How Do You Transport A Horse Overseas? (Solution found)

For international travel with large jets, horses are loaded directly into their traveling stalls on the tarmac. These stalls, which are on pallets, are then raised by a platform lift to the level of the plane, slid inside the open doorway and secured into the pallet system that is locked down on the floor of the plane.

If you need to transport your horse overseas, the easiest and fastest way to do it is by traveling via airplane. Therefore, you have to work with companies specializing in equine transportation. A one-way international flight can cost you around $2,000 to $10,000, but you can expect to pay more or less depending on your destination.

How much does it cost to transport a horse overseas?

Overseas travel for a horse average from $8,000 to $30,000 depending on several factors. These factors are the travel class, the departure/ final destination of the horses, and what airline operates from your closest airport. Shipping a horse overseas is expensive and tedious.

How much does it cost to transport a horse by plane?

The cost of transporting horses by airplanes can be costly, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 for just a one-way trip, depending on the destination locations and additional fees for some tiers of care and comfort during the flight.

How much does it cost to transport a horse from UK to Australia?

The stalls take up to three horses (it costs roughly £14,350 per horse to fly to Australia, including quarantine, vet and transfers fees), but clients can pay 35% more for “business class” (two horses per stall) or “first class” (single horse, 70% more), for instance for stallions or racehorses running in the Melbourne

How are horses transported?

Showjumping horses can travel to competition destinations by air or by road. The most frequently used, fastest, and easiest way for horses to travel to showjumping competitions is by airplane. Horses are loaded onto trailers and transported by road to one of the major airports.

Does FedEx ship horses?

Service Details: FedEx Charters FedEx Charters specializes in general cargo; hard-to-move cargo; and animals, including zoo animals, horses and cattle. Individualized security options and temperature-sensitive cargo environments are also available.

Can horses fly in planes?

Horses cannot travel in the usual planes that you and I would travel in – they have to travel in cargo planes, and not all cargo planes can carry horses – so moving from A to B is not as simple as it is for humans. So to send a horse to country A might have a very different procedure than sending it to Country B.

Are horses sedated for air travel?

At this point the vet will take a look at them and may sedate them to make them comfortable, reducing their own stress and the risk of others becoming stressed. ” Horses usually cope extremely well with flight.

What airlines fly horses?

Fed Ex, UPS and large commercial airlines ship horses and other animals as cargo, but Tex Sutton — as the company is commonly known — began ferrying Kentucky Derby winners and other prized horses by air in 1969 and remains the only U.S.-based horse transportation company that uses a dedicated aircraft to do so.

How much does it cost to import a horse from Europe?

Cost of importing a horse from Europe to America As a ballpark figure of importing a horse from Europe to the U.S., you’re looking at the cost of between $7,000 and $10,000, although it’s worth noting that the cost comes down if several horses are traveling together.

How much does it cost to fly a horse from New Zealand to Australia?

All horses entering AUS from NZ are subject to GST, this is charged at 10% of the CIF value (cost of the horse + insurance + Freight) plus a Customs & Broker Fee of $190. This invoice will be issued in AUD. NORTH ISLAND (Auckland to Sydney or Melbourne): Auckland to Sydney: NZ $5,900 Approx.

How do horses get to Australia?

Early horse imports Horses first arrived in Australia in 1788 with the First Fleet. They were imported for farm and utility work; recreational riding and racing were not major activities. By 1800, only about 200 horses are thought to have reached Australia.

Can you import a horse to Australia?

Live horses can be imported into Australia from selected department approved countries only. To bring horses to Australia, they must meet all of the department’s import conditions prior to export. The Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) provides the import conditions for all permitted live horse imports.

How do horses travel to international competitions?

These days, horses travel by aeroplane. After being coaxed into air-conditioned stables, called pallets, they are loaded onto specially configured planes. In flight, grooms provide them with special water-enhanced hay to keep them hydrated. (They also pack tonnes of baggage including saddles, shoes and pitchforks.)

How do Olympians transport horses?

Like their athletes, horses travel to the Olympics by plane. They actually receive passports at their birth, which details information like their health history, markings and size. Horses are loaded into stalls at ground level, and are then transported onto a plane.

How long can you transport a horse?

Horses are fine for up to 9 hours in a trailer as long as they have food and water, and unloading during the trip just adds to your end time considerably. Rather, get to where you are going and let them –and you- have a long rest.

What’s The Best Way To Transport A Horse Overseas?

With the advancements in current technology, the introduction of the internet, and the availability of more affordable flights, the globe has become a lot smaller place these days, at least unless you decide to transport your horse abroad. There are a variety of options for transporting a horse internationally, but the most common (and best for the horse) is via airline. This is due to the fact that horses can become seasick yet, unlike humans, do not experience jet lag. On top of that, they have the ability to sleep when on a plane travel.

How do you transport a horse?

Horses are transported internationally by air, which is by far the most popular mode of transportation since it is faster, safer, and better for the horse than any other mode of transportation. But how do the horses travel themselves? The transportation of horses does not take place on conventional passenger flights, but rather on special cargo jets. While certain animals do fly on regular passenger planes, horses do not. In most cases, horses are kept in stalls on the ground that may accommodate up to three horses at a time.

As a first-class passenger on an airline, your horse will have the stall all to himself; but, if you fly business class, your horse will share the stall with another horse; and if you travel coach class, three horses will share the stall.

