South Africa’s multimillion
rand horsebreeding
industry
is big business for
logistics specialists with 2017
Cape Met winner, Whisky
Baron, the latest export to leave
our shores – and begin the
process of entry into his new
home at Newmarket, England,
from where he will compete
worldwide.
Horse logistics is a complex
process that involves road
and chartered air transport
to get the animals to their
destinations fit, healthy and
safe, says managing director of
Global Bloodstock Logistics,
JJ van der Linden. “This
journey is up to four months
long as every horse must
undergo a quarantine stop due
to fears about African Horse
Sickness. There are other timeconsuming
elements in the
process to legalise the horses in
either France or England where
we deliver them.”
All horses due for export, if
originating out of the African
Horse Sickness free zone in
the Cape, are road freighted to
Beaufort West in the Western
Cape where they are contained
for 14 days for tests and
declared clear of the African
Horse Sickness. From there
they are assembled – up to 50
at a time for 21 days pre-export
quarantine. A charter flight
is arranged as there are no
scheduled flights to top facilities
in Mauritius from Cape Town
International Airport. They
are accompanied by veterinary
personnel and sufficient animal
attendants to look after the
number of charges in transit.
In Mauritius further health
protocol requirements are
met while the horses are put
in what is termed the “horse
holiday resort” in the famed
exotic holiday destination.
To maintain fitness they are
exercised on the beaches and
frolic in the warm Indian Ocean
to keep them in peak condition.
Once the 90-day Mauritian
process is completed, the horses
are re-loaded onto a charter
flight for delivery to an airport
in Europe or the UK. There
they are free to travel within
Europe. Further one- two- or
three-month residency may be
necessary for countries such as
Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong
and so on.
Interestingly, horses have
their own “passport” issued
by the South African National
Horseracing Authority or
internationally recognised
federations in accordance with
international stipulations. As
with any human’s passport
it contains proof of identity,
destinations visited, medical
history, vaccinations,
quarantine periods etc.
Because of the time required
for export from South Africa,
there are about three to four
airlifts annually. Officially the
first for a year cycle begins after
the Durban July Handicap for
the thoroughbreds. Many of the
exports confirm their worth,
usually based on their stake
earnings and graded races, by
competing successfully in the
main high stakes races during
the first half of each year to
justify the cost of testing them
against the best overseas.
Importing from other
countries is not as arduous
with a month-long
containment in quarantine
before arrival and an
additional 30 days post arrival
quarantine at facilities in
Johannesburg or Cape Town
to complete formalities before
delivery to stud or stables in
South Africa.
South African horses set to be airlifted to stardom overseas.
