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Lake Chapala Horses: Equine Friends in Mexico
SOURCES: http://www.mexico-insights.com/articles/articles.aspx?c=current&p=200709&s=gettinghere&a=getting-horses.xml
By Phyllis Rauch
Perhaps one of your dreams, now that you are moving to Mexico, is to renew or begin a relationship with horses. Maybe you had a pony as a child, or rode on weekends, or maybe you have owned horses most of your life. Whatever the case, three Lakeside horse lovers have agreed to share their experiences about transporting horses to Mexico and acquiring them there.
Bringing Horses to Mexico
Diane Duncan owns two geldings, a beautiful big Belgian and a more delicate Peruvian paso. When she moved to Mexico, she was determined not to leave these friends of almost 10 years behind.
"I brought two of my horses to Mexico from Northern California in five days with little trouble,” she told me. “Sadly, I had to sell my riding horse—a beautiful quarter horse mare named April. I had purchased a very expensive three-horse trailer, thinking that I would be able to squeeze the three of them in comfortably, and it wasn't until I put in my Belgian that I realized only two horses would be moving to Mexico with me. My decision was rather like a "Sophie's choice." My Peruvian Paso, Justice, has had a difficult life and no one else would want the problems he carries with him. So he won out over April, who is now happy with a wonderful family in California.
"The absolute necessity for bringing your horses to Mexico is homework,” Diane assured me. “Getting the horses into the trailer and working that part out is easy. They will go wherever you take them once they are settled into the confinement; but before that happens, you’ve got other work to do.
"First you will need to find a vet in your area with export experience because the documents necessary for transportation through Mexican Customs must be done impeccably—no exceptions. When your vet has the US paperwork in hand it must be filled out to the letter according to the expertise of your customs broker in Nogales—(or whichever city you decide to travel through).
"You will need a Coggins Test done on each horse. (The “Coggins Test” screens the blood for exposure to the Equine Infectious Anemia virus.) A record of the test must be then added to the list of shots necessary before a horse may enter Mexico.
"The final documentation prepared and signed by your vet must be sent to the USDA, and then returned to you in time for your departure. Government paperwork takes time so you must plan accordingly. One month before departure should be enough time to start all the tests and shots. If you're short on time, faxing of the paperwork may be permitted by your state; but find out. Do not assume. You probably can’t afford to be wrong.
"I drove my documents to Sacramento personally to avoid glitches. The officials there thought that a more specific address than the one given me by my broker was necessary. They added it to the paperwork and signed over it, then affixed their seal. But Mexican customs did not need nor want another address and they only allowed the doctored paperwork to pass after much haggling by my Spanish-speaking friend. The best laid plans of mice and horse owners….
"But that wasn’t all. Something else happened at customs—my truck and trailer were registered in two different names. More cash was needed to "convince" some Mexican officials that it was okay. And as if that were not enough, we showed up on a Friday (having been told in Sacramento that the weekends were the best time to move the horses through) only to discover the reverse is true—that horses cannot go through during the weekend."
Tip: Find yourself a broker who speaks English, and have plenty of cash—both pesos and dollars—on hand to oil the flywheel of bureaucracy at the border. Money, it seems, speaks many languages.
"In comparison to all the bureaucratic hassle, the trip itself wasn't very difficult. My maintenance man from home drove my truck and trailer and we met up with Lake Chapala Veterinarian Carlos Zavala in Phoenix. I drove my SUV behind the truck and trailer all the long way to Jalisco, so I now know my trailer very well indeed—the back end of it anyway."
Tip: Be certain to have enough pesos in hand to pay the tolls along the way; they are higher for a truck and trailer than for a passenger car.
“We took the horses out of the trailer once each day to water and feed them. We found a place away from the highway so they wouldn’t get spooked."
Tip: Stop at the first good place you see–it may be hours before you find a better one.
“It is important to figure out ahead of time the mileage you will travel each day for the horses. I recommend around six to eight hours per day at the most. Since many horses stand in stalls all day, it probably isn't all that different for them–even though the trailer stall is moving. It is important that the horses have enough room to move around a bit and have some freedom for their heads.
Tip: Do your homework to find good places to stay overnight, both in the US and in Mexico. Without the internet I would have been lost. I Googled "US horse hotels", and the establishments I contacted were always waiting for us with smiles—those smiles helped. Prices were around $20 for each horse. There are also books available on horse hotels in the US.
"Once we crossed the border, finding places to stay with the horses wasn't as easy as it had been in the US. One idea is to call ahead to horse veterinarians in towns where you think you'll be stopping for the night. They will know places that would be happy to put your animals up for a small fee. Dr. Carlos Zavala's Spanish was invaluable, and we managed to find accommodations each evening. The horses became bored and tired during the long road trip and were happy to be let out to run around a little bit and get some horse chow.
"Just remember,” Diane admonished: “do your homework, have a good-working truck and trailer, think positive thoughts, and take along plenty of cash to change into pesos at the border.
"Good luck and you can always email: duncanranch@netscape.com in San Nicholas where Justice, Tux and I are all happy to be home at last.
"Now that my boys are in their Mexican 'back yard' chomping on grass in this wonderful climate and away from the extreme heat of my prior home, they thank me every day for the move. Feeling their contentment, I see no reason anyone should not bring his or her horse(s) down to Old Mexico."
Acquiring Horses in Mexico
We've all heard the story of a little boy or girl who dreams of getting a pony for Christmas or his or her birthday. For most of them that dream seldom comes true.
Ted Butcher recently shared his boyhood dream with me. He said his older siblings teased him every Christmas morning of his childhood, hinting that a wonderful surprise awaited him in their backyard. With the innocence of Charlie Brown, his heart pounding like the thunder of hooves, each year he would race out back to find…nothing.
