Last updated: October 17, 2026
Maybe you’ve found the right horse in Europe and need to get it home, or you’re sending a racehorse or show horse overseas to compete. Either way, the first quote for flying a horse will probably make you sit down. Before you compare quotes, find out exactly what each one covers.
Here’s how those costs break down, why some horses cost more to ship, and what to check before you book.
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How Much Does It Cost to Fly a Horse Internationally?
Matt Haug, general manager of IRT USA, told Cowboy State Daily in 2024 that flying a horse internationally ranges from about $10,000 to $30,000 per horse, depending on the route and whether it travels economy or in more space.
That broad range doesn’t tell you what a particular quote includes, and the flight is only one line on the bill. For a more specific example, here’s how DM Sporthorses, a dealer that imports show jumpers, estimates the cost of bringing a horse from Europe to the U.S., with the flight listed separately:
| Expense | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Transatlantic flight, shared stall | $7,000 to $10,000 |
| Initial U.S. import quarantine | About $3,250 |
| CEM quarantine, mares | About $3,400 more |
| CEM quarantine, stallions | About $9,700 more |
| Export blood work and vet paperwork | $500 to $1,500 |
| Ground transport in Europe and the U.S. | $500 to $2,000 |
Adding up the flight, initial quarantine, vet paperwork, and ground transport gives a planning subtotal of about $11,250 to $16,750 for a gelding, before any charges the table doesn’t list. In that same estimate, CEM quarantine adds about $3,400 for a mare or $9,700 for a stallion on top of that subtotal when required. These are one importer’s published estimates, not standard fees, and your total will depend on the departure country, arrival airport, stall space, quarantine rules, and final destination.
Before you accept a quote, ask:
- Is it one-way, and what stall space does it include?
- Does it cover pickup and delivery, or only airport to airport?
- Are testing, paperwork, quarantine, and agent or broker fees included?
- Is insurance included, or do you arrange it separately?
- What happens to the bill if the departure or release from quarantine is delayed?
What Affects International Horse Shipping Rates
- Stall space. Horses fly in portable air stalls. As the Racing Post explains, a stall can carry three horses side by side in economy, two in business, or one in first class. More space means a higher quote, so ask which arrangement you’re being offered.
- The route. Busy routes with regular cargo flights generally cost less than places without them. If there’s no scheduled flight, you may wait for one or pay for a charter, which costs far more.
- Your horse’s sex. Mares and stallions can face extra quarantine and testing coming into the U.S., which adds time and thousands of dollars.
- Extras. Your own groom, insurance, agent fees, and customs brokerage all add to the bill.
How Much Is It to Fly a Horse in the U.S.?
Domestic flights can cost several thousand dollars per horse, depending on the route and the service. In 2019, Garden & Gun described H.E. Sutton Forwarding’s Air Horse One as a Boeing 727 that could carry up to 21 horses and reported fares of about $3,250 to $4,950. Those are historical figures, not current rates, so get a quote for your route and travel dates.
Most horses moving within the country still go by road, though. A professional hauler usually costs a few dollars a mile, and a horse transport cost calculator can give you a rough estimate before you call around.
Before the Flight
The paperwork can take longer than you’d expect, so start making calls before you book the flight. The health certificate, blood tests, and any required isolation depend on where the horse is coming from and where it’s going, and the rules change. Your shipping agent should tell you what’s required and when each step has to happen. If a horse is crossing state lines on the way to the airport, the usual paperwork, such as a Coggins test, still applies. For a racehorse or show horse with a date to make, build in some breathing room, since one delay in testing or paperwork can throw off the whole schedule.
On the Plane
On flights using portable air stalls, horses are loaded into the stalls on the ground, then lifted into the aircraft and secured in place, and they can’t leave their stalls during the flight. According to the Racing Post, every flight carries at least one flying groom, with more grooms for more horses, to watch the horses, offer hay and water, and handle any trouble along the way.
Arriving in the U.S.: Quarantine and Import Rules
U.S. import requirements depend on where the horse has lived, which countries it has traveled through, and whether it’s coming in permanently or temporarily. APHIS lists the required documents, testing, and quarantine for each country. For example, APHIS lists an import permit, an official health certificate from the exporting country, and a quarantine reservation for horses arriving from Japan. Those horses are held for a minimum of 42 hours while they’re tested for equine infectious anemia, piroplasmosis, dourine, and glanders, and the quarantine fees are billed per horse. Check the rules for your horse’s country of origin before you book.
For permanent imports from countries APHIS considers affected by contagious equine metritis (CEM), mares and stallions over 731 days old, and younger ones that have been used for breeding, generally need additional isolation and testing after federal quarantine. Geldings are exempt. DM Sporthorses estimates the extra time at about 15 days for mares and about 33 days for stallions. Temporary entries for competition can follow different rules, so confirm with APHIS or your agent.
Once your horse is released, it still has to get home by trailer. Long trips raise the risk of shipping fever, so watch for a fever, cough, or lost appetite in the days after arrival, and give the horse time to rest and rehydrate before going back to work.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
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