UK: GB Import rules since Brexit
Since 1 January 2021, Great Britain is a "third country" under EU rules — and from the EU side, the UK is the same. EU horses moving into GB now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), a pre-export inspection by an Official Veterinarian (OV), and the importer must pre-notify on the UK's IPAFFS system so the consignment can clear a Border Control Post (BCP) — typically Dover, Folkestone (Eurotunnel) or Sevington.
Direct point-to-point hauls from Germany, the Netherlands or Spain are still possible, but most reputable shippers stage horses for 30 days in France or the Netherlands first to align vaccination, residency and AHC validity windows. DEFRA and APHA also publish the up-to-date list of approved EU establishments — your shipper will manage this.
UK export: required paperwork
- Equine passport with current equine influenza vaccination (within 6 months, primary course complete).
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC) — issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) in the EU country of dispatch.
- TRACES NT entry — the EU's official intra-/extra-Community animal tracking system.
- Pre-export inspection — physical exam by the OV within 48 hours of loading.
- IPAFFS pre-notification + CHED-A (Common Health Entry Document) — filed by the UK importer at least 1 working day before arrival at the BCP.
- Customs declaration — sale value converted to GBP. No VAT on a private-to-private sale of a registered equine when shipped as a live animal under the correct commodity code (your agent will confirm).
UK: transport costs & timeline 2026
| Line item | EUR | GBP | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorry, Germany/Spain → FR/NL staging yard (1–2 days) | 800 – 1,800 | 685 – 1,540 | 875 – 1,960 |
| 30-day staging / pre-export residency in FR or NL | 1,200 – 2,000 | 1,030 – 1,710 | 1,310 – 2,180 |
| AHC, TRACES, OV inspection | 400 – 700 | 340 – 600 | 435 – 765 |
| Lorry + Calais–Dover ferry or Eurotunnel | 1,500 – 2,500 | 1,285 – 2,140 | 1,635 – 2,725 |
| BCP clearance + arrival check at Dover/Sevington | 200 – 500 | 170 – 430 | 220 – 545 |
| Total UK export | 4,500 – 7,500 | 3,860 – 6,420 | 4,900 – 8,180 |
Realistic timeline: 6–10 weeks from signed contract to the horse settling in at the buyer's yard.
USA: CEM quarantine explained
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a venereal bacterial disease that USDA APHIS has policed since the 1980s. Every horse arriving from a "CEM-affected" region (which is most of mainland Europe) must clear quarantine in a USDA-approved facility:
- Geldings & foals under 731 days: exempt from CEM. Standard 3-day USDA/CDC quarantine on arrival at JFK, Miami or LAX.
- Stallions: 21–30 days at a CEM-approved centre, with test-breeding to two CEM-negative test mares and three sets of cultures.
- Mares: 45–90 days, three negative culture cycles. This is the longest, costliest path — plan accordingly if you're selling broodmares.
USA export: required paperwork
- USDA Import Permit — applied for online by the buyer/importer (VS Form 17-129). Allow 2–3 weeks.
- EU Export Health Certificate for the USA — issued in English by an OV in the country of dispatch, endorsed by the competent authority.
- Negative test results: EIA (Coggins test), EVA (equine viral arteritis), CEM (stallions/mares), Piroplasmosis (Babesia caballi and Theileria equi), Dourine, Glanders.
- FEI passport for sport horses — USEF, AQHA and breed-registry buyers expect it.
- English-language PPE (vetting) report with full digital radiographs — US buyers' vets review remotely before bidding.
- 30–90-day CEM quarantine at a USDA-approved facility (Newburgh NY, Miami FL or LA-area centres) before release to the buyer.
