Horse Transport from UK to British Columbia, Canada

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CarnivalPleasure

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We will be moving to Vancouver Island, BC, Canada either 2012/2013 and im not sure about what to so with my boy? Ive looked at transport on google, but theres not so much about inter-continental moving, only within europe. Does anyone have any idea where i can get more info or perhaps a price? Its looking pretty expensive so far!!!
Thanks
 
If it helps you make up your mind, £6000 to export to Boulder Colorado. Try the racehorse transporters, they will do it. Mine went as 1 1/2 racehorses! I wasn't paying :)
 
I looked briefly as its something we may end up doing in a few years and the general sum I cane up with was around the £6000 Mark. There are a few threads on the expat website as well as lots of other helpful relocating info.
 
Hi i know this tread is a few months old but i am in the same position as you are. I am planning on moving to Toronto in 12 months time. I have already begun to panick about what to do with my boy although leaving him behind is not an option. I have been told about this company who apparently are very reliable and well respected. They dont give any prices online however there are email addresses and points of contact to gain more information. http://www.peden-bloodstock.de/home_uk.php. Im not sure if you have found any others but i seen your thread and thought i would share what i have found. Goodluck
 
It's also worth contacting SeaAir.

There are lots of variables, including the horse's gender (it's more expensive to do the quarantine for mares and stallions), whether you are set up to do the quarantine, whether you need transport on both ends etc. Most shipping companies will do "door to door" but you aren't committed to that. Be aware though that there are specific routes so, for example, horses from Heathrow fly to New York, horses from Toronto fly to Schipol etc. This may make a difference to import regulations and ground travel costs.

It's actually a relatively easy journey over the Atlantic and most horses cope well. The journey across Canada is actually trickier! I know horses that have driven across and it's certainly do able but it's quite long. Many competition horses fly these days.

I'd say the adjusting - climate, feed, immunities, livery options etc - is something to take into account, too, although the UK to Vancouver Island, the horse might not even know it's left home! ;)
 
I tried looking at SeaAir but i dont know which one does the horse transport. My biggest worry is how he will respond to the climate change however we will be there next march and the climate can be very similiar at that time so hopefully when he arrives he will have a little time to settle before the heat comes
 
TarrSteps said:
I'd say the adjusting - climate, feed, immunities, livery options etc - is something to take into account, too, although the UK to Vancouver Island, the horse might not even know it's left home! ;)
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They wouldn't if they spent this winter in Ontario either :( We have had such a cockeyed winter this year. So much rain and so little snow :mad:

Charlene, I was quoted $10,000 door to door UK (via Schipol as Tarrsteps says) to New York for quarantine and then across the border into Canada.

True Colours on here regularly ships horses internationally to and from Ontario and it may be worthwhile having a chat with her too.:)
 
charlene88 said:
My biggest worry is how he will respond to the climate change however we will be there next march and the climate can be very similiar at that time so hopefully when he arrives he will have a little time to settle before the heat comes
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He'll do fine, horses adapt very quickly and if you are coming in March he will have time to get used to the change. It isn't so much the heat as the humidity, that is the bitch until you get used to it. A lot of boarding facilities have fans in the barns anyway.
 
To be honest, having now done both, I'd rather move a horse UK to Canada than the other way around, from the horse's point of view. It's very doable, don't worry, I'd just say maybe do some of your investigating re feed, supplements, and "special needs" he has etc before you move, just to give him the best chance to settle in. It's not a wildly different experience, keeping horses in either place, but especially if you're going to be on livery, it helps to do some fact finding in advance before you're dealing with surprises AND a horse. The problem is you don't know what questions to ask until the come up!

