Moving horses (well, ponies) from UK to Europe

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Fransurrey

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Further to my 'does anyone live in Switzerland' post, I need to investigate possibilities, including taking the hairy beasts with me!!

Does anyone have any idea of costs or names of reputable companies who can do it?

Ta muchly.
x
 
I went the other way (imported my boy from Spain) and used John Parker Transport. They were excellent and cost around £700. However the journey took quite a long time (5 days as opposed to the usual 3 or 4) as they had pick-ups and drop-offs all over France.
 
If you're movig to Switzerland and taking the ponies with you, bear in mind that, plus all the usual transport costs, the Swiss authorities will demand a percentage of the ponies value as an import tax(they're not in the euro zone, so there are no import/export tax border agreements). From distant memory the minimum value that you could claim per horse was around €4000. Don't know what the tax rate on that might be now but imagine it is somewhere around 19%.
 
As I understand it, CF, Switzerland has an agreement with certain EU member states re: trade.

Also, as the ponies are personal possessions rather than bought from outside CH, are they not considered as such? I certainly don't pay import tax on my cats!

Certainly more for me to consider, though, thanks for the heads up. I'll investigate.
 
There is import and export tax on horses and ponies charged by the Swiss authorities. No getting around that I'm afraid! I've transported horses in and out of Switzerland, which is how I know, and the rules haven't changed.
 
Sorry, should have also added that the ponies will each need a Health Certificate signed by a ministry vet within 48 hours of their departure which includes a valuationa dn they also need an export licence. These rules apply to ponies leaving the UK, no matter what their destination is. As far as I know these rules don't apply to cats but then I've never transported cats.
 
Re the cats, you will need to get them passported if not already done. This includes having the rabies vaccine done, and then you will need a blood test done 30 days later. 6 months after the blood test, your cat/dog can leave the country and re-enter if needed. If you leave the country before the six months, you will have to wait for those six months before your animal can re-enter the UK.
Horses will as already mentioned need to be seen by a vet no earlier than 48 hours before export for the paperwork to be done, and the horses signed as fit to travel. Insurance will provide proof of horses worth (need to be worth more than £300 to export).
Good transporters will tell you if and what is required by the country you are destined for.
 
Another Vote for John Parker,He bought both my mules over from Spain and gave excellant allround service both times

Picassoarrives011.jpg
 
Thanks guys. I already know about the cat situation (and have discovered they can even travel in the cabin with me!), but I don't even transport horses nationally, let alone international!

Bugger about the import tax. I did find that there's an 'admin' fee at customs even for cats, yesterday, so it doesn't surprise me. Obviously more 'money-for-nothing' charges. Damn!

I did send an enquiry to John Parker, but didn't have dates (I don't know IF I'm going, yet, let alone when!) to see if they could give me a ball park figure, but they haven't replied. I guess at the moment my situation is too vague!!
 
OK, have now contacted ETA, too. I've said on the enquiry to just pick a date in October if it's absolutely necessary to have one for the quote! I love these vague, up in the air times...
 
I used LOC horse transport, they did all the paperwork for me and sorted it all out. I had mine ( 1 large TB ) moved from East Yorkshire to North/East France (Alsace). It cost me 700 pounds in 2007.
Don't know where the cat thing crept in but they need to be fully "anti-rabied" and passported before they go, the vet can do that for you, it involves bloodtests etc and can take a few months so plan ahead carefully. The same applies to dogs.
Good luck!
 
classicalfan said:
Sorry, should have also added that the ponies will each need a Health Certificate signed by a ministry vet within 48 hours of their departure which includes a valuationa dn they also need an export licence. These rules apply to ponies leaving the UK, no matter what their destination is. As far as I know these rules don't apply to cats but then I've never transported cats.
Click to expand...

This is true, but you will find a lot of the transport companies will deal with this for you.
 
Hi,

I've actually just contacted you on englishforum as I'm in a similar situation to you at the moment & have now found you again on here! I wondered if you had made any sense of the import tax of taking horses into Switzerland from the UK or if anyone else has any advice?

I was looking at the following website about it
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/pflanzen_tiere/00359/index.html?lang=en

Would it really be 3,834chf in tax to bring my 15.3hh horse (George) into Switzerland?? Have I understood it correctly? Do you have to pay that tax even if he's for my own use/ pet?

I'd really love to take him over with me to Zurich in August/ September (we're only moving there for 3 years) so if anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it!!

Emily
 
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