Shipping horses by air seems like a huge task, and in many ways it is, however, if you have the right professionals on your side, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as you’d expect.
NRT has many years of experience shipping horses by air and our professional service ensures that you have the peace of mind that your horse is completely safe and in expert hands.
Shipping Horses by Air – The Planning
The best way to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible when shipping horses by air is to pay special attention to pre-travel planning.
The great news is that with the NRT horse shipping service, our experts will ensure that all the correct paperwork is present including customs clearances and health documents. We will work with your chosen vet to ensure that veterinary testing has been performed and that blood work and health certificates are in place and valid.
Never give your horse last-minute vaccinations prior to travel. The reason is that if the horse experiences any adverse effects, there may not be the necessary veterinary care available during transit.
Although our experts will take care of most of the arduous administration, there are still some aspects that you will need to think about, so the sooner you begin planning, the better.
The biggest reason for leaving plenty of time is that different countries have different rules and procedures, including extended quarantine periods. This means that although we can get your horse to where it needs to be on time, it may not be allowed to leave quarantine for an extended period of time. Therefore, it is important that you take advice from our experts and ensure you always factor this into your timeline.
Another important part of planning is to ensure that your horse’s insurance certificate is up to date and that it provides the necessary cover for the journey. If you are at all unsure of what you require, our experts can offer advice.
Also, bear in mind that only a small amount of equipment can travel along with your horse. Any heavier equipment such as saddles and tack will have to be shipped separately. Once again, speak to your NRT expert to organise this.
Shipping Horses by Air – The Journey
NRT horse shipping can provide a full door-to-door service so it couldn’t be easier for both you and your horse. We have strong partnerships with trustworthy industry leaders in aviation, enabling us to provide full international horse shipping service by air, whether that’s scheduled service flights or private charters.
Our experienced team will pick up your horse from anywhere in one of our top-of-the-range horse boxes to ensure a safe and comfortable airport transfer. One of our travelling grooms will also be present throughout the journey to ensure that your horse has everything it needs.
Once at the airport, the horse will be transferred into a stall that is designed specifically for shipping horses by air. From your horse’s point of view, the interior of this stall looks and feels exactly the same as a horsebox and these familiar surroundings should help to keep your horse calm throughout the journey.
The stall is then moved to a hydraulic lift which is used to smoothly and safely transfer it onto the plane. Once aboard, the stall is locked to the floor of the aircraft making movement impossible throughout the flight.
At all times, our expert travelling groom will be on hand to ensure that your horse has the correct amount of hay and is regularly offered fresh water throughout the journey. Not to mention providing some important company for your horse to help alleviate the boredom of the flight!
Once safely landed, NRT will organise the airport transfer to the final destination, delivering your horse as relaxed and comfortable as possible.
NRT International Air Freight Service – Find out more
If you would like to find out more about shipping horses by air with NRT’s international air freight service, get in touch to talk to one of our experts today.
Either call us on 01638 663155, click here to fill out our contact form, or browse our website here.