Horse transport prices
No serious transporter shows a single price: distance, number of horses and formalities change too much. Here is how the price of horse transport is built at Cavalotrans, with real guide figures to give you an idea before you request a quote.
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Guide prices per kilometre
| Journey | Distance | Guide price range |
|---|---|---|
| Within the region | 100 to 300 km | about €1.20 to €1.80/km |
| Domestic | 400 to 900 km | about €0.90 to €1.30/km |
| International EU | 1,000 km and over | tailored quote |
| Place in shared transport | long distance | fixed rate per place, depending on departure |
These prices are per horse and per direction. The price per kilometre naturally falls over long distances: fixed costs (loading, formalities, the driver's time) are spread over more kilometres.
Worked examples
As a guide, applying the ranges above (always to be confirmed in your quote, which reflects your actual journey):
| Typical journey | Distance | Guide figure |
|---|---|---|
| A short regional journey (e.g. a change of yard within the same department) | 150 km | about €180 to €270 |
| A longer regional journey | 250 km | about €300 to €450 |
| A domestic journey (e.g. a sale at a distance) | 600 km | about €540 to €780 |
| A long-distance domestic journey | 900 km | about €810 to €1,170 |
Beyond 1,000 km, or as soon as a border is crossed, the logic changes (formalities, tolls, crossings): that is why international journeys always go through a tailored quote rather than a per-kilometre calculation.
What affects the price
- The actual distance, per kilometre driven, not as the crow flies.
- The number of horses. A single stall costs more than a place in shared transport, or than a full lorry split between several horses leaving from the same place.
- The type of vehicle. Single stall, 3 to 5-horse lorry, or trailer: capacity and equipment (air conditioning, camera) affect the price.
- Health formalities. A domestic journey needs none; an international journey adds the TRACES certificate and the vet visit (see our international horse transport page).
- The season. Early starts in cooler hours during a heatwave, or high demand in the competition season, can affect availability and therefore the price.
- Whether the return trip is empty. A lorry that comes back without a horse charges for that return leg; a round trip or a follow-on job reduces it.
Shared transport: the cheapest option
When several horses are heading the same way, the lorry is shared and so is the cost. It's the cheapest option over a long distance, provided you accept a date set in advance (places are limited) rather than a pick-up on demand. Go to our home page to request a quote, stating that you are open to shared transport.
Why we don't publish a "from" price
A "from X €" price shown on a website almost always serves to get people calling before they know what they will really pay. We prefer the opposite: you describe your journey in 2 minutes, transporters in your region send you up to 3 priced quotes by email, and no transporter gets your contact details before you have chosen an offer.
Cavalotrans AI AssistantOnline for a firm price on your journey.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't Cavalotrans show a fixed price?
Because a fixed price on display would be wrong in most cases. The actual distance, the number of horses, the type of vehicle, health formalities, the season and whether the return is empty can double the price on journeys that look similar. We prefer a written, detailed quote to a price range that mainly serves to get you on the phone.
Is the price the same for the outward and return journey?
No. An empty return (the lorry comes back without a horse) costs more per journey than a round trip or a journey where the lorry goes on to another job. It's one of the factors we show in the quote.
Is shared transport really cheaper?
Yes, it's the cheapest option over a long distance, provided you accept a date set in advance and share the lorry with other horses heading the same way. The price is then a fixed rate per place, not an individual per-kilometre rate.
Is a Cavalotrans quote free and with no obligation?
Yes. You describe your journey, you receive up to 3 quotes by email, and you decide whether to go ahead. Your contact details are not passed to any transporter until you have chosen an offer.
An international journey? See our international horse transport page for the formalities and factors specific to each country.