Transport costs?

[Blueyblues]

Hello, first time posting!

I'm researching to buy a horse in the next six months, and am currently looking into the cost of transport from seller's yard to mine... obviously it depends/varies on where in the country the horse currently is! But I was wondering if there was an industry average price per mile for horse transport? For reference, I've seen a horse I particularly like that is 250 miles from me... any idea of a ballpark figure I would need to plan for?

Many thanks!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

It depends on the transporter, whether it’s a shared load and at the moment the price of fuel will be a contributing factor. The last transport I used in the UK was 2017 from Somerset to the Cotswolds for one pony and cost me over £350. It was a local person to me and he drove down empty and came back with the pony. The best thing you can do is contact some local transporters and ask them to give you quotes for up to 250 miles so you know before you buy what the cost will be and can budget for it.

 

[neddy man]

Or ask the seller, if they can't they will probably know someone who will.

 

[sassandbells]

I had a 240 mile round trip quoted for £250 to £350 about 5 years ago.

In the past month had a 100 mile round trip quoted between £150 and £250.

If you have someone who’s confident in driving 3.5t horseboxes with a horse in then there’s a few places who do self drive hire. Some of them have mileage and age restrictions but are generally far cheaper than horse transporters, however professional transporters are worth their weight in gold especially with horses you don’t know.

 

[Jess1994PM]

Most ive contacted vary between £1.50-£2.00 a mile. I had my filly travel 53 miles from someone who was local to me so its per mile there and back for them (106 miles). A company tried charging me £450 for the same journey! Almost double and half! I find the family run smaller business's are better priced. The only time I would differ is if I needed specialised travelling for anything under 1 as I like people to have experience travelling babies.
If i was to hazard a rough guess for 250 miles I would say your looking at £600-£750.

 

[Jess1994PM]

Most ive contacted vary between £1.50-£2.00 a mile. I had my filly travel 53 miles from someone who was local to me so its per mile there and back for them (106 miles). A company tried charging me £450 for the same journey! Almost double and half! I find the family run smaller business's are better priced. The only time I would differ is if I needed specialised travelling for anything under 1 as I like people to have experience travelling babies.
If i was to hazard a rough guess for 250 miles I would say your looking at £600-£750.

Thats 500 mile round trip (there and back)

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Transport for one horse from Surrey to Herefordshire last summer cost £370 - I’d imagine it would be more now because of the rise in fuel costs. We looked into various options including self-drive hire and it wasn’t going to be that much cheaper plus the stress of having to get the box back within the time allowed would have been hideous!

 

[Z3bby]

Paid £80 a few months ago for 42 mile trip (84 round at least) travelled to us empty, he was recommended by my boys new yard owner.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Its usually 1.00-2.00 per mile depending where you are , fuel costs might mean more though now

 

[Blueyblues]

Thank you for the replies - as suggested I reached out to a couple of carriers and have received quotes in the £350 - £420 bracket, which seems reasonable considering the distance and current fuel prices.