The matter is not how the horses are transported, it is the welfare aspect of the horses which are to be taken in to account. There are legal frameworks in European countries regarding horse transportation which were effective from january 2007. In india also the transportation is legalized. there is a rule called Animal transport rules act. 1978, under which there are 6 schedules. and among them schedule 5 bears the transportation rules of horses.

1. TRANSPORT OF HORSES
RAMESWAR PANDA
MVSC 2ND
YEAR
DEPT. OF LPM
BOMBAY VETERINARY COLLEGE

2. POINTS TO REMEMBER DURING
TRANSPORT
• No one shall transport animals, or cause them to be
transported in a way likely to cause them injury or
undue suffering.
• Journey times are kept to a minimum.
• The animals are fit to travel.
• Those handling animals have been trained and are
competent.
• The vehicle and its loading and unloading facilities are
designed, constructed and maintained to avoid injury
and suffering and to ensure the safety of the animals

3. • Water, feed and opportunity to rest are made
available to the animals as appropriate, and sufficient
floor space and height is available in the transport.
• For non-export journeys, documentation is provided
which shows the following: origin and ownership of
animals; place of departure and destination; date and
time of departure and expected duration of journey
(usually referred to as an Animal Transport
Certificate).

4. WHAT REGULATION SAYS…..
• The Regulation sets out additional requirements if you
transport horses and ponies on ‘short’ journeys over
65km (approximately 40 miles) and up to eight hours.
Transporters must:
• Hold a Type 1 transporter authorisation.
• Ensure that drivers and attendants are in possession of a certificate
of competence.
• Demonstrate that they have appropriate staff and equipment to
transport animals in a proper way, and to have no record of serious
infringements of animal welfare legislation in the preceding three
years.

5. There are, in addition to the above, a number of other
requirements for ‘long’ journeys of over eight hours.
Transporters of horses and ponies must:
• Hold a Type 2 transporter authorisation.
• Have any vehicle used for transporting horses and ponies
inspected and approved.
• Have contingency plans in place in case of emergencies.
• Complete a Journey Log where unregistered horses and ponies
are being exported

6. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Journey times
ANIMAL BASIC
STANDARD
VEHICLE
HIGHER STANDARD VEHICLE
Horse & ponies 8 hrs 24 hrs( feed and water to be
provided in every 8 hrs)
Unweaned
foals
8 hrs travel rest travel
9 hrs 1 hr 9 hrs

7. • Journey time is from first animal loaded to last animal
unloaded.
• Time spent on Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) vessels
counts towards the journey time.
• Time spent by animals in stalls or pens on specialist
livestock vessels does not count towards total journey
time, provided certain conditions are met.
• Time whilst on the aircraft during air transport does
not count towards total journey time.

8. GENERAL POINTS
• Horses and ponies older than eight months must
wear halters during transport – unless they are
unbroken animals.
• If horses or ponies are transported on a multi-deck
vehicle they must only be carried on the lowest
deck, with no other animals above them. In this
circumstance the compartment height must be at
least 75cm higher than the height of the withers of
the highest animal.

9. REGISTERED HORSES & PONIES
• A ‘registered’ horse or pony means one that is
registered in studbooks or with international
organizations managing competitions (as defined
in Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC).
• Exemptions in the Regulation for registered horses
and ponies, if accompanied throughout by a
dedicated attendant and the journey is to improve
their health and welfare, permit:

10. • Mares to be transported during the final 10% of their
gestation period.
• Mares to be transported within one week of giving birth.
• Foals with an unhealed navel to be transported with
their dam.
• Transport without the requirement for a Journey Log.

11. • Transport without being restricted by water and
feed intervals, journey times, and rest periods as
set for unregistered horses and ponies.
• Transport of animals of four months or younger
without being accompanied by their dam.

12. SEPARATION
• Horses and ponies must be handled and transported
separately from other species. The following separations
must also be applied:
 Horses and ponies of significantly different sizes or ages*.
 Adult breeding stallions from each other.
 Sexually mature males from females.
 Animals hostile to each other.
 Tied animals from untied animals.

13. SPACE ALLOWANCE
CATEGORY AREA (M2/ANIMAL)
Adult horses 1.75
Young horses for journey
with in 48 hrs
1.2
Young horses for journey
over 48 hrs
2.4
ponies 1.0
Foals 1.4

14. Temperature
• The temperature within the vehicle must not fall below
0ºC during a journey of more than eight hours.

15. VEHICLE PARTITION
The Regulation does not define dimensions for partitions
but they must:
• Be strong enough to withstand the weight of animals.
• Have fittings designed for quick and easy operation.

16. TRANSPORT OF EQUINES
TRANSPORT OF ANIMALS RULES, 1978
• 57. Rules 57 to 63 shall apply to the transport by rail,
road or sea of horses, mules and donkeys (here in after
in these rules referred to as 'equines').
• 58. (a) A valid certificate by a qualified veterinary
surgeon to the effect that the equines are in a fit
condition to travel by rail; road or sea and are not
suffering from any infectious or contagious disease or
diseases shall accompany each consignment.
(b)In the absence of such a certificate, the carrier
shall refuse to accept the consignment for transport.
(c)The certificates shall be in a form specified in
Schedule 1.

