Has anyone - taken pony to France for a holiday?

HiPo'sHuman

HiPo'sHuman

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Sorry, that title made me laugh!

Would love to move to France within the next few years and it's suddenly occurred to me that we (children and I) could spend the full summer hols over there next year to see how we find it. Only thing stopping me is the pony...am I crazy to consider taking her?! She travels well, would happily live out if I could find a campsite with suitable paddock. It would obviously restrict our ability to explore but I'm not overly bothered by that.

Am I insane? I wouldn't even know where to begin...
 
Hi, we have been thinking that in a few years we would spend 3 months in winter in the south of France or Spain, and we too planned on taking the horse.

I did some work for a SJ and they don't seem to think that the trip is too bad, even to just go to a competition. I do recollect that they needed a vets cert prior to travel, and would have to update myself on the requirements.

One of the reasons I bought my new box was because it would be suitable for the trip, as in new enough to get parts, and EU compliant, but again I would have to update myself on the exact requirements.

I would pay a pro for advice on the ferry etc, or if you prefer actually pay them to take the horse. Personally we planned on me, OH, Jay and the dog all going in our box, and we would have enough spare weight to take plenty of luggage too, as we had a weight upgrade.

Good luck, and Pleeeeeeease keep the thread going with updates so i can see how you go on, what works, what does not etc. :-)
 
Not to France but I took my horse to Germany for 3 months this year. Transport is easy and was less than £500 each way and he went through the tunnel rather than on the ferry. I insured him through a German broker once we arrived although his NFU insurance covered him for up to 60 days abroad so it is worth checking your policy if you want to go for less than two months.
 
There is a family at the yard that do this most years, they have a house in France with land , and the pony comes along.Some years, though, if the journey is on a hot day. we feel a bit sorry for the pony in the trailer, but this year it seemed not too hot the day they left.
 
I've not been on holiday but we've taken the SJ'rs to France to compete. Now you can take them on the tunnel it is much nicer and easier than it used to be on the ferry. Just watch out you don't have any unexpected guests on the way back! A friend also took her competition horse to Spain for 3 months - she used a professional transport and the horse stepped off both ends fresh as a daisy.

The length of journey wouldn't bother me at all - but I have no experience in finding pasture though.
 
Wow, just caught up on this and your replies are super encouraging! I'd actually had a few gins last night and it seemed like an amazing solution, in the cold light of day it is actually something to seriously look into.

Haven't narrowed down the area as yet, that's something I'd have to do before looking at where we could stay. I'd probably be in a position to buy before next summer so it may even be that we have our own place. I'm looking for something to renovate but we could quite easily camp providing there's water and electricity and something safe for pony. She's quite happy on her own but it would be preferably to have company, considering getting a pony for my youngest but I'm not 100% yet and it may be cutting the weight a bit too fine for my liking.

I could get the farrier out before we leave and she should be fine for the 6 weeks, take her off hard feed to make life easier, would obviously need to ensure there's a vet on hand and an farrier in case of emergency.

Think my first step is going to be looking at the actual journey and how we'd get her there, I'd rather just take her in the trailer with us if possible. Would need somewhere to keep her the night before we travel as being in the north west, we couldn't do the whole journey in one go.

I'll definitely keep the thread updated! It might not happen yet, if it's too much messing we'll probably just do two, one week holidays and keep pony on livery....we shall see!
 
My Shagya stallion has travelled to and fro across the channel in our Ifor Williams. Two short winters SJ in the UK and summer of Endurance in France. The ending of the tripartite agreement has made this more expensive as UK vets can charge quite a lot for paperwork, my French vet in the village does it all for free.

We used the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing as it is only 4 hours and then a quick journey down the motorway - for us that is. On an overnight crossing he would be home in his stable in France by 10.00am.
 
The people with the Henson horses on the Somme have travelled 4 in a trailer on the back of a Land Rover to shows in Kent. I don't what sort of documents they need, but it doesn't sound too complicated.
 
please take great care where fly protection is concerned, especially the eyes, when in france, conjunctivitis and even uveitis need to be watched for, maybe stable in the day and turn out at night.
 
The paperwork for both ends of travel is identical, it's an EU document in multi languages. The horse has to be vetted within 48 hours of travel and the vehicle details have to be included. Obviously the horse has to travel with its passport at all times. It costs about £80 this end and around €60 the other end.
 
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Well, do it quick whilst we still can then! (Brexit is going to be an admin nightmare!)

Would seriously say though that you'll almost certainly have a lovely holiday with/without the horse, that is what holidays are like. If you really want to see how you/the kids like it though how about signing them up for some sort of French speaking summer camp? (I'm assuming they'll be going to 'normal' French school, not an international one/boarding in the UK.

Similarly if you're thinking of a particular area... Get them used to the atmosphere / accent / etc
 
We took ours from Dorset to Spain before moving permanently to France.
We had a lorry so Brittany ferries insisted we book through Peden Bloodstock. Peden were really helpful and found us all B&B en route One of the French stops was here http://www.volcelest.com/
The stables are a good size, the local kids having lessons were clearly having fun, and the gites clean and tidy. The ponies tend to go in and out of the fields en masse, without squabbling.
I think you could do worse than start with them, but you do need some French.
The region is awash with campsites and holiday horse centres but it is now the end of their season so ads will be rare. However this link may help : http://www.terre-equestre.com/cheval/sejour-enfant-cheval/stages_enfant.php
Some French stables allow people using the equestrian facilities to camp on site. Its always worth asking if you have the kit.
 
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