Flying with your horse is possible in many cases, but because you’ll be going by cargo jet, there will be no air stewards or stewardess to serve you food, and there will be no in-flight movie, so make sure you’re prepared for this.

Do horses suffer from jet lag?

When a horse travels halfway around the world, you might expect them to feel jet lag in the same manner that humans do, but you would be mistaken. With individuals flying horses all over the world for a variety of events, it’s understandable that a great deal of study has been done into the affects this may have on the horse and its ability to compete. It was discovered via this research that horses do not experience jet lag in the same manner that humans do, contrary to popular belief. The primary cause for this absence of jet lag might be attributed to the manner in which horses sleep.

Horses, on the other hand, spend less than 15 percent of their day napping, with this time being distributed across the whole day; in fact, an adult horse will not sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Horses travel better by air than they do by any other mode of transportation, except from the fact that they do not suffer from jet lag.

Do horses get seasick?

Even though we would all like the waters to be calm and level when we’re at sea, the odds are that this will not always be the case. Horses are no different than humans in that they can suffer from seasickness on a frequent basis. Scientific discoveries and new research are constantly being made, and new research always leads to a better understanding of the world around us. However, it was the research carried out by Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton in the early 1900s that demonstrated that horses can suffer from seasickness.

During the inclement weather, he saw that the horses displayed indications of extreme anxiety, bewilderment, and even dizziness, according to him.

Instead, you may use natural remedies such as lavender oil to assist keep the horse quiet and comfortable.

Researchers at the University of Arizona discovered that lavender can aid to slow a horse’s heart rate while also helping to keep them calm.

Are there alternatives to flying a horse?

If you’re concerned about the carbon footprint of flying, there are other options, like as going by sea, road, or train. However, although these options may be better for the environment, are they actually better for the horse?

Travelling by sea

When it comes to the environment, transporting a horse by boat might be a terrific option to flying, but when it comes to the horse, it’s a whole other scenario. We were carrying horses by water long before Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first flight, so there’s no doubt that they can travel in a boat. What most history books don’t tell you, however, is how the horses survived with the rigors of sea travel. Horses, like all other animals, can become seasick, which is a common occurrence. The reason for this is unknown, but it is speculated that the motion of the boat, combined with the lack of vision (horses tend to travel below deck with the other vehicles) to assist the brain in understanding and interpreting the motion, causes the senses to become confused, with seasickness as a result.

Instead of vomiting, a horse is more likely to suffer from colic, which is a painful condition.

Additionally, depending on the weather conditions and the ferry operator you’re choosing, you might face an extended wait before being able to board the boat. Will your horse be able to tolerate being confined to the trailer for extended periods of time while being stationary?

Travelling by road

Since water travel isn’t the ideal choice, how about moving your horse by car? Take, for the purpose of argument, the scenario in which you need to transfer your horse to a different nation that can be reached without the need to cross any large bodies of water is used. In this instance, driving by automobile may be a viable option to flying, albeit the journey will almost certainly be lengthy. Although it is possible to travel great miles by road without resting, one disadvantage is that the horse will be unable to sleep.

This is why, while traveling long distances, it’s crucial to stop frequently and allow your horse to stretch his legs, as well as take a little nap if required.

Travelling by rail

Last but not least, what about going by train? There is no question that traveling by train has a lesser carbon footprint than going by airline, and what’s more significant is that, unlike horses transported by sea or road, horses are able to sleep and will not suffer from seasickness while on the rails. Horses traveling by rail are no more likely than horses traveling by road to experience motion sickness, according to research. However, the advantage of rail travel is that any changes in speed and direction are progressive, which means horses do not need to constantly rebalance themselves and are able to sleep.

Having said that, if flying is out of the question and I am forced to find an other method of transporting my horses, I would choose to transfer them by train.

How much does it cost to fly a horse overseas?

Several factors influence the cost of transporting a horse internationally, including where the horse is being transported to and from, how many horses are being transported, and what class the horses will be traveling in. Despite the fact that it is impossible to list the costs of every flight to and from every country, in order to provide an idea of the range of prices, I have listed the costs for a 10-year-old Quarter Horse traveling in coach class from the United States to the United Kingdom and Australia, along with the costs of the return trips.

	USA	UK	Australia
USA	–	$10,200 / £7,890	$21,950 / AUD $31,825
UK	£8,510 / $11,000	–	£14.850 / AUD $27,738
Australia	AUD $28,200 / $19,450	AUD $13,000 / £6,995	–

These fees cover vet preparation, pre-flight boarding, professional in-flight grooming, shipping supplies such as food, water, and bedding, and agency fees. If your horse is traveling to Australia, the fees above cover 30 days of pre-export quarantine (which is required if your horse will be away from the country for more than 60 days), or 14 days pre-export and 14 days post-export if you are traveling to the United Kingdom.

The amount does not cover transportation to the pre-flight farm, where the horse will spend his quarantine period, international costs, or insurance, however. The majority of firms will not transport a horse unless it has at the very least mortality and transit insurance.

Do I need any special paperwork to make my horse abroad?

The criteria for each nation are different, and they will fluctuate from country to country, so it’s crucial to double-check what papers you’ll need before you depart. In most countries you will need to show proof of your horse’s vaccinations and a negative Coggins test (to demonstrate that your horse is free of equine infectious anemia (also known as swamp fever), which is a virus that is transmitted by blood-sucking insects). You will also need to show evidence of your horse’s vaccinations against certain conditions such as equine influenza.

