If you are planning any kind of transportation for horses, there are a number of ways that you need to prepare to ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.
 

Here at NRT we are professionals with over 30 years’ experience in transportation for horses, but even our wealth of expertise cannot overcome bad preparation on the part of the owner. At best it will cause unnecessary hassle and make travelling much more arduous, at worst it could play a part in damaging a horse’s health. Either way, poor preparation will result in a journey that is terribly stressful for both owner and horse.

Below we have listed a few points to consider when preparing. Take these into consideration and the risk of any mishaps will be greatly reduced.

Ensure your Horse is Healthy

One thing’s for sure: if you load a horse that is feeling ill onto a horsebox, when you come to unloading it at the other end it will feel a whole lot worse. Make sure that all preventative health programmes, especially vaccinations, are completely up to date and if there are any signs of sickness at all, postpone your trip. The one exception, of course is when your destination is the equine vet.

Not only should you make sure your horse is healthy, but you should also be prepared to prove it – especially if you are crossing any kind of border. Make sure you have all of the proper health records for your horse ready prior to travelling.

Avoid unnecessary medication

You should make sure that only essential medication is used before travel. Not only is it becoming more and more difficult to to take injectable medication onto flights due to ever-stricter regulations, but adverse reactions are always a possibility and if this happens during transit it is likely to end very badly indeed. 

Consult your vet for proper advice on what medication is best recommended for the journey that you are planning to take.

Weigh your horse

You should expect your horse to lose some weight during travel. This is a normal occurrence and can be up to 5% of overall bodyweight for long-haul trips.

By weighing your horse before and after travel, you will be able to assess how much weight it has lost and therefore properly gauge how much recovery time is required.

Train your horse to load and unload

If your horse has never travelled before (or even if it has) it is a very good idea to get it used to loading and unloading. If possible spend some time familiarising your horse with a horse box or trailer.

For most horses, the thought of stepping into a confined space does not fill them with joy, so spend some time around the trailer with the horse and practice leading it on and off. Don’t rush the horse and never force it! Allow it to investigate in its own time.

The key is training the horse to feel positive about entering the box or trailer. With this in mind, try leaving a bucket of feed inside the stall as a tasty reward. The last thing you want is for the horse to associate a horsebox with stress or any other negativity.

Factor-in Recovery Time

When planning transportation for horses, it is important to leave enough recovery time after arrival at your destination. As mentioned above, the stress of travel can cause a horse to lose up to 5% in bodyweight which will take time to put back on.

You will also need to regularly check temperature, appetite and thirst so that you can quickly act on any signs of discomfort.

If in Doubt, Call the Professionals

If you are at all unsure about any aspect of the horse transport process, then speak to the experts. If you embark on a journey without the correct preparation and expertise, you are putting your horse at risk. Is it really worth it?

Professional Transportation For Horses

If you are looking for professional transportation for horses, NRT can help. Our dedicated team are not only highly-qualified experts in their field, they are also horse-lovers and are happy to help. They can offer you all the guidance and advice that you need to ensure the safest and most stress-free of journeys.

We will be on hand throughout the process to ensure that all the correct preparations are made and our state-of-the-art fleet of horseboxes are custom designed to ensure the utmost comfort and safety.

Call us today on 01638 663155 for a chat about what your requirements are and what we can do to help. Alternatively, find out more about the services we offer here.

It’s not long now until the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale in Newmarket from 30th October to 3rd November. This is the largest horses in training sale in the world and has been the source of 11 Group 1 winners since 2014.
 

As professional horse transporters, we are heavily involved in the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale. Sellers need to make sure their horses arrive in the sales ring on time and as relaxed as possible, and buyers want to make sure their purchases get home safely!

Having such a presence at the sales, we know first hand how exciting it is to experience the buzz in the sales ring when these beautiful thoroughbreds are bid on for hundreds of thousands of guineas. However, a high price does not always mean a winner.

Below, we have put together a list of all 11 Group 1 Winners since 2014 that were bought at the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale. Take a read, you might be surprised how little you can pick up a winner for!