17. • 59. (a) Each consignment shall bear a label showing in
bold red letters the name address and telephone number
(if any) of the consign or and consignee the number and
type of equines being transported and quantity of rations
and food provided.
(b) The consignee shall be informed in advance about
the train or vehicle or ship in which the consignment of
equines is being sent and its arrival time.
(c) The consignment of equines shall be booked by
the next train or vehicle or ship and shall be accepted for
booking.

18. • 60. (a) Pregnant and young equines shall not be mixed
with other animals.
(b) Different species of equines shall be kept
separately.
(c) Equines shall be loaded after being fed and given
water adequately, watering arrangements shall be made
en route and sufficient food carried to last during the
journey.
(d) Veterinary first aid equipment shall accompany all
batches of equines.
(e) Adequate ventilation shall be ensured.
(f) Suitable ramps and platforms, improvised where
not available, shall be used for loading and unloading
equines

19. • 61. For the transport of equines by rail, the following
precautions shall be taken
(a) Equines shall be transported by passenger or mixed
trains only;
• (b) Ordinary goods wagon when used for transportation
shall carry not more than eight to ten horses or ten mules or
ten donkeys on broad gauge and not more than six horses
or eight donkeys on metre gauge.
• (c) In extreme hot, water shall be sprinkled over the wagons
containing equines by the railway authorities to bring down
temperature. Ice slabs in specially made containers may be
placed inside the wagon, if recommended by a qualified
veterinary surgeon;

20. (d) every wagon shall have two attendants if the equines
are more than two in number;
e) equines shall be loaded parallel to the rails, facing each
other;
(f) material for padding, such as paddy, straw, shall be
placed on the floor to avoid injury if an animal lies down
and this shall not be less than 6 cm thick;
(g) to provide adequate ventilation, upper door of the side
of the wagon shall be kept open and properly fixed and
the upper door of the wagon shall have wire guage closely
welded mesh arrangements to prevent burning cinders
from the engines entering the wagon and leading to fire
break out;

21. • (h) two breast bars shall be provided on each side of the
wagon, one at a height of 50 to 80 cm and the other at
110 cm.
62. For the transport of equines by goods vehicles, the
following precautions shall be taken, namely :
(a) Specially fitted vehicles with a special type of
tailboard and padding around the sides shall be used ;
(b) ordinary goods vehicles shall be provided with anti
slipping material on the floor and the super structure, if
low, should be raised;
(c) bamboo poles of at least 8 cm diameter between
each animal and two stout batons at the back shall be
provided to prevent the animal from falling;

22. (e) each vehicle shall not carry more than four to six
equines;
(f) each vehicle shall be provided with one attendant;
(g) these vehicles shall be driven at a speed not more
than 35 kilometers per hour;

23. • 63. For the transport of equines by sea the following
precautions shall be taken, namely:
(a) horses may normally be accommodated in single stalls and
mules in pens, each pen holding four to five mules;
• b) ample ventilation shall be ensured by keeping portholes and
providing permanent air trunks or electric blowers on all decks, and
exhaust fans shall be installed to blow out foul air;
• (d) to avoid distress specially during hot weather, the ship may go
underway immediately after embarking and disembarking shall be
done as early as possible after anchoring.
• (e) colts and fillies shall be kept on the exposed decks;
• (f) a pharmacy and spare stalls for five per cent of equines shall be
available; (g) passage between two rows of pens shall not be less
than 1.5 metres.

24. SCHEDULE I
[See Rule 58]
Performa for Certificate of fitness to travel Equines
This Certificate should be completed and signed by a qualified Veterinary
Surgeon.
Date and time of examination : ..................................................................
Species of Equines: ....................................................................................
Number of Equines: ....................................................................................
Sex------- Age -----------
Breed and identification marks, if any ---------Transported from
-------------..to--------..Via-----------..
I hereby certify that I have read rules 57 to 63 in Chapter V of the Transport of
Animals Rules, 1978.
1. That, at the request of (consignor) I examined the above mentioned equines
not more than 12 hours before their departure.
2. That each equine appeared to be in a fit condition to travel by rail/road/sea
and is not showing any signs of any infectious or
contagious disease(s) and that it has been vaccinated against any infectious or
contagious diseases(s).
3. That the equines were adequately fed and watered for the purpose of the
journey

25. 4. That the equines have been vaccinated.
(a) Type of vaccine (s) :
(b) Date of vaccination:
Signed-----------------------
Address ------------------------
Qualifications---------------------
Date -------------------------

26. TRAILER/FLOATS/BOXES

27. Not safe to horses

28. Goosenecks

33. Horses are carried to air port
Inside the plane

36. Equipment for Travel
Travelling
Boots/Bandages
Halter/Head Collar &
Lead Rope

37. Equipment for Travel
Poll Guard
Tail Bandage/Guard

38. Equipment for Travel
Day Rug/Sheet
Rug/Blanket

39. Safety Checks
Tyre Pressure
Trailer Checks
Vehicle Checks

40. THANK YOU