Curious question about flying horses (by plane)

[Josette]

I was just wondering about all the show horses (or race) who routinely are transported across the country. The major migration of riders/trainers/horses to FL or other locals for the big shows. Do many of them fly and how convenient and costly is it? I'm not talking about international transport but within USA for coast to coast transport. I knew someone years ago who flew a horse from CA for around $5K and it included transport to farm. I found this site and it seems like it may be more common now to transport this way. I would think it is far less stressful for the horse than days on a shipping van especially with poor weather in parts of the country.

https://timdutta.com/flight-schedule/

[piedmontfields]

I am familiar with Dutta from our trainer's regular imports of horses from IRE.

It does seem that more US-based folks are using air to ship horses East/West--especially in the racing world. It would be interesting to learn about which other disciplines are doing this. Most of the dressage trainers I know in the east still use ground transportation for the winter migration to Florida, though.

[musical comedy]

I inquired about this, but I can't find the email with their reply. It was reasonable, but I guess it all depends on what one feels is reasonable. My quote from from California to Lexington, Ky. Then I'd have to ship up to NJ from KY, and there are always trucks on that route. I got my quote from Tex Sutton. texsutton.com They put their schedule and routes up on their site. As I recall, it was around 5-7k from California to KY. That may sound like a lot, but I didn't think so.

[Josette]

Yes - I was wondering about the east - west coast transport when viewing their flight map. The major show migration on the east coast do use the big shippers or private services to truck to FL show seasons. Very common to see Beacon Hill vans on rte 195 and NJ turnpike. It was many years ago that I knew someone who flew her sister's horse from CA to NJ - it was door to door service. I have no idea who she used.

MC - I think 5-7K is reasonable for the shorter transport time and I would hope less stress on the horse. The bad weather conditions across the country at times (including summer tornado season) would make it hard imo to truck super long distances. I've done it in the past and wished for an easier way. I think there may be some quota crtieria regarding number of horses to fill the plane. You may have to wait until a flight meets that number - but I don't know.....

[Literiding]

The horses travel in a special ULD (Unit Load Device) used by both cargo and passenger aircraft. Up to three horses can be carried in each ULD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_load_device

Here is a nice little YouTube video of a team moving their horses from Europe to the USA for 2018 games using ULDs:

https://youtu.be/LYa2cMiwYlQ

As long as the airport's automated cargo handling system can handle the weight and size of the ULD carrying the horses, the customer is charged by weight and cube just like any other cargo.

[Koolkat]

A little off the migratory path OP refers to, but I use to board/train with the woman that the airlines employed to handle flying horses from Seattle to Alaska. It was pretty routine. That was in the early 90's. . .

And then there's Air Horse One, they don't use "crates", they construct modular stalls around the horses:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/f ... /92782198/

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Ai ... ORM=VDRVRV

https://gardenandgun.com/articles/look- ... horse-one/

[Josette]

koolkat - FedEx and UPS - who knew! Thanks for those links.

[Koolkat]

When you absolutely must have that horse overnight!!

Heaven help us if Amazon gets in on one click "buy it" for horses w/same day shipping!!!

[Josette]

I'd be doomed as an Amazon Prime member with my trigger finger.

[Imperini]

bahahahaha we'd all be doomed!

I tried to get some quotes when I was moving Pal from Toronto to Las Vegas, but I never had much luck with anything other than ground quotes. Perhaps because we were coming from another country so that would have made it more difficult, I don't know. I would have paid a few thousand more to spare her riding in a trailer the whole trip which was if I recall correctly 4 days.

[Tanga]

I assume 5 to 7 K one way? I guess if you're fairly well off, it's reasonable.

For things like the national finals, if you need to fly from CA to KY, round trip 10 to 14 k seems like quite a lot of money to me. And if you're from N. CA, you have to ship the horse down to LA (5 to 10 hour drive depending on where you are) to fly out from there because they don't fly out of SF.

[Canyon]

Every time I see this topic listed, I assume that we will be discussing Pegasus and his friends. Carry on...

[Josette]

Ha - title corrected