Currently, we import horses into South Africa from:
• United Kingdom
• Belgium – Currently Closed
• Holland – Currently Closed
• Australia
1. Residency & Quarantine:
Horses must complete a 60-day residency in their country of origin before departure. This includes a 30-day pre-export isolation period at state-approved private quarantine facilities.
2. Testing and Documentation:
During the quarantine period, horses are tested and swabbed for diseases, including Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Dourine, Equine Infectious Anemia, Equine Influenza, and Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), depending on their country of origin. These tests are mandatory for the South African import permit.
3. Transportation to South Africa:
Once testing is complete and results are within acceptable parameters, horses are transported via scheduled or chartered flights to South Africa, arriving at the government quarantine facility in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
4. Post-Arrival Quarantine:
On arrival, horses complete an additional 30 days of quarantine, during which the same tests and swabs are repeated. The post-arrival quarantine operates on an “all-in, all-out” system, with shipments scheduled approximately every six weeks.
Important: If you’re purchasing a stallion or mare, we recommend consulting with us beforehand to arrange specific pre-tests to ensure negative results for diseases such as EVA. Positive test results can impact a horse’s eligibility to travel.