Protecting horses during transport

Identification of equines is an obligation. To be able to circulate, you should be able to present the travelling horse’s identification documents or passport, issued either by the Ifce or by a foreign body, to the  authorities requesting it.

Additionally electronic identification by having the horse micro-chipped (transponder) is compulsary for all equines born in France, imported or introduced since the 1st January 2008 (Decree dated 21st May 2004)

On French territory

The only compulsary vaccination is for equine influenza (validated by sticking the stamps and having it noted by the treating vet in the horse’s ID document). It is required for the horse to take part in any official show or competition.

Vaccinating against tetanus is however also strongly advised. Some stud books impose a different vaccination protocol (e.g. the trotter sud-book requires the horse to be vaccinated against EHV).

In Europe

Vaccinations against equine influenza and tetanus are required.

In the world

Each country has its own  sanitary regulations and procedures for importing and exporting horses. The information can be obtained from the French embassy of the destination country.

For horses travelling through Europe or for export, a sanitary certificate is required. Non EU countries each have different import and export regulations which are sometimes complex. International professional carriers and forwarding agents are experienced regarding the procedures to follow. Sanitary certificates are available from the Exp@don. database. If there is no online document for the destination countrry, the Ifce (French institute for horses and equestrianism) will intervene if necessary with the DGAL (the authority attached to the ministry of agriculture for food).

Are considered unfit for transport horses who are in any of the following cases :

• Horses who are sick, injured or presenting a physiological weakness, are considered unfit to travel unless being transported to or from  a veterinary surgery or clinic (see Annex I, Chapter I- regulation (EC) n°1/2005)
• Regarding horse transport,  unregisterd horses (not registered in a stud book), gestating mares having reached over 90 % of their gestation period, or having foaled within the previous week, as well as foals whose navel is not comletely healed, are also considered unfit to travel.
   

Note : You will find the definition of « registered horse » in the « Definitions » section of the fact sheet : General regulations regarding the transport of horses.

• The animals should not be beaten or kicked.
• Horses over 8 months old should be equipped with a headcollar and tied (except for unbroken horses).
• For long journeys :
  • Unweaned foals still on a milk diet can be transported for a maximum period of 18 hours. After 9 hours they must be given a rest period of at least one hour to be watered and fed if necessary. After this one hour break, travel may resume for a further 9 hour period.
  • Domestic horses can be transported for up to 24 hours maximum. During transport they should be rested every 8 hours for at least an hour, watered, and fed if necessary.

After the duration time defined above, the horses should be unloaded, fed and watered and  rested for a minimum of 24 hours.

In the case of Maritime transport (Transroulier) with regular links between two geographic locations in the EU (e.g. Corsica, the UK….) => a 12 hour rest period must be scheduled for the animals at or near the port of destination, except if the maritime transport is integrated in one of the above cases.

Minimum ground surface requirements are part of the regulations for the transport of horses by road :

*During long distance travel, foals and young horses must be able to lie down.

These surfaces can vary by +10 % for adult horses and ponies, and by up to 20 % for foals and young horses depending on their weight and size, but also on their physical condition, the weather conditions and the probable duration of the journey.

For rail, sea, and air transport, consult the regulation (EC) 1/2005 for information regarding minimum transport surfaces.

Horses over 8 months old must be equipped with a headcollar during transport. When travelling for long periods of time, the animal should be able to lie down, eat and drink- if needs be, without risk of injury or strangulation. Unbroken horses can travel without being tied, in groups of maximum 4, respecting the minimum surface requirements.

The position of the tie-ring is important, and should be determined to avoid the risk of strangulation, or the animal hanging itself. It is a good idea to tie low down rather than too high.

In fact, even if the obligations relative to the protection of animals and the environment are required for all types of vehicle, additional equipment and fittings requirements are mandatory, as well as competences of the driver/handlers for travel exceeding a duration of 8 hours.

JORF (Official journal of the French republic) n° 0169 dated 23 July 2019, text n° 40 Decree dated 22 July 2019, restricting the transport of live vertebrate animals during a heatwave – NOR : AGRG1921669A.

A decree dated 22nd July 2019, implemented 23rd July 2019, was established to regulate the transport by road of live vertebrate animals during heatwaves.

This decree concerns custodians, contracting parties and live veterbrate animals carriers.

When the duration of transport of the animals exceeds 8 hours, and the transport was carried out during part of or the entirety of the period mentioned above, the contracting party or carrier transfers to the préfet, after the animals’ arrival, the temperature recordings and the geo-tracking data which guarantee that the animals were transported in accordance to the conditions required. He should supply this data within 48 hours after arrival.

The above decree does not apply :

• To transport of animals directly to and from a veterinary clinic or surgery carried out following veterinarian advice ;
• To the direct transport of animals, authorised by the préfet, to another location or to an abbatoir. For reasons linked to animal protection.
   

Consult the decree online via the following link : www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do

• Regulation (EC) n°1/2005 of the EU council dated 22nd december 2004
• Rural Code book II,  1st heading chapter IV section 4- Transport of live animals – modified by the ruling n° 2015-616 dated 4th June 2015 article 3.