Transporting a horse involves more than simply loading it into a trailer. When the stakes include international regulations, health certifications, quarantine rules, shipment timing and an animal’s well-being, the process becomes a complex logistical project. If you need to move a prized steed across the country or around the world, you may wonder what companies offer horse transportation services and which options are the best.
Several providers specialize in domestic and international equine transit services, though their capabilities vary by mode, distance and documentation requirements. This guide reviews the top entities that offer specialized horse transit services, including those with highly trained personnel, global reach and cross-border experience.
1. Emo trans
EMO Trans is a global logistics provider with decades of experience handling complex freight requirements across more than 250 countries. Although it’s known for broad international cargo capabilities, the specialty division includes dedicated live animal relocation services domestically and worldwide.
The brand’s standout feature is its end-to-end coordination capabilities. Its team handles airline bookings, veterinary appointments, health certificate preparations, quarantine scheduling, crate construction for mini horses, export and import documentation, and customs clearance. This service relieves organizations of the burden of managing complex logistics when shipping multiple horses or moving them frequently across international facilities.
The approach is consultative rather than transactional. EMO Trans tailors logistics solutions to each client based on destination, regulatory movement, breed, age and shipment urgency. Flexibility is vital to business owners who may need to ship equipment, tack or even trailers alongside animals, such as in the case of U.S. equine athletes competing in Europe. The owner may need their trailer shipped with their horse for transportation between event venues once their animal clears isolation.
The customer portal provides 24/7 visibility into shipments, offering detailed tracking and reporting. Because EMO Trans already serves manufacturers, industrial operators and specialized cargo categories, its compliance infrastructure and global network are stronger than most equine-only carriers. These features make EMO Trans among the best horse transportation services.
Key features
- Customized global logistics for live animals, equipment and specialty cargo
- Air, ocean and multimodal travel
- Full compliance and documentation management
- Quarantine and veterinary coordination with customer portal
2. The dutta corp.
The Dutta Corp. is a renowned leader in high-performance horse shipping. Founded and staffed by horse people, the business has over 30 years of experience transporting competition, breeding and sales horses worldwide. This option is known for its tiered in-flight accommodation options. Equines can travel in coach, business or first-class stalls, depending on budget and comfort needs. Handlers, grooms and flight supervisors accompany animals through every stage of the journey.
The team manages customs and veterinary paperwork, handles travel equipment, coordinates isolation, and offers seamless “door-to-door” solutions across international hubs. Its reputation in the competitive equestrian world is supported by long-standing relationships with major events such as the Breeders’ Cup.
The Dutta Corp.’s service model is built around individualized care, and its staff manages every detail from pre-travel conditioning guidance to coordinating ground transportation on both ends of the trip. Its network extends through the U.S., Europe, South America and key competition hubs, allowing the employees to move animals along well-established routes familiar to them and partner veterinarians.
The company’s decades-long connections in the sport horse world mean clients benefit from predictable scheduling, enhanced access to quarantine facilities and close coordination with major equestrian events. For enterprises that regularly relocate horses for competition seasons, auction circuits or international sales, this continuity helps reduce uncertainty.
Key features
- Equine-centric staff and operations
- Tiered stall classes for air transit
- Door-to-door international shipping
- Health, customs and isolation management
3. Equijet
EquiJet specializes in transporting horses throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and South America. With decades of experience, it has forged strong partnerships with airlines, quarantine centers and customs officials.
The service coordinates everything from airport pickup and equipment handling to veterinary documentation and USDA-compliant procedures. The attention to health and safety stands out, with strict standards for temperature control, feeding schedules, stall configuration and grooming supervision. It offers domestic and international door-to-door service and provides detailed route planning to keep transit times efficient and stress-minimized. Businesses shipping for performance steeds or young stock benefits from the meticulous timelines and communication.
The team at EquiJet combines airline logistics skills with hands-on horse care expertise, enabling them to identify and address potential issues before they arise and ensure smoother travel. The coordinators work directly with airport authorities, freight crews and USDA officials to secure smooth transitions between ground and air travel.
