"Shipping Fever" and best transporters from Ireland ....

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no_no_nanette

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I've just brought over two lovely youngsters from a small breeder in co. Monaghan with a friend, and we used a shipper who turned out to be very unreliable on the dates that they were due to arrive, and they were held at their yard for 4 days beyond the planned travel date. They've arrived finally, but we've immediately had to have the vet, as they are both running temperatures and have bad cases of the "snots".
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I think classic cases of "shipping fever". (We know that they were fine when they left the breeder)

We are planning to go back to the same breeder in the spring for a youngster that we really liked, but thought he would benefit from maturing a bit more ... and I'm very nervous about subjecting him to the same transport experience, and then having to pay vet's fees! Does anyone have any recommendations for good quality reliable Irish horse transport companies that we could use next time around?
 
If it's not until the spring, you could try transporters that go over with mares to the studs to fetch back for you; that way you might profit from shared journeys. One I would recommend is LRT from Lambourn (run by Merrick Francis, Dick's son) who always have great drivers but there are quite a few companies that will go over for you. (Else you could always go and pick up yourselves and have a holiday at the same time!)
Bear in mind, there could be all sorts of reasons (I'm not looking for excuses for them but sometimes there are legitimate reasons why shipping is delayed) why your horses were held for 4 days but it's not unusual for things like this to happen. Transporters should try to avoid it if at all possible; they too, want your horse with you as healthy as it was when it climbed aboard. Might be teaching you to suck eggs but many Irish youngsters come over to have the snots; sometimes it's because they have never been off their farm before so aren't used to outside contacts; they also find it quite stressful travelling for such a long time, especially if it is their first trip.
Irish horses are lovely, do envy you for being brave enough to actually go over yourselves and buy from the breeders. Hope they go on and have good futures for you.
 
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. i would whole heartedly recommend Ballinrobe horse transport, based in Ireland, very good service, reliable, excellent care, good lorries, nice people etc. will use them again. Last horse was the last drop after arriving on a full lorry from England and was in great shape.
 
I bet I could guess the transporter you used! I know someone that went to his 'base' in Ireland after waiting over a week for his mare to be delivered. She was in a barn with 6 horses, with no water, waiting 'for the last one to make up a load'.
I use Richard Mathias, very reliable (and reasonable), but not sure he delivers to your area.
 
Kelamer Bloodstock - used them Wales-Ireland (they are Irish based though). Hugely professional, not too expensive, spent 5 hours (!) loading my youngster who hadn't seen a lorry before. Gave him a double stall loose box space at no extra charge. They transfered him to a box to arrive at my yard due to the tiny lanes with no fuss. He arrived after 2.5 days travel (a days delay due to ferry cancellation) looking calm, happy and relaxed. Couldn't have aksed for any better.

http://www.kelamerbloodstock.com/
 
I used john parker ltd who advertises in the back of h&h to bring a horse over from ireland in 2004. He arrived about half an hour before the time they said and in absolute tip top condition, the lorry was immaculate and the men were very professional.
 
Brilliant suggestions, thanks so much guys ... sounds as though there are a good many really considerate transporters out there, and will definitely investigate suggestions when it comes closer to the time to bring this boy over.

Vicijp, wouldn't be surprised at all if its the same one - had the same message that they were "waiting to make up a load". And then when they did arrive it was in an ENORMOUS artic with further trailer behind, that the single driver was completely unable to back into what is a pretty wide entrance, held up all the traffic, people getting very a***ie!
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The horses eventually had to be unloaded in the road - it was all a nightmare!! And they had forgotten to bring one horses passport. The upsetting thing was that as well as having the snots, the little 3 year old, who had been a complete sweetie when we went to see her, and had been very happy and willing to be loose schooled, handled, etc, was huddling in the back of her stable during the first day, and was quite nippy and aggressive. Makes me wonder what had happened to them at the transporters yard. But she's beginning to cheer up already, and likes being groomed, so we'll just wait until she's feeling better, and will take it very slowly and carefully with her, and convince her that (most) people really ARE nice and friendly!

BTW, how much should we expect to pay? Does anyone have any guidance on this? We paid £200 for each horse this time around - maybe that was too cheap??
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Sorry to hear of your bad experience!

I am afraid you get what you pay for in this day and age! £200 sounds like roof rack transport and I am sure I can guess who you are talking about and he isn't legal!!!!

We tend to pay for an individual load especially for youngsters as they need a 3m squared loose box to travel legally in-it will be more money but then we won't be getting vets bills when the transporter arrives!


Look on www.findhorsetransport.com
 
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