Bringing a pony to England from Ireland...

C

CastleMouse

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2005
Messages
19,169
Location
Ireland
Visit site
Passports are obviously compulsory, and I'm guessing his flu. and tetanus vaccinations should be up to date as well? What else is required? Are you meant to tell Irish Ferries beforehand that you are transporting a horse?? All advice really appreciated
smile.gif
 
You will need his passport and up to date vacs. When booking with stena/irish ferries, you must tell them that you are transporting horses. If bringing a trailer you will need to know the length of the trailer. If bringing a lorry you have to ring the freight dept and know the weight and length of the lorry.

Some companies also like you to have sedation with you incase of an emergency, so contact you vets about administrating this if needed. Its not too much hassle at the port, but it is quite expensive to go over by your self, so maybe worth seeing if a group of you went over in 1 lorry (would help to reduce costs considerably).
 
Passports are a legal requirement for transporting horses in Ireland as well as in the UK. Anyone transporting from Ireland to UK without a passport is liable for large fines on either side of the Irish Sea! Horses receiving their first passport in Ireland now have to be microchipped as well.

You have to book on as freight - declaring that you have livestock on board. Remember to check the weather on the day of travel - as the ferry companies do not take horses on rough seas. When you book on you give the length of your lorry (as the ferries charge by vehicle length. It will be weighed on the "weigh bridge" on the way into the docks.

When you are on the ferry - make sure to allow as much ventilation as possible. Most horseboxes drop the ramps (just make sure that you explain to the staff on board that you want to do this).

Neither Stena or Irish Ferries will expect you to carry sedation. If you want to check on your horse during the journey - you have to ask permission, and a member of ferry staff will accompany you down.

Although it is not a legal requirement - a lot of yards are asking that horses from Ireland have been Coggins tested. It might be worth checking with the yard that you are going to. It is also not a legal requirement that horses must have vaccinations to travel - but is obviously a sensible precaution - and would probably be expected to have been done if you are going to a competition.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top