We have arranged transportation of horses across North America and Europe. If we cannot haul your horse when desired then we work with other professional horse haulers so we can always accommodate your schedule.  We arrange to ship horses via 747 in or out of Europe: Horses arrive at Luxembourg and transportation can be arranged into Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, France, or anywhere else that you desire.  Below is a brief description of how this process works......

U.S./CANADA TRANSPORT PROCESS
  • Make sure you have a contract and that it is clear who is paying for the vet inspection, Coggins test, export papers and what happens if the horse does not pass the vet inspection.
  • A full Vet check is required for border crossing.  The Vet check will assess every function of your new purchase. Flex tests, stress tests, all limbs will be examined, heart and lungs will be evaluated and all sensory skills will be assessed: eyes, ears, reflexes.   Rates on this service vary depending on your area.
  • Coggins Test.  This test is required for all horses leaving or entering the United States and Canada. Should the horse test positive, another test will be ordered and if a second positive results, then he/she will not be able to go anywhere. Test results take about 10 days to return and must be done by a qualified veterinarian. The test is done on the horse’s blood and the sample is taken from the jugular.  Rates on this service vary depending on your area.
  • The Canadian and U.S. borders will generally just look at the horses on the trailer, but occasionally they will request that the horses be unloaded.  Importation papers must be filled out and a broker is required to process the paper work. The Border authorities will want to see the vet papers, bill of sale, Coggins results & clearance papers. Depending on how busy the crossing is it can take some time to clear. Not every border crossing has a vet, so make sure that you can cross where you want to. When going from Canada to the U.S. the Vet will want to see the horse, so you can only cross during the work week.  When going from the U.S. into Canada, no Vet check is required so you can cross 7 days a week.  When you hire a hauler to move your horse, you will also be required to hire a broker to process all of the paperwork for said haul. This is a requirement and not an option. Cost is generally $150.00. We can arrange this for you through our broker or you can hire your own. 

EUROPE/U.S./CANADA TRANSPORT PROCESS
  • Make sure you have a contract and that it is clear who is paying for the vet inspection, Coggins test, export papers and what happens if the horse does not pass the vet inspection.
  • A full Vet check will assess every function of your new purchase. Flex tests, stress tests, all limbs will be examined, heart and lungs will be evaluated and all sensory skills will be assessed: eyes, ears, reflexes.   A full Vet check is required for border crossing.
  • We highly recommend that you insure your horse. A horse mortality policy is generally $60 & up to 2% of the horse's value.  Once insured, your horse is covered if anything happens to him/her during loading, transporting or unloading.  You can acquire a 10 day policy if that is all that you need to cover your horse during transit. Your horse is insured against injury and death.
  • Find your hauler. There is a lot of co-ordinating required sometimes and it pays to plan well in advance. Again, make sure you have everything in writing!
  • Arrange for quarantine.  Horses that come from the United States to head to Europe must be in Canada for 90 days prior to shipping. These 90 days can include the 30 days the horse is required to be in quarantine. The day of quarantine the Canadian Customs and Import office send a Federal Veterinarian out to identify the horses and register them in quarantine. He will inspect the horses during quarantine and will take the blood sample for the Coggins mid quarantine. (There is no quarantine required for horses crossing the United States and Canadian borders at this time.)
  • Coggins Test.  This test is required for all horses leaving or entering the United States and Canada. Should the horse test positive, another test will be ordered and if a second positive results, then he/she will not be able to go anywhere. Test results take about 10 days to return and must be done by a qualified veterinarian. The test is done on the horse’s blood and the sample is taken from the jugular.
  • Every horse crossing International borders must have a Federal Veterinarian inspection certificate for Canada and USDA vet inspection for the U.S. The vet must visually inspect the horse and the papers must be signed by a government vet. It takes up to two weeks to get these papers back, so plan ahead!
  • When the horses are to travel overseas we transport them to Calgary to board a 747. The horses are loaded at ground level into a 7' x 8' aluminum stall. The stall has dividers to make it into 3 tie stalls if required. The horses are then taken to the plane and lifted with a hydraulic lift into the belly of the aircraft. The floor of the plane has rollers that are electrically driven to move the stall into place. It is then latched to the floor and secured for travel. The temperature is controlled by the pilot and each area of the cargo can be held at a different temperature. The horses have access to feed and water at all times and their progress is monitored every hour. It is surprising how well the horses take this part of their journey.
  • All horses must be cleared at International Borders. Importation papers must be filled out and a broker is required to process the paper work. They will want to see the vet papers, bill of sale, Coggins results, weigh bill and vessel clearance papers.
  • Upon arrival in Luxembourg the horses will be unloaded and inspected by the Veterinarian. There is no quarantine in LUX, but it is imperative that all of the rules have been followed. They have the authority to send your horse back home at your expense if everything is not in order. You will be required to pay the import taxes, customs duty, vet fees, handling fees and clearance fees. Some countries have provisions to have the taxes reduced for breeding stock, but this must all be done prior to the horse arriving. It takes about an hour to clear the horses and then you are on your way!
  • Depending on the length of the journey it can take a horse up to a month to settle in. Don't put him in with another horse for a day or two, but try to keep him insight of another horse for reassurance. He may be a bit thirsty, as many horses will not drink strange water for a whole day. Monitor his condition; make sure he is functioning correctly and not dehydrated.
Flight Cargo Container
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