However, this is becoming less usual these days.

Do I need special insurance for my horse to travel overseas?

However, while some horse transport firms have insurance companies with whom they contract, it is always a good idea to check with your present insurance provider first. They will be able to add a transit policy to your existing policy and will also be able to inform you whether the coverage you already have has any geographical restrictions.

Recommended products

Over the years, I’ve experimented with hundreds of different horse-related things, ranging from different blankets and halters to various treats. Others I’ve liked, some I’ve disliked, but I thought I’d share with you my top five all-time favorite items, the ones I never leave the house without while I’m working in the garden. Please find links to items (which are not listed in any particular order) that I believe are excellent in this article.

Mane & Tail Detangler– Even if you never show your horse, you’ll need to disentangle his tail (and maybe his mane as well) from time to time, which is always a difficult task! When I put a small amount of detangler through my horse’s tails every few days, I’ve discovered that it prevents them from becoming matted and makes combing them easier, even when they’re coated in muck. I’m not sure if I should mention it or not, but it also works wonderfully on my hair
I’m not sure how I feel about it. TAKEKIT Pro clippers are a good investment. Over the years, I’ve experimented with a variety of various clippers, and while some were clearly superior than others, I found them to be by far the most effective. However, for me, this is a positive attribute because it gives them the appearance of being more strong and long-lasting than many other clippers. Furthermore, because they have a variety of speeds, they are equally effective at cutting your horse’s back as they are at clipping his face. I also appreciate the fact that they come with a convenient travel bag, but I understand that this is not for everyone. They are made by a fantastic firm that is also wonderfully helpful, which is a big plus in these difficult economic times. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that it didn’t come with any oil, but it wasn’t a big deal because it’s not difficult to get lubricant elsewhere. Shire’s ball feeder– There are a plethora of boredom-busting toys available, but I prefer to use this one on a daily basis, regardless of whether or not my horses are feeling bored. Horse safe mirror– This is a strange one that many people are surprised about, but I like to put horse safe mirrors in the trailers as well as in the quarantine stalls to encourage my horses to problem solve. I reward them with treats (or pieces of fruit) when they do so, and it also mimics their natural grazing behavior, which helps to keep them calm and de-stressed. It helps to alleviate the sense of being alone by creating the illusion that other horses are around to provide company. Equine herd animals can get quite anxious when they are left alone, but with the use of these stick-on mirrors they will assume that at least one other horse is present with them, reducing their discomfort. This isn’t glamorous, but it’s critical for your horse’s health to be able to check its temperature on a regular basis, and a rectal thermometer is the most convenient method to do so, which is why I’ve included it on the list: Rectal thermometer

Shopping lists

Besides that, I’ve compiled a few shopping lists of necessities that I’ve found to be very useful over the years. Instead of lumping everything together in one long list, I’ve divided the listings into several sections for your convenience. I hope you found this post to be informative. If you have any information, I would really appreciate it if you could share it with me as it would be quite beneficial to me.

What it Takes To Ship Competition Horses Overseas – The Horse

Going through the motions of packing and travelling to a horse show might feel like a greater production than all of the riding and training, grooming, and tack cleaning that is required to get there in the first place. Did we remember to bring the grooming tote? What happened to my lucky socks? We did, after all, load the horse. Now picture yourself collecting your belongings and traveling to a horse show that is taking place thousands of miles away. A large number of foreign riders competing in the 2018 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will take place April 25-29 at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park, are doing just that.

What exactly is involved in this time-consuming process?

Allen E.

At the moment, Page works as a scientist and veterinarian at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, located in Lexington.

As a result, and while particular exclusions and distinct laws apply to horses originating in other nations, he concentrated on the legislation governing horses originating in Europe, Japan, and South America, as well as other countries.

Pro Tip: Don’t Go It Alone

Most people are familiar with the practice of employing a horse broker to supervise a horse’s journey across country. “While it is theoretically feasible to avoid using a broker, doing so is exceedingly difficult,” Page explained. “They handle all of the logistics of shipping a horse, including obtaining health certificates from the exporting country, scheduling any preliminary testing that may be necessary, scheduling the flight, scheduling ground transportation from the farm to the flight, scheduling people to load the horse onto the flight, and dealing with Customs and Border Protection and the USDA when the horse arrives.” “They take care of all the logistics that most people aren’t aware of when it comes to exporting a horse,” he explained.

Finally, whether or not to utilize a broker is a personal decision.

Healthy Horses Only

There are already a plethora of ailments that horse owners in the United States must be concerned about. It should go without saying that the USDA takes every measure to ensure that a foreign horse does not bring another disease into the nation with them. Page stated that horses are not required to undergo a pre-export isolation period prior to coming to the United States under USDA regulations. Instead, they are in charge of handling quarantine once horses arrive in the United States, but before they are allowed to be released into the nation.

Equines with infectious anemia
Both of the causal agents of piroplasmosis, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi
Glanders
And Dourine
And Equine infectious anemia

Whenever a horse tests positive for any of those illnesses, the authorities will quarantine all of the other horses who were sent with the positive animal until the horse in question tests negative again. The entire cargo of horses will be returned to their country of origin if the horse in issue continues to test positive, and depending on the illness being dealt with, further actions mandated by the government of the country of origin will be done to eradicate the disease risk. “To put it bluntly, that is the worst-case scenario for everyone,” Page stated.

