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When using any form of moving horses either by way of horse transport you must remember that all horses must have a passport to be able travel, you cannot legally transport or relocate a horse or pet kept anywhere in the UK and Europe without a passport. The original passport must travel with the horse on its journey in order to meet the horse transport law. A photocopy is not sufficient and you must have the right passport for each horse traveling to an event or relocating.

Oporators licence for vehicles over 3.5 tons.

If the horse transporter being used is exceeding 3.5 Tons the owners must hold an operating license to enable it to opperate in the movement of horses. If they travelling within one country only they need a National horse transport operators license, to transport outside the country they must hold an International horse transport operators license. In the UK Operators license are issued by VOSA, in other European countries it will be issued through their own Department of Transport.

T1 and T2 Authorisation number.

Every horse transport company in Europe must also hold a valid horse transporter authorisation number. For transporters carrying horses for a maximum of 8 hours, this is a T1 Authorisation, and for transporters carrying horses in excess of 8 hours, they need a T2 Authorisation vehicles used for transporting farm livestock and horses on long journeys (those in excess of 8 hours) must be inspected and approved by the competent authority of a Member State or a body designated by a Member State. Each horse lorry must carry their Certificate of Approval, and in most countries the lorry also carries a plate to show that it has been approved. For vehicles travelling under a T2 type authorisation - they must have fans fitted, specific maximum ramp angles, temperature monitoring equipment, adequate partitions, facilities for carrying feed and sufficient water for journey etc to keep the horses stress free..

All transporter have to be independently assessed in their competence.

All people in Europe who are involved in transporting or moving livestock including horses by road on journeys that are over 65km in connection with an economic activity must be independently assessed in their competence to carry out the movements. Those assessed as competent will receive a certificate of competence. The certificate will be specific to the role the horse transporter or attendant is charged with, the length of journeys to be undertaken and the species to be transported.

a) assessment of those involved in journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours may be made by means of a theory

b) assessments of those involved in journeys over 8 hours must also include practical assessment of their competence including driving and animal handling skills.

Horses in transit or being moved in the UK and Europe.

Unregistered horses in transit must be offered drink/feed after 8 hours travel, and after 24 hours travel they must be unloaded and rested for 24 hours. This does not apply to Registered horses (ie those who hold a passport through a recognised breed/studbook agency). Horses who have a standard passport issued by one of the various passport issusing authorities, would be deemed as an unregistered horses.

Horse Passports every horse must have one.

Horses must have a passport to travel anywhere in Europe no matter how short the distance is. A photocopy of the passport is not sufficient.

Our sponsors Belvoir International horse transport for our links pages.