Welfare first, always

“Transporting horses internationally is about the safe, humane and efficient movement of animals,” Toby explains. “Every decision we make is centred around welfare.”

Cathay Cargo has developed a strong reputation in the equine transport space, supported by its certification under the IATA CEIV Live Animals programme, an internationally recognised framework that governs training, facilities, and operational standards across the air cargo supply chain.

“CEIV requires rigorous training, facility audits and quality management systems,” Toby says. “It ensures consistency and professionalism at every stage, and it helps minimise stress for the animals and peace of mind for their owners.”

That framework applies regardless of whether the horses are elite competition mounts or travelling for other purposes. The goal is always the same: calm, safe transport and horses arriving in good physical and mental condition.

A partnership-driven operation

Equine air transport relies on collaboration across a complex supply chain. Airlines, freight forwarders, veterinarians, grooms, ground handlers and regulatory authorities must all work in sync.

“It’s absolutely a partnerships game,” Toby says. “Everyone involved needs to understand their role and the standards required.”

Cathay Cargo works closely with long-term partners such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club and specialist equine freight companies including IRT and Instone. These relationships allow complex movements to be planned and executed with confidence.

“Our role is to work with customers to understand their needs, then build solutions with our service delivery teams,” Toby explains. “But it’s our ground handling and operations teams who deliver those high levels of service to our customers and comfort to the horses day in, day out.”

The Hong Kong International Horse Show charter

For the Hong Kong International Horse Show, Cathay Cargo operated a dedicated charter flight from Liège, Belgium, transporting 51 elite horses, 9 ponies and 7 dogs directly to Hong Kong.

“The scale and precision made this shipment unique,” Toby says. “We were working to a tight competition schedule, so timing was critical.”

Direct flights are preferred wherever possible, as they reduce transit time and handling, which in turn reduces stress on the horses. In this case, the charter ensured the animals arrived with sufficient recovery time ahead of competition.

“There was extensive coordination between owners, trainers, vets, grooms, airport teams and regulatory authorities,” Toby explains. “Everyone played a crucial role, with animal welfare always front of mind.”

Strict veterinary inspections, quarantine protocols and documentation were required, all in line with international biosecurity standards.

Planning ahead for international competition

For riders and owners preparing for international competition, Toby emphasises the importance of early planning.

“The short answer is as much time as possible,” he says. “International equine transport requires preparation several months in advance.”

From the owner or trainer perspective, this begins with veterinary examinations, vaccinations and compliance with destination-specific quarantine requirements.

“Health certification standards vary by country,” Toby explains. “Understanding those requirements early is essential, especially where vaccinations or lead times are involved.”

From there, transport planning considers factors such as distance, climate, seasonality and how much recovery time the horse needs before competing.

“All routing and timing decisions are made with the horse’s comfort and welfare in mind,” he says.

Why the Boeing 747 is the aircraft of choice

For long-haul equine transport, Cathay Cargo uses the Boeing 747 freighter, an aircraft particularly well suited to live animal movements.

“The 747 offers space, accessibility and excellent ambient temperature control,” Toby explains.

Horses travel on the main deck in purpose-built stalls, designed to replicate stable conditions and provide secure footing throughout the journey. The main deck environment is typically quieter, with less vibration.

Grooms travel on the upper deck and have constant access to the horses during flight.

“They can regularly check on the animals, which is incredibly important,” Toby says.

The aircraft’s nose door also allows greater flexibility during loading and unloading, helping to minimise loading time and reduce stress for the horses.

Managing stress on the ground and in the air

Loading and unloading are widely recognised as the most stressful stages of transport, and Cathay Cargo takes a meticulous approach to managing these moments.

“Horses are calmly led into their stalls in controlled cargo terminal environments,” Toby explains. “They’re then transferred using high loaders by specially trained, CEIV-certified handling teams.”

Veterinarians and grooms oversee the process from start to finish, ready to intervene if any signs of stress appear.

Quiet staging areas, careful temperature and lighting management, and strict limits on transit times further support horse welfare on the ground.

In flight, monitoring continues throughout the journey.

“Grooms follow a strict schedule, checking hydration, feeding, behaviour, ventilation and overall comfort,” Toby says. “Temperature and environmental conditions are continuously monitored by the flight crew.”

Onboard veterinarians are available where required, with equipment and medication to address any issues that may arise.

Looking ahead

With international competition returning strongly post-COVID, equine air transport continues to evolve.

“There’s always room to improve,” Toby says. “Better stall designs, improved ventilation systems and more efficient transit times are all areas where technology is helping.”

Digitisation is also playing an increasing role, including real-time tracking and data visibility to provide additional reassurance to owners.

Despite technological advances, Toby believes the core principles remain unchanged.

“This isn’t just cargo,” he says. “These horses represent years of dedication and emotional investment.”

“It’s a challenging part of our business, but also one of the most rewarding. We’re proud to play our role in getting these horses safely to where they need to be.”