NVSL in Ames, Iowa, collects blood samples from horses slated to travel and sends them to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in order to guarantee that horses are not infected with the illnesses under consideration.

Horses that are not castrated or ovariectomized and are imported particularly for competitions, such as the Land Rover Kentucky Event, are not subjected to CEM testing or quarantine because they have been granted a dispensation from the necessity to undergo such testing and quarantine.

When a horse imported for competition ends up remaining in the United States permanently (for example, if he or she is sold during the trip), Page said that the horse must be sent to a certified facility for CEM testing and quarantine.

Meanwhile, the USDA does not require horses to be immunized with specific vaccinations prior to being temporarily imported. The immunization is not permitted within 14 days of export to the United States, however, according to Page.

Coming to America

Once the horse’s health certificate has been obtained and any preliminary testing has been completed (if any), the horse is placed onto the plane and the voyage starts. As Page explained, “In the United States, we have four major horse import centers: New York; Chicago; Miami; and Los Angeles.” “The (Land Rover Kentucky) horses are normally brought in through Chicago or New York and then driven to Kentucky,” says the trainer. To keep horses happy and healthy while traveling, Page says they are normally provided with hay, sometimes grain, and plenty of fresh water.

In addition to the bedding they arrive with and any opened grain, leftover hay is often destroyed, according to the expert.

Hay isn’t typically carried across, although unopened sacks of grain with manufacturer tags are routinely taken in from the United Kingdom.

Following their arrival on the tarmac, “the horses must either be constantly monitored by APHIS officials or they must travel under APHIS serial-numbered tamper-proof seals,” Page explained.

“The organization in Louisville would seal them (in the trailer) with the forms they would be traveling with, and when they arrived at our facility, we checked to make sure the seals were still intact.” As soon as the horses arrive at the import center (which can be either one of the permanent facilities or a temporary facility set up specifically for that purpose), they must undergo an examination and disinfection protocol that is carried out by an accredited veterinarian and observed by a USDA veterinarian.

Pages explained that “their feet are chosen and they may choose to either go through or have their feet sprayed with a disinfectant.” Every horse is sprayed with a pesticide, which involves wiping it into their ears and nostrils as well as rubbing the insecticide into their inguinal regions.

It is his understanding that the veterinarian would perform an examination on the horses, run their hands over them to check for ticks (which may carry illnesses), assess the horses’ temperature, and then collect blood samples for testing.

If a horse is required to clear quarantine in the shortest amount of time possible (for example, to return to training), Page said brokers can arrange to have blood samples hand-delivered to the NVSL and tested immediately; however, brokers must make arrangements to pay the courier as well as the overtime wages of NVSL employees in these situations, he said.

‘Any horse that has to be treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication must wait at least 24 hours before their official temps can be taken,’ Page explained.

A proper wash-out period is important in order to ensure that we have an accurate temperature reading and that they are not unwell.” Following a horse’s blood tests come back negative, his temperature is consistently normal, and a USDA veterinarian determines that he is healthy, he is released into the general public.

“When the CEM-waiver horses are out of their stalls (at the competition location), they must be watched by either the USDA or a USDA-accredited veterinarian,” he explained.

In addition, any foreign horses that will be returning to their home nation immediately following the competition are not permitted to come into touch with North American horses.

“We advise the foreign riders to stay away since doing so will only jeopardize their chance to return—but they’re all veterans of the sport and are well aware of the situation,” Page added. Risk reduction is the key, says the expert.

Heading Home

It is time for the international horses to return to their countries when the tournament has concluded. Fortunately, things move a little more quickly on this end, according to Page. It is possible to return to one’s native country and stable in one fell swoop if the horse has not come into touch with any North American horses, according to him. The only difference is that one must change modes of transportation at the airport.

The Bottom Line

While competing abroad is more difficult than competing domestically, the procedure may be reduced to the level of a regular occurrence with proper organization and the assistance of experienced brokers. A bonus on top of that? According to Page, the majority of horses are able to manage the journeys without incident. “People are constantly concerned about the amount of stress these horses are subjected to, yet they always appear to cope really well,” he remarked. “For horses that are sent abroad for competition, this isn’t their first time out on the trail.

“The difficulties that we come across are really uncommon.”

Can My Horse Travel Internationally?

If horses were eligible for frequent flyer miles, some of the greatest competition horses would accrue as much as a business traveler in a single year. Equine athletes now commonly send their equipment via plane when traveling internationally, and the process is both quick and safe. Despite the fact that international air travel necessitates more paperwork and planning, horsemen typically feel that it is less stressful on their horses than exporting vast distances by vehicle. This is mostly owing to the climate-controlled surroundings and the pleasant ride provided by the vehicle.

provided us with further information regarding what is involved when horses fly through the air.

As one of the company’s owners and partners, Joe Santarelli, Jr.

Preparing for Travel

There is more documentation involved in shipping by air than in land transportation, with the particular requirements varying depending on the destination country. In order for a horse to enter a nation’s borders, the government must first get an import license and then decide what standards must be completed. In addition to knowing what is required, the shipping firm will also be aware of the particular time range for blood testing and any necessary immunizations. (For further information, please see aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/.) In order to ensure that the horse and any grooms or handlers who will be traveling with it meet all necessary standards for travel, it is the obligation of the shipping business to communicate these requirements to the horse’s owner.