This is SeaAir http://www.seaair.ca/ They are Canadian though, so don't know if they ship in as well as out. Again, True Colours might be your best bet for recommendations There is this site, too: http://www.travelinghorse.com/

Also, have a look at the EMG Forum (try TC on there, as she rarely comes on here) to get the lay of the land for Ontario. (For BC the best bet is probably The Tack Box Forum) It is also worth looking out for "Main Ring" on there as she moved a horse to the UK and back. Tell the folks on EMG "Cruiser" sent you. :)
 
Thanks so much everyone for your advice, My fiancee is from toronto so knows ontario well. I think maybe riley will stay behind until august allowing me to look into how things work in canada for horses. It will also hopefully give us enough time to get our own land so that i can be with him alot of the day. Thanks again everyone :)
 
One piece of advice I heard was to make sure your horse is insured in case it fails the quarentine tests when it arrives. Even though you will have gone through everything this side, they still have to be re-tested and it is not unknown for horses to fail and then be sent back. I guess it doesn't happen very often.
 
I havent found out too much about quarantine to be honest ive had a little look but some of the information can be a little confusing feels as though i am going in circles. I didnt really think about him failing quarantine so something to check out thanks :)
 
Got a fantastic quote from Doyle bloodstock was very pleased with the price $6990 Canadian and they do a lot of the work for you papers and quarantine in their end etc. Waiting on more but very pleased with that price compared to others that i have heard.
 
Also heard from another company called EIS in Ireland. Have to say just the nicest people very reassuring about the move. The man phoned me yesterday and went through step by step what the whole process would be. They have similar prices to Doyle Bloodstock but think I might go through them just because of everything they do. Would recommend that everyone who is considering a move contact them. I feel alot less pressure now knowing that they do most of the work.
 
I moved my horse from the US to the UK. It cost me about $4000 but that was back in 2006, before fuel prices went insane. I used this company: http://timdutta.com/, and they were excellent from start to finish. My horse coped with the climate differences no bother but she might not have been sure about all the people with funny accents, especially in County Durham! :D
 
Hi
I've just logged in a saw this post.
I have been told over and over the best company to use is IRT.
We own racehorses in Australia and all the owners and trainers we know won't use anyone else. IRT ship horses over for the Melbourne Cup so they are entrusted with some of the most valuable steeds in the world.
I was speaking to an inflight groom last week and asked him who is the best carrier of horses and he said under no circumstances use anyone but IRT as they are by far the best.
We are moving back to Aus next year and I recently got a quote for my boy of £6500. It might be extra for larger horses as my fellow is over 18 hands so they recommend purchasing 1 1/2 stalls to ensure he has plenty of room.
Quarantine is a month here at Newmarket then one month in Aus. I'm not sure about Canada but I think it could be the same.
You need to ensure your neddy has all vacinations up to date, but IRT will certainly organize all that for you so no need to stress.
I asked about travelling with my horse which they said ok as I'm a former flight attendant and am now employed at Heathrow so I have security clearance plus the relevant safety training otherwise you need to do an inflight groom certificate to qualify to be allowed to travel and in certain circumstances they will allow the owner to travel with their horse anyway.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
 
Enfys said:
They wouldn't if they spent this winter in Ontario either :( We have had such a cockeyed winter this year. So much rain and so little snow :mad:

Charlene, I was quoted $10,000 door to door UK (via Schipol as Tarrsteps says) to New York for quarantine and then across the border into Canada.

True Colours on here regularly ships horses internationally to and from Ontario and it may be worthwhile having a chat with her too.:)
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Is True Colours the same TC on EMG/MB?!?! Small world! I saw someone post on EMG a few months ago about importing a horse from the UK...?

This past winter, Ontario's weather was a bit of a joke! That's not a 'typical' winter but it depends on where in Ontario you are located as each area gets very different types of weather.

I am looking and hoping to do the opposite. If I end up staying in the UK next year, I want to import my horse from Ontario (out of Toronto since the airport is only about a 45 minute drive) to the UK. This thread is quite helpful
 
lynz88 said:
Is True Colours the same TC on EMG/MB?!?! Small world! I saw someone post on EMG a few months ago about importing a horse from the UK...? Yes that will be her. :) Breeds dilutes

This past winter, Ontario's weather was a bit of a joke! That's not a 'typical' winter but it depends on where in Ontario you are located as each area gets very different types of weather.

I
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Lynz I am only down the 403 from you, about an hour away, outside Burford. ;)

TC's farm is about 20 minutes from us.
 
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