In addition to managing paperwork, it often assists with pre-export isolation, veterinary scheduling, health monitoring for animals preparing for long flights and travel briefings so clients are fully informed. Global partnerships allow the company to maintain consistent service standards across continents, which is particularly beneficial for shipping equines multiple times each year or when managing international string rotations.
Key features
- Door-to-door worldwide coordination
- Strict adherence to USDA and international protocols
- Detailed logistics planning and documentation support
- Teams in the U.S. and Europe
4. Horse america
Horse America is one of the most established names in U.S. equine transportation, with extensive logistics experience. It focuses on international flight arrangements, import and export logistics, and concierge-style support. The entity operates with hands-on teams located at all four major U.S. ports of entry, namely JFK, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. This gives the team direct oversight of arrival processing, customs clearance, quarantine procedures and daily care.
This option offers private charters and regularly scheduled flights, making it a versatile choice for businesses that ship horses frequently or prefer fully customized travel. Coordination includes isolation management, health testing, bloodwork, shipping halters and paperwork documentation.
Horse America pairs aviation logistics with a full-spectrum solution for domestic and international moves. Its proximity to major import and export stations gives the team direct access to federal veterinarians, customs officials and quarantine managers, which streamlines the processing experience for animals entering or leaving the U.S.
Because Horse America operates on scheduled and charter flights, it can accommodate everything from individual shipments to large breeding or competition teams traveling together. The concierge approach includes monitoring animals during wait times, overseeing the administration of feed and water and coordinating any last-minute documentation needs.
Key features
- Concierge-level import and export coordination
- Hands-on teams at major U.S. import hubs
- Scheduled flights and private charters
- Experience backed by well-developed infrastructure
5. IRT
IRT is one of the largest and most experienced equine transport companies in the world, with over 50 years of operation across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the U.S. Its workers include handlers and logistics professionals with decades of experience handling animal freight.
The provider manages pre-flight health checks, veterinary requirements, quarantine bookings, customs paperwork, insurance guidance and in-flight care. The network spans multiple continents and is known for a strong understanding of diverse government regulations. It offers consistent communication from departure to arrival, making it an ideal partner for businesses shipping performance horses, breeding stock and imports and exports.
IRT’s longevity in the industry has allowed it to build one of the most extensive international networks for equine travel. Its offices collaborate closely across continents, sharing regulatory updates and managing complex multi-leg routes that involve layovers or cross-border transfers. Because the team frequently works with racehorses, breeding stock and young stock traveling long distances, it places strong emphasis on biosecurity, pre-flight assessments and careful stall allocation during air transport.
The staff assists with everything from insurance arrangements to guidance on destination-country protocols, making it a valuable resource for clients shipping animals to regions with stringent disease-control requirements. During transit, IRT’s handlers maintain detailed logs of hydration, behavior and temperature conditions for additional transparency for owners and organizations managing high-performance equines.
Key features
- Global network spanning five countries
- Deep regulatory experience
- In-flight groom services
- Full veterinary and documentation support
Hoof to hoof: comparing the best equine shipping companies
Lining up companies gives you a “vet check” of their capabilities and offerings so you can choose the best horse transportation services for your business and equines.
Method for selecting the top equine transport providers
Selecting the best providers for this list required a consistent framework. These companies represent a mix of global freight leaders and equine-specific specialists that support domestic and international movement. Horse owners and trainers reviewed each for its:
- Global logistics experience: Each needed proven capability moving equines across borders while meeting airline, customs and veterinary requirements. Even interstate transport requires veterinary paperwork to ensure equines meet the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services’ requirements to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
- Animal welfare standards: Safe stall and box design, proper ventilation, access to water and feed, and handlers trained in equine behavior are essential. Likewise, drivers must know how to safely handle roads with a “live” load in trailers and trucks.
- Regulatory and documentation support: Providers had to demonstrate competency with import permits, health certificates, bloodwork forms, quarantine scheduling and customs clearance. Even U.S.-based animals returning from countries other than Canada must undergo isolation, and submitting the correct paperwork is the best way to ensure a short health check period instead of the full 60 days.
- Range of services: Businesses offering stable-to-stable support, airport coordination, quarantine management and in-flight care ranked higher.