Autumn HIT Sale Winners 2014

AHERN (Gelding)
Sire: Dutch Art
Dam: Petra Nova (First Trump)
Gr 1 Win: Chairman’s Challenge Cup – Taipa, Macau – 31/05/14
Bought for: 28,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2013
FORETELLER (Colt)
Sire: Dansli
Dam: Prophecy (Warning)
Gr 1 Win: Underwood Stakes – Caulfield, Australia – 20/09/14
Bought for: 100,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2010
G FORCE (Colt)
Sire: Tamayuz
Dam: Flanders (Common Grounds)
Gr 1 Win: Haydock Sprint Cup – Haydock, UK – 06/09/14
Bought for: 25,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2013
MORIARTY (Colt)
Sire: Clodovil
Dam: Justice System (Criminal Type)
Gr 1 Win: Kingston Town Classic – Ascot, Australia – 06/12/14
Bought for: 90,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2011
OBVIOUSLY (Gelding)
Sire: Choisir
Dam: Leala (Montjeu)
Gr 1 Win: Shoemaker Mile Stakes – Santa Anita Park, USA – 14/06/14
Bought for: 130,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2011
THE OFFER (Colt)
Sire: Montjeu
Dam: Valdara (Darshaan)
Gr 1 Win: Sydney Cup – Randwick, Australia – 19/04/14
Bought for: 200,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2012
Autumn HIT Sale Winners 2015
DUBDAY (Colt)
Sire: Dubawi
Dam: Dayrose (Daylami)
Gr 1 Win: HH The Emir’s Trophy – Doha, Qatar – 26/02/15
Bought for: 11,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2012
Autumn HIT Sale Winners 2016
JET SETTING (Filly)
Sire: Fast Company
Dam: Mean Lae (Johannesburg)
Gr 1 Win: Irish 1000 Guineas – Curragh, Ireland – 22/05/16
Bought for: 12,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2015
OBVIOUSLY (Gelding)
Sire: Choisir
Dam: Leala (Montjeu)
Gr 1 Win: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint – Santa Anita Park, USA – 05/11/16
Bought for: 130,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2011
Autumn HIT Sale Winners 2017
CHOPIN (Gelding)
Sire: Santiago
Dam: Caucasienne (Galileo)
Gr 1 Win: HH The Emir’s Trophy – Doha, Qatar – 25/02/17
Bought for: 9,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2015
LIBRISA BREEZE (Gelding)
Sire: Mount Nelson
Dam: Bruxcalina (Linamix)
Gr 1 Win: British Champions Sprint Stakes – Ascot, UK – 21/10/2017
Bought for: 90,000 gns, Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale, 2015
National and International Horse Transport

For the past 30 years, NRT has provided national and international horse transport for a long list of satisfied customers. The fact that we have such a large presence at the Tattersalls Sales is testament to our professionalism and reliability.

We are trusted by some of the worlds most prestigious owners, trainers and breeders to ensure that their horses get where they need to be safely, comfortably and with as little disruption as possible.

However, we’re not just limited to racehorse transport, we offer pony transport, polo horse transport, mare and foal transport, olympic horse transport… in fact, whatever your need, we can help!

Give us a call on 01638 663155 for an informal chat about how we can help you. Otherwise, you can find out more here.

There is a huge number of UK equestrian events that take place throughout the year, each one as exciting as the next. Every one attracts a huge number of professional riders, amateur riders, enthusiasts and, of course, beautiful horses!

Whether you are looking for National Hunt racing, showjumping, dressage, eventing, flat racing, carriage driving or vaulting, there is something for you.

Below is a guide to the major UK equestrian events in 2018 so that you can make sure you don’t miss a thing!

National Equestrian Events 2018
Cheltenham Festival | 13-16 March | Cheltenham Racecourse

The highlight of the jump racing season.

Blue Chip Championships | 4-8 April | Hartpury Arena, Gloucestershire

The Winter Showjumping Championships.