Whether or not a horse must be quarantined before to travel is determined by whether or not the animal is leaving the United States permanently or whether or not the horse will be returning.
Consider the horses from the United States that are heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Making sure horses are in the greatest possible condition before shipping is critical to ensuring a smooth journey.
Regardless of where they’re going, typical vaccination needs include eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis as well as equine influenza vaccine.
Before a horse may travel, it will be required to have certain blood tests performed and the findings to be negative.
A horse import permit issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture is also necessary in order to allow the horse to enter the country.
In Ames, Iowa, blood is collected and sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
After that, the paperwork is forwarded to the USDA for signing.
It is the groom’s or handler’s obligation to ensure that these documents are delivered to the appropriate authorities upon arrival in the destination country.
A copy of this material is available upon request for use by the United States Department of Agriculture and United Airlines.

The documentation for Olympic team horses also includes reentry permits, which are prepared by the shipping agency before the horses leave the United States in order to streamline the procedure once the horses return to American territory after competing in the Games.

Time to Go

As the departure date approaches, the shipping agent engages the services of a professional equine tractor trailer to pick up horses from their home farms or stables and transport them to the port of destination. (On the East Coast, this is generally one of the cities such as New York, Atlanta, or Miami. When the horses arrive at the airport, they are unloaded from the truck and placed in a stable at the airport’s export center. (This is a quarantine center that has been approved by the USDA.) Before being put onboard the plane, horses will be given at least five hours of stall rest, and in certain cases, even more time.

When a lengthy delay occurs, the passengers will be returned to the stalls at the airport’s export center to relax.
If the horse is accustomed to wearing shipping boots and/or wraps, they are placed on him before he is carried aboard the plane for transportation.
When the plane is getting ready to take off, a USDA official checks the horses to make sure they don’t have a fever and are otherwise healthy enough to ride on the plane.
Mersant rents and purchases space on cargo carriers such as Air France, Federal Express, KLM, Emirates Cargo, and Singapore Airlines for the majority of the time when it is transporting horses.
Several air transport firms that use smaller planes require horses to walk up a ramp onto the plane, just like they would if they were loading them onto a truck or trailer before flying.
These stalls, which are on pallets, are then hoisted to the level of the plane by a platform lift, slid through the open doorway, and fastened into the pallet system, which is connected to the plane’s floor by a lock.
The “jet stall,” as it is commonly referred to, is approximately 8 by 10 feet with 8-foot-tall sides and has the capacity to house three horses in independent side-by-side standing stall compartments in a single enclosure.
In rare instances, an owner may be willing to pay more for a double stall in which the horse is not normally tethered.
The horse’s papers must always be kept on hand and with him at all times.
It is also possible that private vets will accompany the horse in some instances (s).
Although some people believe that horses would be traumatized by flying, horses are generally not medicated until absolutely required.

En Route

During their time in the jet stall, horses have a hay net in front of them at all times. The hay is commonly alfalfa or timothy, depending on the preference of the owner. According to Santarelli, “If the horse is used to a certain hay, we urge that the person sending the horse supply the same type of hay; but, if they do not, we will offer hay that is comparable to the horse’s previous hay.” “When it comes to competing horses, owners and trainers want to stick to their plans and avoid disrupting their routines.

Other trainers prefer that their horses eat nothing except feed and water while traveling.

Throughout the flight, the horses are watered by hand, allowing the groom/attendant to keep track of how much each horse is drinking at any one time.

The horses’ cargo compartment is kept at a comfortable temperature (approximately 68 degrees), and once the plane is in flight, the lights are normally muted.

Destination Reached

Once the plane reaches at the target airport, horses are unloaded and protocol follows as per the destination country’s standards. Horses are regularly checked for signs of abnormality in terms of hunger, attitude, feed and water intake, as well as dung and urine production, to ensure that everything is in working order. Every day, the horse’s temperature is tested to assess whether or not he is running a fever. Anything that is outside of the horse’s usual range of behavior is treated by a veterinarian if it is necessary.

For example, the U.S.
During this period they are held in the USDA quarantine facility and are isolated from any horses returning from other countries.
The horses are again tested for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis and equine infectious anemia.
Once the blood tests come back negative, horses are freed from quarantine and the shipping agent arranges for them to be trucked back to their various home farms/stables.
Even when exhausted from travel, a healthy horse should be attentive and should actively drink and eat.

Any irregularities, including fever, sadness, loss of appetite or symptoms of respiratory difficulties, necessitate assessment by a veterinarian. An raised temperature is an indication something is going on, and when identified immediately may be evaluated by a veterinarian and treated as necessary.

How Do Horses Travel Overseas to the Olympics?

Despite the fact that the Olympic Games in London begin on July 27, several of the most specialist athletes have already been in the city for many weeks. The horses in question are, of course, the highly trained equines that will be at the center of all the dressage, eventing, and jumping disciplines during the Games. In Lexington, Kentucky, Joanie Morris, publicity officer for the United States Equestrian Foundation (USEF), explains that the eventing horses had been there for about four weeks.

It wasn’t nearly as difficult as you might imagine to transport the animals overseas.

A Personal Olympic Plane

In New Jersey, the horses, who had traveled from all over the United States, converged on the airport’s Newark International Terminal, where they were loaded onto specialized jet stalls, which look similar to the horse trailers you see driving down the road but are specifically designed for air travel. Two horses are placed into each stall, which is then loaded onto a pallet and flown to the United States on the pressurized top deck of a FedEx cargo aircraft. MNN quotes Morris as saying, “They have hay and water, and someone stays with them the entire time to make sure they have everything they need.” An experienced veterinarian and groomers who are familiar with the horses are there with the horses.

