Transporting Horse Equipment

Often, the team at EIAF are asked to arrange the relocation of equipment and tack along with the horses, with the most familiar requests are horses travelling for competition purposes or owners relocating with their horses. Each country and airline have their own conditions for the transport of used horse equipment.

How much horse equipment can I bring?

We can accommodate anything from one bag to our most recent movement of horse competition tack and equipment consisted of 1,300kg of gear spread over 83 bags! You need to provide to EIAF an itemised packing list, the total weight and the total value.

How does my horse equipment travel? 

For very small quantities, for example a rug or a saddle we can often take this in the stall with the horses, it will be located in the grooms area. For all other equipment it can travel as loose freight, or we can book an airline container that will travel on the same flight as the horses. Containers vary in size from 4m³ to 7m³.

Is there anything that we can’t pack?

Some items are considered dangerous goods and are unable to travel, such as Aerosols, Lithium Batteries & Air cannisters for XC airvests. Importing horse supplements and feed is also often heavily restricted in most countries. With most horse feeds/supplements containing ‘natural’ ingredients and as such require their own import permit. In most cases we are unable to transport horse feed/supplements.

Do varying importing countries have different requirements?

Items being imported into NZ or AUS are carefully inspected by Biosecurity officers and must be of a very high cleanliness standard. In particular, all Velcro, fleece, cloth, sheepskin etc must be free from mud, dirt and seeds. All items should be free of any contamination which could risk them being confiscated. Other countries worldwide vary in their import/biosecurity requirements.

Are there any extra costs involved?

Costs incurred are airfreight per kg/airline container costs, documentation fees, customs and any biosecurity inspection expenses. Used horse equipment can be subject to Tax/Import duties in the importing country.

How do we deliver the equipment to the aircraft?

The equipment must be neatly packed in strong bags that can be easily lifted (i.e. no more than 20kg each). Horse equipment must usually arrive at the airport the morning or the day before the scheduled departure of the horses. This will be loaded by EIAF/owners and/or freight staff.