Buyer’s guide
Horse transport services: what to look for
This is about international air export — flying a horse out of the country. If you're comparing companies for that job, here's what actually separates a good one from a risky one.
Three kinds of company
'Horse transport company' means three different businesses.
Most of what ranks for that phrase is one of the first two. If you're actually moving a horse out of the country, you need the second.
Domestic ground transport
Trailers a horse between two points within the US, priced by the mile. Reputable at what they do, but not set up for pre-export isolation, an international health certificate or a customs-compliant crate.
This is us
International air export
Manages the full chain for a horse leaving the country — USDA pre-export isolation, veterinary testing, an International Health Certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS, an air stable and a flying groom. A materially smaller list of companies actually do this. We’ve been one of them for over 40 years.
Insurance-only providers
Arrange mortality or transit coverage for the move but don’t handle the physical transport themselves. Worth pairing with either company above, not a substitute for one.
Six things to check
What separates a real international shipper from a booking agent.
A real track record of international shipments
Ask for examples of completed shipments to your actual destination, not a general sales pitch. See our real completed shipments, with real destinations and species.
A USDA-accredited veterinary network
International export requires a USDA-accredited veterinarian to run the destination test panel and prepare the International Health Certificate, and USDA APHIS to endorse it. A company that can't speak to this in detail hasn't done many of these.
A groom flying with the horse
Not every provider sends a person, not just a crate. Ask specifically whether a groom travels on the flight, and whether that's included in the price or billed as an add-on.
Air stables built for the shipment
Single, pair or triple configuration changes both welfare and cost. A company that quotes without asking how the horse will be configured in the stable is guessing.
Involvement through arrival, not just departure
Ask who handles the offload and loading into trailers at the destination, and who coordinates with the receiving agent. Some companies hand off at the departure airport and consider the job done.
A written quote that states scope plainly
What's included (air freight, isolation, testing, the groom) and what's billed separately (ground transport, farm board, destination customs) should be stated up front, not discovered on the invoice.
Questions we hear a lot
Horse transport services FAQ
What is horse transport insurance, and do I need it?
Most international horse transport moves under the airline's standard cargo liability, which is limited and not the same as full mortality insurance. Buyers moving valuable horses usually arrange separate mortality or transit insurance through a bloodstock insurer for the period the horse is in isolation and transit. Ask any company you're evaluating exactly what liability applies by default and what you'd need to arrange yourself — a reputable transporter will answer that plainly.
What's the difference between horse transport services and horse freight?
Functionally, nothing — both describe moving a horse as cargo rather than as a passenger. “Freight” shows up more in how airlines and logistics providers describe the booking; “transport service” is closer to how owners search for the same thing. Either way, it's the same booking: an air stable, a groom, and the paperwork to get the horse legally into the destination country.
Is there a horse transport service near me?
We're not a local trailer service. Flying Horse Services specializes in international air export — flying horses out of the United States from gateways including Los Angeles, Dallas–Fort Worth, Chicago and Miami. If you need a horse moved between two points within the US, a domestic ground hauler is the right kind of company for that job; if the horse is leaving the country, that's exactly what we do.
How is an international horse transport company different from a domestic hauler?
A domestic hauler trailers horses over the road, priced by the mile. An international company manages USDA pre-export isolation, veterinary testing, an International Health Certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS, IATA-compliant air stables and a groom flying with the horse — none of which a trailer company is set up to do. If a quote for a horse leaving the country doesn't mention permits, isolation or a health certificate, ask why.
How do I choose a horse transport company?
Check for a real track record of completed international shipments, a USDA-accredited veterinary network and credentials, a groom who actually flies with the horse, air stables sized to the shipment, involvement through arrival at the destination, and a written quote that states scope plainly. Each of those is a fair question to put directly to any company you're evaluating — see the checklist above for what to listen for in the answer.
How do I get a quote?
Send us the species, timing and destination through our quote form, and we'll come back with a written figure once we've confirmed the destination protocol is open. Most quotes go out within one to two business days.