Because horses are generally wonderful travelers, they don’t seem to be bothered by their international excursion.

Because the animals will not be staying in England for an extended period of time, only a few hours of quarantine time is necessary.

We have horses that are used to travel back and forth to England on a regular basis.” If the animals had been sent to a country with a different set of standards, the quarantine period could have been far longer.

Safe and Relatively Short Trip

For many of the animals, the international flight may have been the most inconvenient part of their journey. According to Morris, “it’s a shorter trip than driving a horse trailer from New York to Florida.” According to Susan Kayne, team manager of Unbridled Racing and executive producer of Unbridled TV, traveling by plane is generally considered to be pretty safe for horses. She claims that once the animals are on the ground, they face the greatest danger: When it comes to the horse, the varied water and feed they consume in their new surroundings might produce a digestive disruption and, in some cases, additional difficulties such as colic, according to the veterinarian.

PETA did not respond to a request for comment.
“These horses are all in excellent condition since they have been working all year,” Morris explains.
Both the United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Olympic Committee shared the expense of shipping the horses to England.
They did not disclose the cost of the trip.
According to the Horse Junkies United blog, several of Canada’s equestrian athletes traveled to the United States through Washington, D.C.
The equestrian competitions at the Olympics will continue through August 7, with the final medals being given on August 9.

Morris, on the other hand, believes that the vast majority of people “will have some downtime where they can enjoy their achievement and take a vacation from all of the training.”

Flying horses around the globe: how it works

HorseHound is sponsored by the people who watch it. When you make a purchase after clicking on one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission on some of the things you purchase. The sport of horse racing has now become a genuinely worldwide one, with horses coming in from all over the world to compete on different continents for large cash purses. From traveling head girl to personal trainer Andrew Balding is a writer and musician from the United Kingdom. In this video, Leanne Masterton describes what it takes to travel with a horse around the world. Together with Side Glance, a seven-year-old gelding (shown below), the duo has traveled the world to participate in events in places as diverse as Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States of America. Preparation is essential. When it comes to ensuring that racehorses receive the best possible care while on their international travels, a tremendous deal of planning goes into it. Many considerations must be made, including how training regimens will fit in with long flights, how racehorses will be fed and hydrated throughout the voyage, how to comply with quarantine requirements in different countries, and making sure that all relevant paperwork is in place before to travel. To ensure that everything works properly and that the horse’s voyage is as comfortable as possible, international racing is arranged months in advance. Packing tack is the last item on the list. As traveling head girl, it is Leanne’s responsibility to ensure that the trip runs smoothly: As a result, I normally have all of my stuff packed the week before we travel, since between racing and riding out, it’s almost always a hectic week.” Tack is the final item I pack because if I have a trip in the late afternoon or evening, I will have to ride out to the airport first. The horse that is flying, on the other hand, will receive the morning off. Once the hampers are packed and ready to go, all that is left is to fill the water containers, stuff the haynets, and make sure there is enough feed for the voyage.” Quarantine Australia is the only country that Leanne has visited where horses are required to spend two weeks in quarantine in the United Kingdom before being allowed to go. This is due to the fact that, when it comes to noequine influenza, Australia does not currently vaccinate against it in the same manner as every other racing country. The quarantine of racehorses in the United Kingdom is carried out at Side Hill Stud in Newmarket. ‘We shower every time we enter quarantine, and horses are only permitted to use designated gallops between 4pm and 5pm since quarantine restrictions prohibit them from being within 100 meters of a horse that is not in quarantine,’ explains the veterinarian. A veterinarian and a team of employees monitor every exercise session, and they also keep dog walkers at bay. During this time period, blood and nasal swab tests for equine influenza, as well as other equine illnesses, are performed. The temperatures of the horses are also measured twice daily. The flight will take place in two weeks, assuming that all of the tests are negative.” When traveling with horses anyplace else in the globe, the same tests must be performed and the results must be clear before to taking a flight. The tests may be completed at home, and the horse will not be required to undergo quarantine until it reaches its destination abroad. The racehorses are quarantined for the duration of their stay in other countries, and in the United States, horses are quarantined for at least 72 hours before being released. Take-off As the popularity of equine air travel grows, racehorses will increasingly be transported on airplanes that have been specially designed for the purpose of transporting horses. During takeoff, pilots will not allow passengers to remain in the holding pen with the horses. Racehorses are accustomed to traveling in a horsebox, and they are typically unconcerned about flying in a commercial aircraft. Until now, I had never experienced an agitated horse while on a flight.” I’ll untie him once we take off because he likes to stand sideways and sleeps a lot throughout the flight. I’m not sure who of us sleeps more: him or myself. The grooms and veterinarians are left to their own devices on a flight full of horses because there are no air stewards or stewardesses on board. In addition, there is no in-flight entertainment, therefore a good book is required!” Keeping hydrated is essential. Water intake for horses should be monitored closely while traveling by plane. A Duphalyte IV drip, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, will be administered by the vet to any of Andrew’s horses who are flying before we go.” Throughout the journey, I would provide water every couple of hours to keep them hydrated. A horse that is not drinking well after a couple of hours should be given an electrolyte paste by mouth, which is rich in salts and minerals and will stimulate them to drink.” A veterinarian and an assistant will constantly be on board, and if a horse begins to exhibit indications of dehydration, they will deliver IV fluids. “However, I have never been on a flight where this had to be accomplished.” Food should be fed with caution on a flight since greedy horses consuming too much might develop colic. I have found that it is better to give little amounts every four to six hours and, if feasible, off the bottom of the stall. This encourages horses to keep their heads down, increasing the likelihood of anything in their lungs as a result of the air conditioning running out.” When the horses arrive at the airport, they are immediately transported to quarantine in Australia, or to the stables reserved for international runners in other countries. “Once the horses have had a good walk, they are placed in their new stables and their temperatures are taken,” says the trainer. Due to the fact that an elevated temperature might be the first sign of a horse getting travel sickness, temperatures are measured twice daily for another two weeks. Every morning, a veterinarian observes and thoroughly monitors this process. I’m fortunate in that no horse I’ve ever traveled with has ever complained of travel sickness, but I’ve seen it happen in Hong Kong and Australia. Horses acquire a high fever, a cough, a runny nose, and a dull appearance to their coats when sick. These individuals require antibiotic treatment and will require time to recover.” After a long flight, it’s good to get some exercise. In their workout, you don’t put a horse under any stress after traveling for 36 hours. As a result, upon our arrival in Australia, we will spend the next several days simply leading them out and selecting grass to give them time to acclimatise. Van Percy, who finished second in the Ebor, is back in action in Australia this time around. Van Percy, despite the fact that he was a first-time traveler, only dropped 3kg on the journey, whereas Side Glance, the seasoned veteran, shed 14kg! He’s used to it by now, and it only takes two days for him to get it back on.” “Both horses were being prepped to run precisely two weeks after landing, so after a couple of days of walking about the paddock, we headed out to the track for a trot.” I was still suffering from jet lag when both horses drew our arms out trotting, and Matti, who rides Van Percy with me, and I were able to remark with certainty that the horses recover far more quickly than we did!” “After a few days of steady cantering, Side Glance completed his first simple piece of training on the Tuesday before the race,” says the trainer, “in order to ensure that the horse is ready and race fit when they arrive at their destination.” He worked alone since he can pull quite hard in a group and we didn’t want him to take on too much at once. During the days coming up to the race, they simply keep moving forward at a steady canter. I give ‘Sidey’ an inch or two of rein the day before so he can stretch out down the straight since he has been known to run gassy and sharp if he is too fresh.” When Side Glance returns home from a vacation, the first thing he does is roll in his own stable and then check out his feed pot before falling asleep for a lengthy period of time. The day after returning from a vacation overseas, he takes a mini-break at the home of Chris Bonner (Andrew Balding’s assistant). He always has the same stable there, and he will jump down the lorry ramp as soon as he gets off the truck. Besides being able to run around in the paddock, he also receives an hour a day on the horse walker
Otherwise, he tends to let himself go a bit too far. He stayed there for ten days after traveling to Chicago earlier this year, during which time he gained 25 pounds. He just adores it there!” Paul Nicholls, eight-time champion trainer of the National Hunt, is visited by H H before the 2014-15 National Hunt season gets underway
Photo courtesy of Bill Selwyn. With about 120 horses in residence at Manor Farm Stables in Somerset, Champion National Hunt is on the clock 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What’s the Cost to Fly a Horse Overseas? Let’s Find Out!

