but she has had her Brand Inspection done. She has a rather significant divot in her neck (we were told it was a t-post accident but who really knows.....) so that is marked on her Brand Inspection as an identifying mark.