BLOODS need to be taken to asses the exposure to Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), sometimes called a Coggins test. This must be done no more than 90 days before transport. Only an official veterinarian (OV) can take blood samples for export and the samples must be sent to the correct government laboratory. It can take several days to get the results back, so we recommend getting these done at least two weeks in advance.

At this stage, the vet must be able to examine the passport and ensure identity details (eg microchip number) match between horse, pony or donkey and passport. It is a legal requirement for all animals to have a microchip, so this can be implanted if not already present. Vaccination records are also checked. There are different vaccination requirements for different destinations.

Timings are crucial, so please check requirements well in advance.

This is a new step, whereby all premises housing animals to be exported required a CPH number. This is a simple process of filling out a form, but you must have your CPH number before applying for your EHC (step 3), and so we recommend applying for this at least four weeks in advance.

** This is the owner's responsibility and the CPH number required is for the premises where the horses are stabled. We keep a record of the number when we have assisted with the export of horses from the same location in the past **

The form to apply for a CPH number can be found HERE. 

This document must be applied for to enable your equid to cross borders, rather like a human passport. This normally takes several days of processing online and required paperwork to be completed by our export team.

A draft copy of these papers is often sent ahead to the Border Control Post (BCP) prior to travel to prevent hold ups at the border. Fro this reason, these should be applied for at least three weeks in advance.

This is done via the Government Gateway website.

We usually recommend an inital check when any bloods samples for export are performed. The second must be done within 48 hours of travel for REGISTERED horses, or on the day of travel for UNREGISTERED horses. Extra days are allowed for weekends and Bank Holidays. 

At this stage the EHC will be compelted and finalised by the Official Veterinarian (OV). The original copy will need to be scanned onto the Government system back at the practice, and then will beed to be collected so that they travel with the horse.

For notes on registered and unregistered horses, please see below.

Sometimes horses must be kept iisolated prior to travel.

There is different documentation and procedures for REGISTERED vs. UNREGISTERED horses.

REGISTERED horses belong to either:

• an EU-recognised studbook
• a national branch of an international racing or competative organisation

All other horses are classified as UNREGISTERED.

A REGISTERED equid is one that is registered with (ie the passport issued by) one of the Horse Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) approved to issue REGISTERED passports. The list of orgainisations changes, so if you have any queries regarding the status of your horse, check with the Government website.  This covers the special rules for export and import of horses.

Before you export or move a REGISTERED horse to the EU or Northern IReland, you need to keep it on a holding in Great Britain, the EU, Northern Ireland or a country with a similar health status either:

• for 40 days
• since birth (if the horse is less than 40 days old)
• since it's entry into Great Britian (if the horse was imported or moved directly from the EU, Norther Ireland or a country with a similar health status, less than 40 days before you export it

You must keep your REGISTERED horse under veterinary supervision either:

• for 30 days
• since birth (if the equine is less than 30 days old)
• since it's entry into Great Britian (if the equine was imported or moved directly from the EU, Norther Ireland or a country with a similar health status, less than 30 days before you export it)

Your supervising vet does not need to be an official vet, however, an official vet (OV) must confirm that you have met the requirements before you export the equine.

Before you export or move an UNREGISTERED horse or other equine, you must keep the animal on a holiding in Great Britain either:

• for 40 days
• since birth (if the horse is less than 40 days old)
• since it's entry into Great Britian (if the horse was imported or moved directly from the EU, Norther Ireland or a country with a similar health status, less than 40 days before you export it

Before you export or move your equine into the EU or Northern Ireland, you must keep if separate from other equines either:

• for at least 30 days (unless you have a foal that is at foot with their dam or foster mare)
• since birth (if the equine is younger than 30 days old)
• since its entry into Great Britain (if the equine was imported or moved directly from teh EU, Northern Ireland or Norway)

PLEASE NOTE: 

Whilst our most frequant destination for exports isEurope or Norther Ireland, we are also able to export your horse or pony almost anywhere in the world, including the USA, South Korea, Japan and the UAE most recently.

The requirements for each country / region all vary, including different blood testing for infectious disease, quarentine or isolation periods.

For this reason we thoroughly recomment alerting us to any plans to travel as far in advance as possible, ideally at least a month ahead of the planned travel date.

• Up to 90 days before: blood test for Equine Infectious Anaemia, 1st check, check for microchip and if not present implant
• At least 28 days before: apply for CPH number - see 2 above.
• At least 21 days before: apply for EHC (health papers) - see 3 above.
• Within 48 hours of travel: formal examination (for a registered horse)
• Day of travel: Formal examination (for unregistered horse)

Occasionally certification is required for horses imported into Great Britain - please contact BELL EQUINE on 01622 813700 if you have a new arrival that falls into theis catagory.

Also, Declaration Of Health are sometimes required for individual horses or the premises whence they originate. These are sometimes referred to as '60-day papers' and again can be compelted by our Official Veterinarians (OVs) for our clients when we know the horse and stable yards involved.