Any links on this page that direct you to things on Amazon are affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, I will receive a compensation. Thank you in advance for your assistance — I much appreciate it! Master Fencer, a Japanese-bred horse, was flown in from Japan for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. I was curious about the expense of flying a horse half-way across the world, so I looked into it. I had no clue how much it would cost to fly a horse overseas, so I did some research on the subject and discovered that it was rather expensive.

These considerations include the horse’s travel class, the horses’ departure and end destinations, and the airline that serves your nearest airport as well.

The United States has restrictions governing the importation of horses, which must be followed before an animal may be brought into the country.

What factors determine the costs to fly a horse overseas?

Horses can be transported either alone or in groups with other horses, depending on the kind of transportation. Every one of the stalls used to transport horses on flights is unique, and they come in a variety of sizes. Three horses are grouped together in a stable beside a coach. Horses are herd animals and feel at ease in the company of others, which is especially important when traveling. Business-class accommodations include: a stall and a half, with two horses to a stall
One horse per stall for first-class travel
One horse per carriage. Arrival/departure point/final destination: The distance between the airport and the departure point will be taken into consideration when determining the cost of the flight. Various places and airports are more expensive than others, just as different people are more expensive than others. There is also an additional cost if you have to make connecting flights
This is determined by which airline operates from your closest airport. Horses cannot be transported by all airlines. Because horses cannot be transported by plane at your airport, the airline will have to send a plane to pick up your horse. If this is not feasible, the horse must be taken to the nearest airport that will accept your animal for transit
Otherwise, the horse will be euthanized.

It is expensive to move a horse overseas, but it is not the only price connected with transferring a horse over international boundaries. Prior to and after his trip, the horse will be required to accomplish a series of tasks.

What to expect when flying a horse.

Although transporting a horse across the world is pricey, there is a lot that goes into the process. The requirements for pre-boarding processes, in-flight considerations, and post-boarding restrictions are all detailed here.