USA: air freight costs & timeline 2026
| Line item | EUR | GBP | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorry to airport (Liège or Amsterdam) | 500 – 1,200 | 430 – 1,030 | 545 – 1,310 |
| Flight Liège → JFK / Miami / LAX (stall container) | 6,500 – 9,500 | 5,570 – 8,140 | 7,090 – 10,355 |
| USDA Import Permit + Export Health Certificate | 600 – 1,000 | 515 – 855 | 655 – 1,090 |
| CEM quarantine 30 days (gelding/young horse) | 2,500 – 3,500 | 2,140 – 3,000 | 2,725 – 3,815 |
| CEM quarantine 45–90 days (mare) | 4,500 – 6,000 | 3,860 – 5,140 | 4,905 – 6,540 |
| Lorry from USDA quarantine centre to buyer's barn | 800 – 2,000 | 685 – 1,710 | 875 – 2,180 |
| Total USA (gelding) | 11,000 – 17,000 | 9,425 – 14,560 | 11,990 – 18,535 |
| Total USA (mare) | 13,000 – 21,000 | 11,140 – 17,990 | 14,170 – 22,890 |
Realistic timeline: 10–16 weeks from signed contract to delivery at the buyer's barn (longer for mares).
Who pays for what?
Standard international practice: the seller covers costs up to loading (paperwork, EU staging, OV fees), and the buyer takes over from loading onwards (freight, BCP/USDA clearance, destination quarantine). It is negotiable — on highly sought-after horses, both sides often split costs 50/50, especially for stallions and proven competition mounts.
Practical tips for selling into the UK & USA
- Get the FEI passport sorted early — serious international buyers expect it before they'll even shortlist a horse.
- English-language PPE report with all digital radiographs hosted on a shareable link (Dropbox, Google Drive or a vet portal).
- Sales video with English voiceover or captions — fence heights in cm and inches, dressage movements with US/UK terminology (e.g. "half-pass" not "Traversale", "leg-yield", "flying change").
- Quote in GBP and USD alongside EUR, with the FX rate dated — UK and US buyers think in their home currency.
- Pick an experienced equine shipper: Peden Bloodstock, EquiJet, Horsetrans, Vinkesteyn, EquiTransport — all have IATA Live Animals certification and full BCP/USDA experience.
- Use a specialist equine lawyer for cross-border sales contracts (bilingual EN/DE or EN/ES) — handles risk transfer, payment milestones and Bloodstock-style escrow.
- List on the right portals: UK buyers live on horsequest.co.uk and preloved.co.uk; US buyers on horseclicks.com, dreamhorse.com and equinenow.com. A single German listing won't reach them.
Read our international horse transport guide and our pre-purchase exam (PPE) explainer for more depth.
UK & USA marketing with Post-Your-Horse
We publish your horse on horseclicks.com, dreamhorse.com, equinenow.com, horsequest.co.uk, preloved.co.uk, horsedeals.com and other US/UK portals. Listings are translated into native equestrian English (UK or US spelling on request), with correct level conversions (Elementary/Medium/Advanced, Training/First/Second/PSG, 1.10m/3'7"), prices in GBP and USD, and metric/imperial height. List your horse from €35.
Frequently asked questions: UK & USA export
How much does shipping to the UK cost?
€4,500–7,500 (£3,900–£6,400 / $4,900–$8,200) all-in — lorry, ferry/Eurotunnel, AHC, OV inspection, BCP clearance and a 30-day staging period.
How much does shipping to the USA cost?
€11,000–18,000 (£9,400–£15,400 / $12,000–$19,600) — air freight plus USDA-approved CEM quarantine. Mares are at the upper end because of the longer quarantine.
What is CEM quarantine?
USDA-mandated testing for Contagious Equine Metritis at an approved facility. Geldings: 3 days. Stallions: 21–30 days. Mares: 45–90 days.
What paperwork do I need for the UK?
Equine passport with current flu vaccination, AHC from an OV, TRACES NT entry, pre-export inspection within 48h, IPAFFS pre-notification by the importer, BCP clearance on arrival.
Is selling to the UK or USA actually worth it?
Yes from a sale price of €25,000 / £21,500 / $27,500 upward. UK buyers pay 20–35% more for proven sport horses; US buyers pay 30–50% premium for dressage and eventing warmbloods.
Selling your horse to the UK or USA
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