Grand National Meeting | 12-14 April | Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool

The most valuable jump race in Europe.

Winter Dressage Championships | 11-15 April | Hartpury Arena, Gloucestershire

Competitors go head-to-head for 29 national titles.

Badminton Horse Trials | 2-6 May | Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire

The world’s premier 3-day eventing competition.

1,000 and 2,000 Guineas | 5-6 May | Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk

The first two British Classics of the flat racing season.

Royal Windsor Horse Show | 9-13 May | Windsor, Berks

International jumping, dressage, driving, endurance and national showing.

Chatsworth Horse Trials | 11-13 May | Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Three days of world-class eventing.

Houghton International Horse Trials | 24-27 May | Houghton Hall, Norfolk

International eventing action.

The Derby Meeting | 1-2 June | Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey

Arguably the greatest flat race in the world.

Bramham Horse Trials | 7-10 June | West Yorkshire

World-class eventing action.

Bolesworth International Horse Show | 13-17 June | Chester, Cheshire

Top-class showjumping and dressage is just the start at this family festival.

Royal Ascot | 19-23 June | Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire

This world-famous flat racing event speaks for itself.

British Jumping Derby | 21-24 June | Hickstead, West Sussex

One of the most famous showjumping classes in the world.

Barbury Horse Trials | 5-8 July (TBC) | Wiltshire

The world’s best riders compete in the sport of eventing.

Royal International Horse Show | 25-29 July | Hickstead, West Sussex

One of the biggest outdoor shows in the country for showing and showjumping.

London Global Champions Tour | 2-5 Aug (TBC) | Royal Hospital Chelsea, London

A high-calibre showjumping event featuring Olympic and world champions.

Festival of British Eventing | 3-5 Aug | Gatcombe, Gloucestershire

A weekend of top-class eventing and family entertainment.

British Showjumping National Championships | 7-12 Aug (TBC) | Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

The prestigious British summer Showjumping Championships.

Scope SJ Festival | 20-26 Aug (TBC) | Staffordshire County Showground

Seven days of top-class showjumping

Burghley Horse Trials | 30 Aug-2 Sept | Stamford, Lincolnshire

Three days of eventing action

Blenheim Horse Trials | 13-17 Sept (TBC) | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon

Attracting the world’s best eventers and thousands of spectators.

National Driving Championships | Date TBC | Cirencester, Gloucestershire

The best of Britain’s carriage drivers go head-to-head.

National Dressage Championships | 13-16 Sept (TBC) | Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

Britain’s best battle it out in the national championships

Festival of Endurance | Date TBC | Builth Wells, Wales

Competitive long-distance riding.

HOYS | 3-7 Oct | Birmingham NEC

The finale to the showing year and the climax to the domestic showjumping year.

British Vaulting Championships | Date TBC | Olney, Rugby

Britain’s best show us what they are made of.

Olympia Horse Show | Date: TBC | Olympia, London

Hosting all three FEI World Cup Qualifiers in dressage, showjumping and driving.

King George VI Steeple Chase | 26 Dec | Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames

Historic and prestigious British jump race.

National Horse Transport

If you are taking part in any of the above UK equestrian events and need safe, comfortable, professional, and reliable national horse transport, then NRT can help.

We not only have years of experience in transporting horses from all disciplines, but we also have a fleet of state-of-the-art horse transportation vehicles to ensure that your horse arrives on time, relaxed and ready to perform!

If you’d like to find out more about the services we offer and how we can help get you and your horses to and from any of the above UK equestrian events in the maximum comfort with the minimum hassle, give us a call on 01638 663155 or click here for more information.

Transporting horses is a very delicate procedure that we would always recommend is left to the professionals, however, we appreciate that this is not always possible. For this reason, we’ve put together a few horsebox towing tips to ensure that your journey goes as smoothly as possible.    

There is a lot of room for error when transporting horses and, without solid preparation, what might initially seem like a straightforward job can very quickly turn into a catastrophe. Read the below list of horsebox towing tips that everyone should know before setting off. 

