Best Horse Transport Companies

For many people, horses are pets, performance partners and investments. So when you need to ship them across the country or internationally, you want to be confident in your choice of shipping partner. 

Horse transport isn’t easy. Horses must be kept safe, watered, and fed for the duration of the trip. In addition, they may require layover facilities, health checks, quarantine, and more. Therefore, you’ll want to ensure your horse transport company offers the route you need and will help you and your horse throughout the entire transport process. 

If you need a horse transportation service, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of 5  horse transport companies in the U.S, read on to learn more. 

Quicklook: Best Horse Transport Companies

• Best For  Local and Affordable Transport: uShip
• Best For Domestic Ground Transport: Equine Express
• Best For International Transport: EquiJet
• Best For Horse Show Transport: Brook Ledge Horse Transportation 
• Best For Last Minute and Emergency Transport: Elite Horse Transport

5 Best Horse Transport Companies

Here are five of the most reliable horse transportation companies in the U.S. that can get your horse safely across the country.

uShip

uShip is not a horse transportation company, they’re a platform that connects customers to horse transportation companies. By using uShip, customers can see a variety of companies nearby and compare quotes. It’s a much more efficient search method than Googling “horse transport near me!”

Best For: Local and Affordable Transport

Insurance Coverage: Yes
Door to Door Service: Yes

Private Charter: Yes

Tracking: Yes

International Shipping: Yes

Benefits:

•  Provides multiple companies and quotes
•  Allows you to find the transport company that best fits your needs.

Disadvantages: 

•  Not a transport company

Equine Express

Equine Express is one of the leading ground horse transport companies in the U.S. They offer door-to-door services for customers who only need to ship a few horses, private charter and special shipments, which are similar to private charter but with flexible dates to lower the cost. 

They transport horses in their air-ride vans with box stalls and stall-and-a-half options. Equine Express ships all across the U.S., from coast to coast. Additionally, they’re known for their excellent communication, easy-to-call drivers, and shipping.

Best For: Domestic Ground Transportation

Insurance Coverage: Yes, Equine Express has physical liability insurance required by the FHWA and Texas state.
Door to Door Service: Yes

Private Charter: Yes

Tracking: Yes. All drivers will keep shippers and receivers updated on the current ETA. In addition, all trucks are equipped with GPS, so customers can find the truck’s location by contacting the office. Customers will also be given their driver’s cell phone number. 

International Shipping: No

Benefits:

• Can ship anywhere across the country.
• Cancel seven days before to get the 10% deposit back  
• Air ride vans
• Door-to-door service allows customers to ship one or a few horses in a shared van to save on shipping costs

Disadvantages: 

• Cannot ship tack
• Only one layover space in the country, which is located in Texas
• Domestic shipping only

EquiJet

In addition to domestic transportation, EquiJet is one of the best companies to ship your horse(s) overseas to Europe and South America. They work with experienced ground transport companies and airlines. In addition, they can handle all pre-export health checks, quarantine, documentation, and more. 

Best For: International Transport 

Insurance Coverage: Yes
Door to Door Service: Yes

Private Charter: No

Tracking: No 

International Shipping: Yes

Benefits:

•  International shipping with airlines experienced in equine transport
•  EquiJet will handle transportation to and from the airport
•  EquiJet takes care of all health checks, quarantine, and bloodwork
• A certified groom accompanies horses for all care
• Can send equipment

Disadvantages: 

•  No tracking
•  Best for one or a few horses, not large amounts

Brook Ledge Horse Transportation

Brook Ledge Horse Transportation partnered with C&E Horse Transport and operates under the Brook Ledge name providing customers with more horse transportation resources. They offer domestic ground travel and international flights to Canada. Brook Ledge has a more limited number of routes, but they transport horses to all the major horse shows and race hubs. That’s why they are the official transportation sponsor of Trave City Horse Shows and Live Oak International. 

Best For: Horse Show Transport

Insurance Coverage: Yes, $5000 mortality insurance
Door to Door Service: Yes

Private Charter: Yes

Tracking: Yes. Each truck has cell phone access for communication with drivers

International Shipping: Yes. Brook Ledge ships to Canada and the U.S.

Benefits: 

• Two drivers on each trip
• Video monitoring system to keep an eye on horses while driving
• Non-stop and expedited trips
• No deposit is required
• Can ship tack at no extra cost

Disadvantages: 

•  Limited amount of routes

Elite Horse Transportation

Operating out of Kentucky, New York, and Virginia, Elite Horse Transportation delivers across the U.S. and Canada. They offer a variety of services with experienced staff and air ride vans. Known for their last-minute transportation services, Elite Horse Transportation has helped worried customers with emergency transportation and short-notice transport needs. 

Best For: Last Minute and Emergency Transport

Insurance Coverage: Yes. $1000 mortality insurance
Door to Door Service: Yes

Private Charter: Yes

Tracking: Yes. Every truck has GPS and cell phones so customers can contact the driver or get the truck’s location from the office. 

International Shipping: Yes. Elite Horse Transportation ships horses domestically and to Canada.

Benefits: 

•  Video monitoring in trailers to check on horses
• Quick service
• Can ship anywhere in the U.S. and Canada
• Can ship tack

Disadvantages: 

• Customers must provide hay
•  A 50% deposit is required
• Hard loader fee
• Low insurance

Average Cost to Transport a Horse

The cost to transport a horse depends on various factors, such as distance, number of horses, and company. Typically, you can pay between $0.75 to $3 per mile. It’s best to budget on the higher end of that scale when planning on transporting your horse. 

Additionally, you may need to consider other fees, such as a hard loader fee if you have a difficult horse. For a more accurate quote, reach out to a specific horse transportation company near you or browse a shipping load board.

Is Horse Transportation Safe?

Transporting a horse can be nerve-wracking. However, horses and other livestock are transported around the country and internationally every day. Of course, there are always risks. To ensure a safe transport process, you should get a health certificate to ensure your horse is healthy enough to travel. 

Prepare Your Horse for Safe Long Distance Travel

From ensuring you have the proper paperwork to organizing for drop off and pick up, planning for your horse’s travel can be overwhelming! However, vetting and identifying a reliable horse transportation company can make the travel process much smoother. It’s recommended to only work with professional and insured companies with a staff who is experienced handling horses. Always read reviews before partnering with a company.

Hiring the right horse transportation service will make all the difference during the planning and transport. Ensure you work with a company that can drive your route and provides you with the necessary service and communication. 

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