International Movement & Transport

Competing at International level will often require the movement of horses across borders. Just like a horse with an infectious disease should not compete, countries want to ensure that horses that they allow to be imported, even on a temporary basis, are not going to introduce disease to the population of horses normally resident in their country. They therefore often insist on certain health requirements which can range from simple verification of the horse's identity and pre-importation health check, through to pre-importation periods of quarantine with testing for certain diseases, followed by a post-importation period of quarantine when the horse arrives at the destination country. Sometimes the requirements imposed are actually due to that country being part of a wider international trade agreement which means other countries will not trade in horses, unless the exporting countries impose these strict health requirements.

The FEI passport is essential for this type of international movement as it provides very clear identification of the horse. Health standards are high at FEI events and this gives initial confidence to a government that importing a horse that competes at FEI fixtures is relatively safe. However they may still impose testing and/or quarantine requirements, so you must always check whether such requirements exist. The vest approach is to either ask your shipping agent or contact the veterinary authorities of your own country first. For large FEI events, the Organizing Committee will often provide information on the importation requirements.

Often the various requirements needed are very variable, so always check if you are moving a horse to a country where you have not taken horses before.

There is a need for greater clarity and a more risk-based approach. The FEI is actively working with many global organisations to ensure that any unwarranted movement requirements by countries are more rational and proportionate. The International Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has approached the FEI to establish an ad-hoc group for improving horse movements while still retaining the prevention of disease spread that is so important. The group consists of experts who have extensive experience in the various aspects of horse transport and disease control.

The FEI is also a member of the International Movement of Horses Group, which is also seeking to improve this confusing area.

Horse Transport Studies
Transport of competition horses, on a global basis, has dramatically increased in the last decade. Apart from the complicated consequences that this may have for import and re-entry health requirements in the countries involved, long haul transport of horses can also result in clinical disease.

A 1999 US seminar was dedicated to transport, with the aim of producing a detailed inventory, including a set of recommendations that could be made available to NFs, NOCs, athletes, trainers and veterinarians. During the congress it became clear that many research institutes are in possession of clinical data, illustrating that horses being transported by air or road for long hauls, suffer from travel stress and related disease. The respiratory system is primarily affected, with symptoms varying from dehydration to full-blown shipping fever, which can prove fatal. It was also evident that routine standards relating to the position of horses in planes, the effect of pallets on the ventilation patterns and the restrained housing of the horse (in particular its head position) are more based on economic than scientific data. For example, the fact that the horse cannot lower its head when being transported by plane greatly affects airway clearance and leads to an accumulation of debris and micro-organisms in the respiratory system.

Several research openings were identified during that seminar. A follow-up seminar transport convention was organised in 2003, during which a wider audience was informed of the accompanying risk of horse transport and the best ways to prevent travel related disease.