International horse transport

Taking a horse out of France is more than a simple journey: it means health paperwork, a border, and a horse that must arrive in good shape. The Cavalotrans international horse transport network covers 19 countries, with transporters who prepare the TRACES health certificate before departure and handle the checks. Successful international horse transport comes down to three things: the right documents, the right vehicle, and someone who knows the border.

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Key points

Road, air or sea depending on the destination, the budget and the horse's temperament.
Mandatory documents: TRACES health certificate + equine passport. Without them, the horse does not cross the border.
Timelines to plan for: vet visit within 48 hours before departure, certificate signed no later than 24 hours before.
19 countries covered, transit of 1 to 3 days depending on distance.
Up to 3 quotes by email, priced by the transporters, with no hidden fees.

Horse transport in Europe: what changes compared with France

Within the European Union, it's no longer really a "border" but an intra-EU movement. The difference is not cosmetic: since 21 April 2021, the Animal Health Law and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 govern movements of horses between Member States, not the national rules that apply to a journey from Lyon to Bordeaux.

In practice, for horse transport in Europe, you need:

a health certificate issued through TRACES-NT and signed by an official vet (the DDPP in your department);
an identification document (passport) on board, mandatory for any movement;
an authorised transporter, approved vehicles for transporting live animals and drivers holding the certificate of competence, as required by Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 for any commercial activity.

The second difference is the return. A health certificate covers one movement, not a horse for the whole year. The general rule is 10 days from issue, and if the horse comes back to France, it travels with a new certificate. One notable exception: horses with a valid licence (FFE, France Galop, Le Trot) get 30 days of validity to move through several Member States before returning.

A third difference, more surprising: some short-distance cross-border movements take place without a health certificate, with just an identification document. France has agreements with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain and Andorra, with specific zones and durations (trail riding, grazing, competition). The details are on the IFCE page on exporting a horse, and we always check them before telling you "no certificate needed".

Mandatory documents to take a horse out of France

To export a horse, the list is short, but nothing on it can be skipped. Here is what must be ready on the day, and in what order.

The TRACES health certificate

This is the key document. You fill it in beforehand on TRACES-NT, the European Commission certification platform, and an official vet in the department of departure then checks and signs it. Three steps:

The online application on TRACES-NT (operator account, details of the horse and the destination).
The vet visit by your official vet, within the 48 hours before departure and no more than 24 hours before signature by the DDPP. The vet checks for any clinical sign of infectious disease and confirms the horse is fit to travel.
The official signature of the certificate by the DDPP.

One point to remember at all costs: no certificate can be issued after departure. Once the horse has left French territory, it's too late. That is the main reason we prepare the file several days ahead, never the night before.

The equine passport

The identification document (passport, booklet or SIRE registration certificate) must travel with the horse, on board, at every stage. A horse without identification cannot legally be transported. This is not negotiable, and it is also the first thing an officer checks at the border.

The animal health certificate for export outside the EU

To a non-EU country, there is an extra layer: the official animal health certificate, whose model depends on the destination country and the requirements agreed between France (or the EU) and that country. Prior residence, quarantine, blood tests, vaccinations: the list of obligations varies completely from one destination to another. Non-EU certificate models are available on TRACES-NT or through Expadon, the French Ministry of Agriculture service.

Timelines to respect

Vet visit: within 48 hours before departure.
Signature by the DDPP: no later than 24 hours before departure.
Certificate validity: 10 days as a general rule, 30 days for a horse with a valid licence.
Export checks outside the EU: carried out at the border control post depending on the country, with a vet visit beforehand.
Zootechnical export certificate: only for certain breeds (Arabian via SIRE, Thoroughbred via France Galop, French Trotter via SETF). Allow processing time at the breed society: the IFCE quotes about 15 days for a complete Arabian horse file.

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The countries and destinations we cover

We depart from anywhere in France and connect 19 countries. The administrative workload, however, can double depending on the destination. See the details on our countries covered page.

Europe: Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland

The core of our business. Distances of 600 to 2,000 km, transit of 1 to 3 days depending on the route.

Horse transport to Switzerland follows the intra-EU rules: health certificate and passport, with a clinical examination within 48 hours before departure.
Horse transport to Belgium is the quickest, and sometimes needs no health certificate for short cross-border trips (leisure, competition), under a regulated exemption.
Horse transport to Southern Europe (Spain, Italy) means long drives, well-chosen stopovers and careful management of the heat in summer.
Germany and Ireland combine long drives and, for Ireland, a sea crossing. Horses licensed with France Galop benefit from special arrangements there (movements under a commercial document, approved transporters).

The United Kingdom and post-Brexit checks

Since 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom has been a non-EU country. The tripartite France–UK–Ireland agreement is over: crossings now require an export health certificate, a check at the border control post and, in the vast majority of cases, health tests before departure, except for horses registered with an EU-recognised breed society or a national branch of a racing or sport federation. We build these British requirements into the quote from the start, because they take several days to prepare.

Destinations outside the EU

To the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Japan, China or Australia, you enter the world of horse transport by air: the road journey only goes as far as the departure airport, and the destination country sets its own health conditions (quarantine, tests, vaccinations, sometimes a period of residence in France). Each file is handled case by case, with a freight forwarder or cargo agent.

