Horse racing is one of the most globally contested sports, which means that many of the world’s best stars will be forced to travel long distances to earn sizable purses.
That has been evident in recent years, with runners from Japan being available when making horse racing wagering selections on the Kentucky Derby.
This leads to newcomers that are gaining an interest in the sport to ponder how equines are able to travel long distances to compete, because after all, it’s not like they are able to board a plane and show their passport to officials like humans do. But, how does the logistical nature of transporting horses actually work?
Boarding Process
The boarding process for horses travelling to compete internationally will begin months before jumping on the plane. All equines that will be flying will need to pass the vet and get up to date vaccinations and then quarantine for two weeks.
The latter is dependent on where the horse is flying to, as the quarantine period for those travelling to Australia will be different to those boarding a flight for the United States. A trainer will then need to obtain the relevant export licences, health certificates and customs clearances to ensure that they are able to seamlessly travel without any issues.
Trainers will also need to get their horse prepared for flying, which includes getting used to the air stalls and dealing with the noises and movements that will be likely on a long haul flight.
Flying in Style
Just as they are on a daily basis, horses are treated like royalty when they are in the sky. However, the planes that equines will board will be different to the chartered flights that humans get.
Instead, major airlines such as Emirates, KLM, and FedEx all provide commercial freights to travel horses to their final destination. This also isn’t solely for horses competing in racing, as equines will also travel vast distances to compete at the Olympic Games.
A key document that all horses will need to have in order to get their flight is an equine passport. This will have key details surrounding medical history, ownership, and date of birth. All of the key documents, including health certificates will need to be shown before taking off and when landing at the end destination.
What Do Horses Wear?
Humans will typically spend hours trying to decide on what to wear for maximum comfort on a long haul flight, but that isn’t the case for horses.
However, equines will be dressed to be incredibly comfortable nonetheless. Every horse will have their own custom-fitted travel gear, which will be designed for safety and protection, as well as ensuring that the horse is comfy in the air.
Padded travel boots and bandages will also be worn by horses above their knees and down to their hooves, while horses that are worse flyers will have full-coverage boots to create a cocoon-like shape. Halters will also be fitted on the heads of all horses, but these will have quick-release features to allow equines to move should there be an emergency.
Differences in Planes
As mentioned previously, horses will travel in freight planes, meaning that they will completely different inside the cabin that a traditional plane carrying humans. These can come in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps one of the most famous is the aptly named Air Horse One, which carries horses representing Team USA to the Olympics.
A few seats will be aboard, saved mainly for the grooms and stable staff travelling with the horses. Each equine will have their own custom-built stall aboard, which are raised by lifts into the plane’s cargo hold. Once it has been placed inside the plane, they are moved and clicked into the correct place.
One of the biggest differences on planes carrying horses is the temperature aboard. Freight planes will be kept at a cooler climate to ensure that the equines are comfy, while also making sure that the metal stalls in the hold doesn’t overheat.
Importantly, Stallions are always kept as far away from the mares as possible, typically being placed at the front of the plane, with the mares at the back and the gelding splitting the two.
After Flying
Once landing at their destination, horses are prone to getting jet lagged, but the effects will last no longer than 24 hours according to researcher Dr Barbara Murphy.
After getting off the plane, horses will be placed into quarantine for a couple of days, before being checked over by vets.
There is also a monitoring period ahead of big events on the equine calendar, with health inspectors checking on horses every day. Once horses have adapted to their new environment, there are added to the stabling facilities.
