How many of you have transported your horse to the "other side of the world?"

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fine_and_dandy

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A matter of curiosity really; just because I have a few ideas going round my mind at the moment!

I am interested to know how many people have decided to move to the other side of the world; i.e. South/North America, Australia/NZ etc and taken their horse(s) from the UK with them?

How were your horses transported? How is a horse prepared for a long haul flight? Are they sedated? And the most important thing; how much did it cost?

I am trying to get an idea of what I would need to consider in the event that I did decide I wanted to up sticks, because although any firm decision is a few years off, Bailey would be with me no matter what.

Thanks :)
 
brighteyes said:
Some people in our Pony Club took a 17yo pony to NZ. She arrived safely!
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Do you know anything about the journey she had, cost etc?

I am looking into this now as a "pre caution" (if you like :D ) so I know exactly what is required before I make any firm decisions, but if I do make THAT decision, I can spring into action without having to do all the finding out once my decision is made - if that makes sense?
 
Do you know the TV Show - Wanted Downunder? About the Brits potentially wanting to move to Australia? There was a horse lover on there and she was considering moving to Australia with her horse. But when she met with a fellow Brit, this other lady advised her unless it was a younger horse, that it was not worth the financial or emotional strain of sending a horse over, mainly due to Quarantine in Australia. But that was a TV show of course ;)
 
If it helps I've been quoted (last year!) £13,000 to get my horse from my doorstep in Dorset to Auckland, NZ. As much as I love my horse, I'm really unsure I can justify that much money and the stress of travelling him all that way. Much cheaper to buy a horse over there!
 
missparis said:
Do you know the TV Show - Wanted Downunder? About the Brits potentially wanting to move to Australia? There was a horse lover on there and she was considering moving to Australia with her horse. But when she met with a fellow Brit, this other lady advised her unless it was a younger horse, that it was not worth the financial or emotional strain of sending a horse over, mainly due to Quarantine in Australia. But that was a TV show of course ;)
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Thanks :)

I know the quarantine is slightly different, and the things going in his favour are that he is a gelding and 3 1/2 years (nearly) so by the time I did decide to make this decision (if!) he would be in the region of 6-7 years. A concern is the stress on him and me; I would be so worried, but just could not leave him behind if I decided to go.
 
A friend will be bringing two horses back to the UK with her from Dubai - I think she said the flight alone is about £5k a horse give or take.
 
nemlin said:
If it helps I've been quoted (last year!) £13,000 to get my horse from my doorstep in Dorset to Auckland, NZ. As much as I love my horse, I'm really unsure I can justify that much money and the stress of travelling him all that way. Much cheaper to buy a horse over there!
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ooof!

But another horse just wouldn't be Bailey; its him :)

The other thing being that if I have a rough idea of money, I can start putting the savings in place...now to find the well paid job in which to do that!! :D
 
fine_and_dandy said:
ooof!

But another horse just wouldn't be Bailey; its him :)

The other thing being that if I have a rough idea of money, I can start putting the savings in place...now to find the well paid job in which to do that!! :D
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I was (still am) exactly the same with my boy, who's currently on holiday with my mum. Miss him like I'd miss my right arm, and he's only 60 miles up the road. However, we have been considering emigrating for the past 6 years and initially there was NO way I was going without Wisps; now I truly understand the process involved we are going to go without him :-( Absolutely gutted, and I still cry when I think about it even though I know he has a home for life with my mum - but this emigration lark has been something we have been seriously considering for too long not to try. I have to consider not only his quality of life (realistically, he's just going to be a gentle hack/grass-mower in NZ) but also my own life and all the what ifs?

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so negative. I'm sure with a lot of careful planning (and extensive savings!) it will work out for you and Bailey! Where and when are you thinking of going?
 
Not personally but I do know someone that transported a horse here from Canada. The horse got mild pneumonia (sp?). The vet said that this was normal for horses on long haul flights - I have no idea how competition riders cope if this is the case.

The horse is fine and she is very happy to have him here. I really don't know if this is in fact normal so I am very interested to see other responses and experiences too. :)

Also, (hint) she got in touch with a few dealers etc and waited to see if one of them had a place going spare as she didn't really have a strict timetable. Turned out that for one reason or another, a dealer had a place going free and she got her horse transported for an awful lot less than full price.
 
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I have transported horses all over the world. The price depends on how many horses are travelling, what country they are going to and quarantine laws in each country. Mares and stallions cost more. Think carefully about taking your horse with you if you are emigrating. Lifestyle changes in new countries for horses can take a time for them to settle. Will you have enough money to bring horse home again if relocation does not work out?
 
Consider climate too - if you are moving a happy field based horse to e.g. Dubai, where temperatures get hideously hot, he will be stabled almost all the time for his own well being - would that horse be happy?
 
Thanks everyone :) A lot of food for thought there.

Interesting point about if it didn't work out about coming back; duly noted!

I wouldn't be going for a while yet! If things go a certain way etc, then in all likelihood it would be in 3 years or so.

Feel a bit better reading the article about what the groom said about how horses cope in flight and seeing the padded stalls.

All stuff to think over!
 
Transported my horse from south of england to midwest usa. Cost around 5k with pedens but that didn't include vets bills as they have to have coggins testing etc. I was quoted cheaper if i had allowed her to fly out of Amsterdam but as she was not a seasoned traveller decided against it plus the guys with pedens were so good. It does cost more for mares and stallions because of quarantine on arrival. Plus i flew out with the dog on an earlier flight so had the cost of full livery til she left, she arrived at newark having lost quite a bit of weight she did put some back on whilst in quarantine and think she left her mark on the quarantine stables as i was told she does not like being kept waiting for her food!!!! but when she got to her final destination (home) she was absolutely fine.
 
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