- Reputation and industry track record: Teams with established relationships in the equestrian world, higher competition circuits or long-standing logistics histories were prioritized.
Key considerations when transporting horses
Getting your horse ready for travel means planning to ensure they’re safe, healthy and arrive just as they left.
1. Licensing and cross-border regulations
International horse travel requires strict adherence to animal-health regulations, customs rules and country-specific import laws. Horses typically need health certificates, blood tests, recent Coggins results, vaccination records, and permits issued by both the exporting and receiving authorities.
Because these requirements vary and change often, experienced transport enterprises take responsibility for preparing paperwork, coordinating with veterinarians and arranging inspections. Their familiarity with quarantine timelines and regulatory differences helps prevent delays that can disrupt your travel schedule.
2. Preparing your horse for travel
Preparation is crucial in maintaining a horse’s health during long-distance travel. Veterinarians should conduct a comprehensive health assessment to confirm that the horse is fit to travel and that its vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
Ensuring travel gear fits correctly also helps maintain comfort throughout the journey. Many owners label animals that exhibit kicking, biting or known behavioral challenges so handlers can manage them appropriately. These early steps help reduce the risk of stress, dehydration and weight loss during transport.
3. Packing equipment for transport
Most equine businesses ship tack, blankets, feed, grooming tools and other daily-use items with their horses. While equipment can usually travel with the animal, everything must comply with customs guidelines and be itemized for inspection. Efficient packing reduces the chance of misplaced gear once you arrive and ensures your horse has everything it needs the moment it unloads.
4. Ensuring welfare during transit
Equines require careful management to make long road or air trips less stressful. Reputable companies plan routes that allow sufficient rest time, particularly on cross-country hauls. Proper stall dimensions provide large breeds with adequate space to balance comfortably and maintain a natural stance, which reduces the risk of leg injuries and cholic.
Ventilation is another essential factor because temperature swings can increase stress and impact hydration. Experienced grooms closely monitor the steeds, adjusting feeding and watering schedules as necessary to keep them stable and relaxed.
5. Horse travel insurance
Insurance is a worthwhile protection for businesses moving high-value competition, breeding or sales horses. Policies often include coverage for mortality, major medical expenses and surgical protection that applies during transit. Having insurance in place ensures financial protection and faster access to care in the event of an unexpected incident during flight or overland transport.
6. Communication with drivers and handlers
A smooth transport experience prioritizes timely communication. Providers that offer centralized tracking portals and designated account managers give clients peace of mind at every stage of the journey.
Updates on departure times, quarantine admission, health checks and weather-related changes reduce uncertainty and help enterprises coordinate arrival plans. Consistent communication also builds trust, particularly when multiple equines or high-stakes shipments are involved.
FAQ
Q: How much does it cost to transport a horse internationally?
A: Costs vary based on distance, transport method, destination requirements and level of care. Air transport is typically the most expensive mode. The most accurate way to estimate total prices is to request a customized quote from your preferred service provider.
Q: How long is quarantine for international horse shipping?
A: Many destinations require a quarantine lasting around 30 days, although this varies by country and disease-control protocols. Some checks can take up to 60 days.
Q: Can I travel on the same flight as my horse?
A: Some companies offer limited capacity for owners or grooms to fly alongside horses on specific routes. Many competition brands insist their grooms fly with their athletes to ensure sustained comfort and the familiarity of their regular caretakers.
Conclusion
Horse transportation services require careful selection to ensure your animals arrive safely at their destination. Whether you’re moving competition horses across the country or shipping breeding stock internationally, the right transport partner makes all the difference. The five companies reviewed here each bring unique strengths to equine shipping, from EMO Trans’s global logistics network to The Dutta Corp.’s specialized equestrian expertise.
When choosing among horse transportation services, consider your specific needs: destination requirements, frequency of shipping, and the level of care your horses require. The best providers combine practical logistics experience with genuine understanding of equine welfare, ensuring your horses receive proper care throughout their journey. With thorough planning, correct documentation, and a reliable transport partner, your horses will arrive ready for their next chapter, whether that’s a competition, new stable, or breeding program.
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