Road, air or sea: which mode of transport to choose

There is no best mode in absolute terms. There is a mode that suits your horse, the destination and your deadline.

Road: the lorry

Advantages: one continuous journey, no transfer between vehicles, the horse is handled by the same people from start to finish, and it is often the most affordable option over European distances. Limits: longer journey time, dependence on traffic and weather, fatigue beyond certain distances. Typical use: all of continental Europe up to 2,000 km, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany.

Air

Advantages: the fastest option over very long distances, and the only realistic one for intercontinental destinations. Limits: high cost, heavy logistics (technical stopover, air stall, transit), more stress for some horses (noise, pressure, take-off). Requirements: air transport of horses follows the IATA Live Animals Regulations (edition in force on 1 January 2026), plus the WOAH standards for air transport of horses (containers, ventilation, separation). Every shipment requires a Shipper's Certification for Live Animals. Typical use: exporting a horse to a distant non-EU country, high-value racehorses or breeding stock.

Sea

Advantages: useful for crossings to islands (Ireland, United Kingdom, Corsica) and for very long journeys, often combined with a road leg. Limits: there is no IATA-style standard for horses at sea. The rules come from the carrier, national standards and the health requirements of the destination country. Comfort therefore depends largely on the operator you choose. Typical use: short sea crossings, long-distance sea export handled by a freight forwarder.

How much does international horse transport cost

It's the first question we're asked, and one nobody can answer seriously without knowing your journey. International horse transport depends on six factors that change the price:

The actual distance and route, by the kilometre, not as the crow flies.
The destination country: formalities, tolls, crossings, border fees.
The paperwork: vet visit, tests, certificate, possible quarantine.
The mode: road, air, sea, or a mix of the three.
The number of horses: a single stall costs more than a place in shared transport.
The season, and whether the return trip is empty.

Guide figures, per horse and per direction, always to be confirmed by a quote:

Destination	What goes into the bill
Nearby Europe (Belgium, Germany, Switzerland)	mileage and route, lighter formalities
Southern Europe (Spain, Italy)	distance, number of stages, heat management
United Kingdom	health tests and post-Brexit inspection fees
Outside the EU (air)	air freight, stall, quarantine and agent fees

We don't show fake "from" prices. Exporting a horse to Dubai and a riding-school pony going to Belgium have nothing in common. The only figure that counts is the one for your journey: request your quote, it's free, written and detailed.

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Transporting a horse during a heatwave: what the rules require

In France, when a department is placed on orange or red heatwave alert, road transport of live animals within the country is banned between 1 pm and 6 pm, with two main exemptions: vehicles fitted with temperature control (air conditioning, or ventilation plus misting) and transport of three animals or fewer. Exemptions also exist for veterinary or animal welfare reasons. The journey must be planned using the weather map published the day before (source: French Ministry of Agriculture).

A second rule, even stricter for international journeys: beyond 8 hours of travel, only transport that guarantees a temperature below 30 °C inside the vehicle is allowed. For a horse crossing France in August, that means leaving early in the morning or at night, an air-conditioned lorry, and planning around the weather.

On the Cavalotrans network, listed transporters do more than follow the rules: they move departures to cooler hours, choose shaded routes and check that horses drink at every stop.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get the health certificate?

The countdown starts before departure. The vet visit must take place within the 48 hours before, and the DDPP must sign the certificate no later than 24 hours before departure. In practice, the TRACES-NT application goes in several days ahead to avoid any administrative hold-up. For a non-EU destination with tests and quarantine, allow much longer.

Can a horse without a microchip be transported?

No, not legally for a trip abroad. Every horse leaving France must be properly identified (microchip and identification document). A horse without identification cannot get a health certificate. If your horse is not yet identified, this must be done beforehand, through its breed society or the SIRE.

How does transport to the United Kingdom work?

The United Kingdom has been a non-EU country since Brexit: export health certificate, health tests in most cases (except horses from recognised breed societies or racing/sport federations), and checks at the border control post. The chosen transporter prepares the file in advance and builds these constraints into the quote, because they determine the departure date.

Is air transport more stressful for the horse?

Not necessarily, it depends on the horse and the journey. Flying cuts the total travel time over long distances, which can be a real advantage. On the other hand, it involves a transfer between vehicles, an air stall and an unusual noise environment.

Can I travel with my horse?

On request, to be agreed with the chosen transporter: they remain responsible for the horse and the convoy, but nothing stops the owner from coming along when there is room. By air, travelling with the horse follows the airline's rules and is not guaranteed on every route.

What happens if the horse is refused at the border?

It's rare, and almost always due to a missing or incorrect document, which is exactly what the transporter checks before departure. If entry is refused, the transporter handles the situation on site (suitable place, alert to the owner) and deals with the reason for refusal before setting off again.

Why use Cavalotrans for international transport

Verified transporters. Every listing is checked before joining the network, including its approvals (certificate of competence, suitable driving licence).
Contact details protected. They go only to the transporter you choose, never before.
Health paperwork explained. TRACES-NT, vet, DDPP, border checks: the chosen transporter handles it, you provide the passport.
19 countries covered, transit of 1 to 3 days, with stops roughly every 4.5 hours.
Up to 3 quotes by email, sent by transporters in your region.

Have an in-depth question about the regulations, or an experience to share? The Cavalotrans blog covers real cases, from the health certificate to transporting a foal.

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