1. Check your Licence – are you legal?

New laws came into place on 1st January 1997 which restrict what you can tow under a normal driving licence. These new rules mean that you may need to take an additional test to tow a horsebox otherwise you will be driving illegally.

Make sure you check the rules before even thinking about transporting horses! You can read the Government guidelines here.

2. Check your Vehicle

Transporting horses in a horsebox can put a huge amount of extra strain on your vehicle so make sure you check that it is up to the task.

Extra weight can make stopping more of a challenge – are your brakes in good order?

Getting up even the smallest hill can be a huge amount of work and engines can easily overheat – how is your radiator?

What goes up must come down and gears play an extremely important part in ensuring you come down gently by assisting with braking – how is your transmission?

One of the biggest causes of trailer sway is incorrect tyre pressure – is there the right amount of air in your tyres?

3. Check your Connections

Make sure the electrics are properly connected and that the cables have enough slack to corner, but not so much that they scrape on the ground. Always ask someone to check that your lights are operating correctly before setting off.

4. Is your Horse Happy?

Number four in our list of horsebox towing tips is to remember that a happy horse is a comfortable horse! It is important to ensure that your horse is used to the horsebox and feels comfortable in and around it.

Spend some time in the lead up to your journey introducing your horse to the trailer so that it becomes familiar. Try some practice runs loading and unloading and don’t rush the horse, the last thing you need is for the animal to associate the horsebox with any kind of stress.

5. Practice Makes Perfect

Towing a horsebox is by no means an easy task! Jumping straight in without any practice is sure to end badly. Dimensions are wider, turning circles are bigger and visibility is restricted so it is a good idea to go for a few practice runs until you feel confident.

Ideally find a large car park or field where you can practice reversing and manoeuvring. Also, it is a good idea to go out on a few short journeys with an empty trailer to get used to driving on the road.

6. Positive Preparation…

You should always expect the unexpected and make sure you are fully prepared so that a minor hiccup does not become a nightmare. 

Do you have the necessary breakdown cover? Do you have all the important contact numbers that you might need in the case of an emergency? Do you have high-vis clothing and a warning triangle?

7. Leave in Plenty of Time

It is extremely important to perform checks before you leave and at regular intervals throughout your journey. With this in mind, make sure you leave in plenty of time to ensure that these checks can be performed safely and adequately.

Take plenty of feed, bring tools for dealing with manure and urine, make sure windows are open and that you have rugs for warmth, if required.

8. Safety, Safety, Safety!

The next in our list of horsebox towing tips is quite simply: BE SAFE! By far the most important aspect of any horse transportation is acting safely, considerately and responsibly while on the road. 

When setting off don’t roll back, move away slowly and smoothly, checking and double-checking for hazards. Make full use of your mirrors, fitting mirror extensions to maximise visibility.

The horsebox will add significant width to your vehicle – are you positioned a safe distance from the curb, but safely within the white line?

The horsebox will also add significant length to your vehicle – are you allowing a wide enough turning circle when negotiating sharp corners and junctions?

The horsebox will add significant weight to your vehicle – are you allowing sufficient stopping distances? (These will be at least double the normal distance).

The horsebox will restrict your rear view making reversing a challenge – have you left enough room to pull out when giving way behind a parked car or other obstruction?

Towing speed limits are 10mph slower than usual – have you left enough space in front of you for overtaking vehicles to tuck in safely?

9. If in Doubt – Leave it to the Professionals

As mentioned above, horse transportation is a very delicate procedure, so after reading our horsebox towing tips, if there is still any doubt at all in your mind, we would strongly recommend calling the professionals. Is it worth risking your safety, your horse’s safety and the safety of other road users?

NRT has been in the business for over 30 years and in that time our team has amassed a wealth of experience in all aspects of transporting horses. Whether it’s a few miles down the road, or to the other side of the world, we can help by providing a safe, comfortable and hassle-free solution.

Why not give us a call on 01638 663155 to find out how we can help? Alternatively, click here to find out more about us.

The Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) has been running since 1949 and since then has firmly established itself as the climax of the show jumping season and arguably the most famous horse show in the world. As ever, NRT will be present at the show, providing horse transportation for competitors taking part.
 
HOYS Highlights

There is so much going on at HOYS. Admire some of the most beautiful and rare breeds in the world with the most prestigious prizes in the showing calendar. Or soak up the excitement and atmosphere as the world’s greatest show jumpers compete to be crowned the champion of champions. In fact, there is too much to list, but here are a few highlights.

The Puissance

When it comes to showjumping, the world-famous Puissance is described as the ultimate test for both horse and rider and takes place on Saturday 7th October.

The name Puissance is French for power, and power is exactly what is required. Not just physical power, but also power of the mind. The first round consists of a number of different obstacles for the horses and riders to tackle, however after this in the Jump-Off there are just two jumps which are raised in height each round.

They start at around 1.7m (5’7”), which you might say is high enough, but with the record standing at 2.40m (7’10”) they can increase to unbelievable heights. This really is a nail-biting show where you can cut the tension with a knife!

Supreme Horse of the Year and Supreme Pony of the Year

These finals take place on Sunday 8th October and are the crowns that every showing enthusiast either wants to win or wants to see. These competitions take the beauty and elegance of the noble horse to a whole new level. It is the culmination of many qualifiers at different equestrian shows across the country and is hotly contested. Head along and admire some of the most beautiful horses in the world.

Leading Show Jumper of the Year

This event on Sunday 8th October is the climax of the HOYS international show jumping classes, with nine of the international classes at the show offering qualifying points. The top 28 competitors will compete against each other for the coveted title of Leading Show Jumper of the Year. And it’s not just about the kudos, there is also a share of the substantial prize fund up for grabs! Watch Britain’s top show jumpers take on some of the best international talent at this amazing event.

HOYS Horse Transportation

As with any high level competition, it is very important that each horse arrives at the event not only in the best possible physical condition, but also the best possible mental condition. It is for this reason that the horse transportation to and from the event is a smooth and stress-free process.

NRT has years of experience and our expert team knows exactly how to ensure the safe and comfortable delivery when it comes to show horse transportation and show pony transportation. Add to this our fleet of state-of-the-art horse transportation vehicles and it’s easy to see why we have a long list of happy clients.

For more information on the services we offer and how we can help you, call us on 01638 663155 or click here to browse our website.

The Cambridgeshire Meeting is the first big race of the Newmarket Gold Season at the Rowley Mile Racecourse. It takes place over three days at the end of September and features some top class racing to get excited about. Naturally, NRT will be on hand providing transport for horses on the day to ensure that our clients’ contenders are where they need to be, when they need to be there!
 
Big Races at The Cambridgeshire Meeting

The big day at The Cambridgeshire Meeting is Saturday 30th September. This fantastic day’s racing brings with it the Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap which is the first half of the historic Autumn Double and the highly anticipated highlight of the meeting.

Along with this there will be two Group 1 Races, the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes, both are highly contested and are sure to bring with them all the thrills and excitement that you would expect from this standard of racing.

Finally, although the above will be fantastic to watch, possibly the most entertaining race of the meeting will be a special flat race from the Shetland Pony Grand National team! This will be taking place before the first race on Friday 29th September so make sure you’re there early so you don’t miss it!

Transport For Horses to The Cambridgeshire Meeting

As with any race meeting, it is extremely important to not only ensure that the horses arrive in plenty of time, but also as relaxed as possible. That’s where we come in. NRT has been providing transport for horses to The Cambridgeshire and some of the most prestigious race meetings in the world for many years, giving us unrivalled skill and knowledge in the field.

Transport for horses of such high value and with such a highly-strung temperament can be an intimidating task for the inexperienced, however, our team know their stuff are here to give you the peace of mind that you need.

If you are interested in transport for horses to this or any other race meeting, get in touch to see how we can help. Call us on 01638 663155 or click here.