Though Ted retired a couple of years ago to Lake Chapala, a part of him remained that little boy with a dream of a horse. He now has three beloved horses, Guapo, Ambar and Espejo.
When Ted and his wife, Ann, aren't working on their house—a building project that is very much hands-on, you'll see them riding their horses along the beach, on the cobblestone streets of El Chante, the Jocotepec malecon (boardwalk) or on a mountain trail. Ted beams as he describes these rides. His dream has finally come true.
Ted and Ann would be the first to admit that they are not horseflesh experts, though they are patient, eager to learn, and seemed to me determined to get it all right. Neither had ridden more than a few times before becoming horse owners in Mexico. Still, they jumped right in and researched how to find a horse, attend to legalities, and keep their animals happy with the right feed, proper shoeing and health care once they acquired them.
Guapo joined the family first. He was definitely Ted's horse and a bit of a challenge since when unsaddled he tended to kick and bite. Now, though, he is gentle enough to take local children for rides, and he hasn’t bitten a single one. Kudos to Ted.
Undaunted by Guapo's initially imperfect "ground manners," Ann became excited about finding her own horse. She dreamed of a palomino, and learned, as many of you perhaps already know, that the word palomino refers only to that distinctive, gorgeous blond hue, and not to a particular breed. Her dream came true when she and Ted were taken to meet (and eventually buy) beautiful Ambar.
"Meeting some wonderful Mexican and expatriate experts made all the difference for us as new horse owners,” Ann said. "First we met our vet, Dr. Pepe Mangaña, and his assistance was invaluable: he helped us locate our horses and ascertain that they were in good health prior to purchase. In the past three years, none of our horses has even been ill—no, not even once."
Ann told me Martín Gonzales Vasquez, their herrero (horseshoer) has become a wonderful friend and invaluable counselor. “I sought him out in La Floresta where various types of horses are available for rent, especially on the weekends,” she said.
“Martín's horses are the healthiest and he only rents to families, not rowdy weekenders who might mistreat his animals. Martín shoes approximately 300 local horses, and he takes his profession seriously.”
Martín explained with more than a little pride in his accomplishment: "I take two official courses a year in equine orthopedics from American experts who come to Mexico, so I’m not only a farrier but also an equine orthopedic specialist."
Some Things to Consider
- Cost: If you are considering purchasing a horse in Mexico, find an expert to go with you to see the horses. You need someone who can check out the horse's health and advise you on his suitability as a pet. Otherwise, you might pay a price much higher than the going rate and get an animal you can’t handle. Expect to pay about $650 to $1,000 US for a decent riding horse.
- Feed: Many horse owners, whether through lack of funds or lack of dietary knowledge, feed their animals only alfalfa (be sure to open it up to let the heat out to avoid deadly colic) and estropajos (cornhusks). Alfalfa is good enough, perhaps, but the estropajos are mostly filler and provide little nutrition.
Ann and Ted spend $50 per month to feed their horses. Their feed consists of nutracaballo, a sweet feed consisting of grains and molasses (the horses love this), salvado, and molido, which is a combination of ground grasses and alfalfa. They buy the feed at the Jocotepec Feed Store on Hidalgo Street and have it delivered right to their home.
- Shoeing: To shoe a horse costs $250 pesos (about $23 US) and should be done every three months or so, depending on how often the horse is ridden and how fast his hooves grow.
- Mexican legalities: Be sure to have a legal bill of sale for your horse. If you are neither fluent in Spanish nor experienced in this field, take along a vet or other expert to help you buy.
It is vital that you have a stamped Guia de Transito (permit) each time you transport your horse in a horse trailer. If you are stopped by the police, and do not have this paper, your horse might be confiscated and you could be in trouble.
Being an animal lover myself, I was especially touched by one detail in Ann and Ted's story—they had rented houses in other areas of Lakeside while looking for a property on which to build. By the time they found their property, they already had acquired two of the horses.
Some people might prefer to live in a pretty house with a garden in front, and hide their horses in stables in the back orchard. These warm and hospitable Canadians decided to build a gazebo in the front of their property first. That way their horses could move right onto the place, be assured of shade and shelter from the rain, and have the chance to interact and touch noses with each other (and visit with their owners as well) even while the house was going up. First things first, I always say.
One of my favorite authors, an expert in autistic animals, Temple Grandin, has this to say in her book Animals in Translation:
"One of the worst things you can do to any animal is to rear it in isolation. Many people believe stallions are aggressive nutcases you can't handle, but that's true only because we make them that way. I walked into a holding pen at a Bureau of Land Management adoption center which contained fifty wild stallions. The stallions were completely peaceful with almost no fighting. The modern, fancy stable is a super-max prison for stallions. When a stallion is raised in solitary confinement, he never learns normal social behavior and that's what makes him dangerous to other males."
I remembered Ms Grandin's words as I observed Guapo, Ambar and Espejo interacting in their new home, happy and at peace together in their horsey paradise.
Have more questions?
You can contact the folks in this article with the following information:
Zavala Clinica Veterinaria
Dr. Carlos Zavala
Ave. Javier Mina #38, Ajijic
Telephone: (376) 766-1604
Emergency: 045 33 3480-6686
Email: carloszavaladvm@yahoo.com
Dr. Pepe Magana Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Pepe Magana
Hidalgo #92, Riberas del Pilar
Telephone: (376) 765-2717
Emergencies: 044-376-769-3959
Martín Gonzales Vasquez, Farrier
Martín Gonzales Vasquez
With Horses for Rent, on Camino Real, La Floresta
Home: (376) 766 2258.
Cellular: 013 33 1342-2457.
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