Hobday Equestrian Enterprises is proud to be part of an exciting new chapter at the Montague Gardens Quarantine Facility, as the facility prepares to welcome its first horses for export to Mauritius in October 2026.

Over the past months, considerable time, effort and resources have gone into upgrading and improving the facility. While remaining government-owned, the facility has been given renewed focus, with improvements aimed at creating a safe, professional and well-equipped environment for horses entering quarantine.

The facility is operated by Grant Knowles and will now operate in collaboration with Hobday Equestrian Enterprises, with a dedicated and well-equipped team in place to oversee the care and management of horses throughout their stay.

This development has also been made possible through strong cooperation with the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the National Department of Agriculture (NDA), whose support and willingness to work alongside the industry have been invaluable throughout the process. The facility will service only exports to Mauritius, working alongside the Mauritius Turf Club as part of the export pathway.

The addition of Montague Gardens Quarantine Station is an important development for South Africa’s equine export industry.

Since 2024, Kenilworth Quarantine Station has been handling horses destined for Mauritius, as well as supporting the country’s renewed access to the European market. This has placed increasing pressure on available quarantine space as international exports continue to develop. The introduction of Montague Gardens for Mauritius-bound horses will help alleviate this pressure by providing additional quarantine capacity, helping to free up space at Kenilworth for horses destined for the EU.

For HEE, this project is about more than preparing a facility. It is about investing in the infrastructure, people and standards needed to support the movement of South African horses and create greater opportunities for our racing and breeding industries. We are proud of the work that has gone into bringing Montague Gardens to this point and look forward to welcoming the first shipment in October.

This is an exciting new chapter and one we are proud to be part of!