Moving To France with Horses

Owners of horses must ensure that their animals have: pre-travel residency or isolation, blood tests, export health certificates (EHC), and customs declarations or carnets. British Equestrian has compiled a helpful checklist of pre-travel checks.

The first step in all of this is to book an appointment with your official vet (government-approved) to get blood tests done to check for infectious diseases, most importantly equine infectious anaemia and equine viral arteritis. When moving to live in France permanently, this needs to be done within 30 days of travel. You then need to apply for an EHC as the official document to confirm that your horse is fit to enter France.

Residency and Isolation

For pre-travel residency and isolation, the horse(s) need to be registered to an EU-recognised studbook or a national branch of an international racing or competition organisation. Any other horses would be classed as unregistered. The two types differ in the isolation process and the travel documents required.

Registered horses can use a passport (industry-issued equine identification) for export. However, unregistered horses would require a government-issued supplementary travel ID from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), if in Great Britain. This can be sourced from the official vet, along with the EHC. These documents need to be kept with the horse during transportation.

Customs Declarations

A customs declaration form must also be completed before reaching the EU border. Make sure, whether transporting independently or through a company, that the horse is checked at an EU border control post (BCP). Check the BCP that your horse will be going through to see if it accepts your horse; some accept both registered and unregistered, but others do not, which could cause delays to the journey and welfare implications for the horse. All of the above information can be found in more depth on the UK Gov website.

Transporting Your Horse to France

Choosing the Right Transport

Now that the red tape is out of the way… There are other important factors to consider when moving your horse to a different country. Firstly, the type of transport used. There are different ways to transport horses to France: ferry and the Eurotunnel. You can do this independently or pay for a reputable company to transport your horse. If you are going to choose a company to transport your equine, you want to make sure they prioritise the animal’s welfare.

Ask them to outline the transport process. Ask relevant questions about the journey: whether the horses will have breaks during the travel, how often they’ll be fed and watered, how long the journey will take, and what type of box is used to transport. See if they have got any reviews online, and/or get reviews or recommendations from people you know personally who have used the company.

Independent Transport Considerations

On the other hand, if you are going to do this alone, there are some things you will need to consider. Cost. Is it cheaper to transport by ferry or by Eurotunnel? How long will the journey take? Will you be able to stop for breaks? Do you already have a horse box or will you need to buy/rent one? Is it up to specification to transport your horse for long periods? Do you know the legal specifications for each type of box or stall? Does it allow proper ventilation and adequate lighting? What forms and applications will you need to fill out? These are all the types of questions you would need to research before considering doing this independently.

Moving is hard when it’s within the same city; moving to a whole different country is a different story. If it is made easier by paying someone to transport your horse, I would choose the easier, more relaxed option.

Acclimatising your Horse in France

Climate and Geography

Secondly, acclimatisation is another factor when moving to a different country. France has nicer weather than the UK. That’s not to say that it doesn’t rain or storm there. However, the sun tends to shine in France. Looking at properties when moving with horses requires research into the geography and climate. Western France regions (Brittany, Normandy, Western Loire, Loire Valley) have more rainfall on average, which means more flies, so stock up on fly spray!

Moving to these regions would be an easier transition, as the temperatures tend to be cooler, especially in the UK, compared to the other areas. In Eastern and Central France (Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace), seasons are very much as you would imagine. Summer is hot, and winter is cold. So make sure you take plenty of sun cream and rugs. The climate in Southern France (Provence and Côte d’Azur) is not very conventional in terms of seasons. Summer is hot and dry, but it usually rains from October to April.

In the hotter climates, you won’t want to work your horse as you would in the UK, as the difference in heat will cause your horse to sweat more and become dehydrated quicker, as well as fatigue faster and have a longer recovery. Instead, start with light work and see how your horse copes and gradually build up the exercise to previous levels.

Some horses acclimatise faster than others, its entirely on an individual basis. In the cooler climates, horses should be okay to exercise at a more moderate level to begin with, but again, it’s how your horse and its body react to the climate, just as we wouldn’t go for a run in the blistering heat when used to running in a cool, cloudy climate. We would most likely end up fainting or with sunstroke.

The main message, as always, is to carry out your due diligence. Research is invaluable, and knowledge is power. Educate yourself on where you’re moving to, the climate you will be living in, the local amenities for your horse (for schooling, vets and feed) and how to get there safely and efficiently. There are many such related articles on this blog. For instance, you also need to be aware of SAFER and preemption Rights on equestrian and farm properties with 2 acres or more.