About Horse Shipping & Transportation Services

Once upon a time, owners of horses had to pay for all transportation themselves, whether the horse was to compete in a sporting event overseas or to be sold overseas. In the 1970s, a new business was born that does nothing except safely move horses or livestock from across town, across country or across the world. This type of business is known as horse shipping and transportation services.

  1. Identification

    • Instead of a company that moves mail or the contents of one home to another, horse transportation services move valuable and fragile animals from one part of the world to another. There are local and international services, mostly supported by various sport horse industries. Horses are picked up at their stables, shipped by van or trailer to the airport, then loaded into shipping crates that are placed in the cargo deck of planes. At the other end of the flight, another van or trailer takes the horses to their final destination. The shipping service also handles all of the paperwork and health certificates needed to transport a horse over state or country lines.

    Significance

    • Before this industry arose, horses could not compete in international events or rarely could be sold to other countries because of the problems and expense of transporting them. Now, mares can be shipped to stallions overseas, horses can compete in the Olympics or race in other countries. Without such services, events like thoroughbred racing's Dubai World Cup could never be held. Rare breeds can be exported more easily. Also, some horse illnesses have also spread along with the horses.

    Considerations

    • Horses need special consideration when traveling. Unlike some other animals that don't seem to mind being driven, horses can panic or tip over and injure themselves easily. Horses can have a hard time getting their balance in a moving vehicle. A good horse transportation service not only needs to have excellent drivers, but excellent horse handlers. Some companies will let the owners travel with the horses.

    Types

    • Horse shipping services can stay in-state, in one part of a country, be international or stick with one breed of horse, such as specializing in hauling race horses to and from racetracks or for horses with special needs. Some may act as "horse taxis" when a horse needs to get to a vet as soon as possible.

    Warning

    • Always get references and check those references before deciding on a horse shipping service. It should also carry liability insurance. You, not the transportation service, are responsible for training your horse to load into and out of a van.