Pre-Boarding Procedures To Fly a Horse

Master Fencer, a Japanese Kentucky Derby contender, took a flight from Tokyo to Chicago, stopping in Anchorage, Alaska, before landing in the Windy City. But, before he could begin his journey, he needed to prepare.

Isolation

Before flying his horses overseas, an owner must first check with the authorities in the country where the horse will be arriving to see whether there are any quarantine procedures that must be followed. In most cases, horses must be separated for 30 days before to the journey. The approval of the isolation facility is required in the United States, and there is a price associated with it that typically ranges between $1,000.00 and $3,000.00.

Vaccinations and Bloodwork

Every country strives to maintain the health of its animals and to avoid the spread of disease among its citizens. The administration of a simple blood test assists authorities in ensuring that the horse being transported is in good health. The test, which will include a Coggins test, must be administered by a veterinarian who has been approved. The cost of testing will range between $1,000 and $3,000.

Pre-Boarding

Once the horse has finished his isolation routine and has been subjected to and passed his blood test, he is ready to be brought to the airport for transportation.

When the animal arrives at the airport, it is confined for a further five hours before being released. The quarantine period provides for evaluation and assures that the horse is in good enough health to travel by plane.

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After completing his five-hour quarantine, the horse is led into a stall designed just for him. The stall must be specifically made for air travel, and it must also be inspected and authorized for this purpose before it can be used. The horse stalls are loaded while still on the ground, and then lifted into the airplane by a hoist, adjusted into position, and secured into place while within the aircraft.

What Happens Once the Horse is Aboard the Airplane?

The stall is securely fastened in place, and the grooms are able to soothe the horse. The horse is unable to travel by itself. Horses are transported by professional flight grooms. They have sedation on hand and can give it if the situation calls for it. It may be possible for owners and their grooms to travel with their horses if a number of requirements have been satisfied. Tranquilizers, on the other hand, are not recommended for horses being transported by plane. However, once they have been provided with some hay and water, they normally begin to relax.

There is an IV accessible in the event that the horse refuses to drink and begins to exhibit signs of dehydration, which the grooms will administer.
Aside from that, it is recommended that owners get the shoes removed from their horses’ feet.
Because of the air conditioning system, the pressure in the airplane cabin is maintained; nonetheless, the less pressure the horse has on his extremities, the better.
It is quite unusual for a horse to require sedation when traveling by plane.

The Overseas Flight is a Success, The Airplane Lands, and the Horse Exits, What’s Next?

When the team arrives, the horse is taken from his stable and loaded onto a trailer for transport. Post-Arrival Quarantine is required in the majority of nations (PAQ). The quarantine facility is normally located near to the port of entry for the ship. Each country, on the other hand, has its own set of rules. The obligatory quarantine period in the United States is 42 hours for the vast majority of horses coming into the country. While in quarantine, local veterinary officials keep an eye on the horses that have been brought.

Once quarantine has been finished, the horse will be trailered to the racetrack where the race will take place.

Rest and physical activity are essential for his post-journey rehabilitation.

Was The Cost of Flying The Horse Overseas Worth the Price?

Master Fencer: He amassed enough points in the Japan Road Series to earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby, which was held in April. The Japan Road is a sanctioned series of races in Japan that permits a horse to be nominated for the Triple Crown if he has completed the required number of races. Before his race in the Kentucky Derby, Master Fencer had two victories in six lifetime starts to his credit. These victories gave him enough points to secure a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 4. Master Fencer was placed into an aircraft in Tokyo in order to go to Kentucky.

At the time of his arrival in Chicago, he was subjected to a 42-hour obligatory quarantine.

Overall, Master Fencer appeared to have handled the journey and training well, and he appeared to be in good spirits.

Yes, for his owner, this would have been an experience well worth the expenditure of flying his horse all the way from Japan to the United States of America. What is it worth to be the owner of a horse that is entered in the Kentucky Derby? Priceless.

Lines of Battle?

Battlefields and Front Lines An Irish horse won his way into the Kentucky Derby by winning the $2 million UAE Derby, which was a grade I race. Lines of Battle qualified for a crack at the Triple Crown with a win in this race. He was carried from Shannon, Ireland, to Chicago, Illinois, on a direct aircraft. The owners took advantage of a private charter. Following his arrival in Chicago, he was required to remain in quarantine for a total of 42 hours. Once the journey was finished, he arrived in Kentucky with just enough time to practice for the greatest race of the year on the following day.

It was a quarter-million dollars to enter Lines of Battle in the Kentucky Derby, but was it a good investment?

At this point, he had earned the money he had spent on transportation and deserved to be allowed to continue running.

Priceless.

In case you’re interested in learning more about stakes races, you can check out the following article: To find out more about claiming races, visit this page.

Transporting horses by boat or train

If your horse does not need to be transported across international borders in a hurry, maritime travel is a considerably more cost-effective option. Ships that specialize in horse transport will have secure, pleasant stalls for the horses, as well as personnel on hand to care for your horse while it is being transported.

Transporting horses train

Unless you want to ship your horse internationally, rail transportation is not an option for you. In addition, shipping your horse cross-country on a train may not be the best option in some cases. Consider hiring a professional horse moving business that specializes in horse transportation and employs trailers that are particularly constructed for horses for the majority of your interstate journey.

Interesting Fact

In a single year, IRT carries around 5,000 horses via plane. Prices for flying your horse to the Kentucky Derby may be obtained by contacting the organization.

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