Successful Liftoff for SA’s First Direct Equine Export to the EU in 14 Years!
Hobday Equestrian Enterprises (HEE) has been shipping horses for the past 25 years and has lived through the challenges and changes within the equine shipping industry. Despite seeing it all, this must have been one of the most complex, yet gratifying charters they have been responsible for.
Over time, health, customs, and regulatory requirements have become more complicated, and piecing all the parts together resembles a 40,000-piece puzzle of plain white. In addition to this complexity, there is the pressure of time restrictions. Luckily, HEE always welcomes a good challenge.
The first direct export from Cape Town to Europe in just under 14 years was successfully dispatched on 17 August 2024, from Cape Town International Airport to Liège Airport in Belgium. This was a full charter of 32 horses using a company called Easy Charter. In an effort to create a cohesive transport solution, HEE accommodated 3 horses that were booked by other equine shipping agents.
For the last 14 years, the only alternative to move horses from SA to EU and onwards was via Mauritius or direct to the USA. Although via Mauritius was a good option, this routing incurred additional costs and time (around 70 additional days in Mauritius), which negatively impacted the number of horses procured and shipped. Direct to the USA is simply uneconomical, being hugely expensive and requiring the horses to stand in full lock down in the USA for 60 days. Certainly not ideal!
The Western Cape is an African Horse Sickness (AHS) controlled area made up of three different zones: the AHS protection zone, the AHS surveillance zone, and the AHS free zone. Getting horses from the rest of SA into the Western Cape and eligible for export is a complex process. The horses may need to spend a 14-day stop-over quarantine before traveling into the AHS-controlled zone, dependant on the status of AHS cases in the area of origin. Once in the Cape, they must complete 40-days residency in the free zone, including 14-days of hard lockdown in Kenilworth Quarantine before the flight date, with all the required blood tests having been implemented.
Out of the 32 horses on the flight, there were 27 Endurance Horses, 3 Racehorses, 1 Polo Pony, and 1 Warmblood. Thirty of the 32 horses were sold commercially, reflecting the importance of streamlining this channel for growing the equestrian industry, which includes Thoroughbred Racing, Polo, Arabian breeding, and Warmbloods for multiple disciplines and many more.
Forging a new path is never easy, but with the support of the below-mentioned entities and individuals, it was made possible and done extremely well.
The enormous undertaking of resolving SA’s banned status was managed by the SA Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP), led by Adrian Todd and his team.
Funded by the local racing industry and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, this collaboration of major role players, with immense financial and time investment, implemented the correct infrastructure within SA, allowing for a successful EU audit in 2023. Consistent lobbying within the EU also drove the EU Commission to adopt the recommendation given by the audit, leading to the lifting of the ban against direct exports to the EU in May 2024.
(Adrian Todd)
The SAEHP and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), under the directorship of Dr. Mpho Maja, collaborated in this highly functional private-government partnership to facilitate and resolve EU direct exports for SA. Additionally, Dr. Vivien Malan and Dr. Ansulize Pepler of the Western Cape Government undertook the task of ensuring that these 32 horses met the EU import requirements successfully.
(Dr Vivien Malan)
Another crucial part of the mechanism is Cape Racing, which offered the only certified export quarantine facility in SA at Kenilworth Racecourse. The facilities belong to Greg Bortz, a fundamental personality in the equine industry, especially racing.
The team behind it all included quarantine manager Sue Mutch and her assistant managers, Stephanie and Andrea, along with Justin Vermaak and his administrative team, who provided fantastic support in the background to make this endeavor possible and ensure healthy happy horses were dispatched to the EU.
The facilities at Montague Gardens, where the horses spent their 26 days of residency, were managed by Hayley Houareau and Dr. Deborah Van Dyk, representing Boarder Management Authority (BMA), were essential in facilitating the requirements needed before the horses headed to Kenilworth Quarantine Station for the final leg of their pre-export preparations.
With respect to the logistical aspect, HEE was thrilled to have had a successful collaboration with Intradco Global, who assisted with securing the charter and facilitating all logistics surrounding the charter from airport to airport.
Charlie McMullen continues the long-term legacy of Eddie McMullen, the founder of Intradco, who undertook their first animal assignment of 6 horses from London to Accra in 1989. On Saturday the 17th August, the horses were entrusted to their two incredible professional grooms, Paul Wyatt and Howard Russell, and assisted by the qualified professional groom Olivier Francois representing HEE.
Dr. John Charles and his team from Peninsula Equine ensured that all horses’ pre-quarantine preparations and wellbeing during quarantine were maintained to the highest standards.
Due to the lack of cargo freighters in SA since COVID, the Intradco/HEE team experienced logistical constraints in securing a suitable charter date. These difficulties initially led to several flight date changes. Due to these changes, there were availability issues with respect to transport from quarantine to the Airport, but luckily New Turf Carriers came to the rescue. Pulling a rabbit out of the hat, providing the necessary transport needed.
The incredible team on the day, who were alongside the horses from the moment of offloading from the trucks onto the jet stalls, and then onto the aircraft, consisted of HEE founder Candice Hobday, qualified flying groom Jesse Sutton, the 3 pro grooms that flew with the horses, local equine vet Dr. John Charles, and Ashley Hendricks from BidAir Cargo.
SA has always had a fantastic reputation for breeding high-quality horses. This is hopefully our chance to start presenting them on the international market in abundance again. A huge congratulations to every individual who formed part of this remarkable milestone and for assisting in placing all the puzzle pieces where they
