This article is sponsored by Guido Klatte Horse Transport. At HorseGrooms, we value the support of companies like Guido Klatte, which helps us continue creating educational resources for the grooming community. By sharing their knowledge and experience, they also offer valuable insight into an important part of international horse transport.
About Guido Klatte Horse Transport
Guido Klatte Horse Transport has over 40 years of experience in flying horses, grooms, dogs, and equipment around the world. With around 25 inbound and outbound flights to and from Europe each month, we transport roughly 3,000 horses annually.
Many of these horses are frequent travelers, often accompanied by their long-time grooms, ensuring a safe and familiar journey from start to finish. For more details, feel free to check out our website and Instagram: www.gklatte.de / @guido_klatte_horsetransport
About the Author
Hello! My name is Anna Niemeyer, and I work for Guido Klatte Horse Transport in Germany. Before becoming a Destination Coordinator for the US and Canada, I worked as a groom for an American rider, traveling back and forth between the US and Europe with her horses.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the air transport for flying grooms and answer some of the questions you may have about your upcoming trip to Europe.
The Shipping Process: What to Expect
For your better understanding, we have outlined a sample itinerary from the United States to Europe.
Preparation
Once you’ve determined a date or time frame for your horses to fly to Europe, you can contact us directly or let your US shipping agent know that we will be acting as the receiving agent. Your US agent will arrange the government vet to issue the necessary health papers, transportation for you, your horses, equipment, personal luggage (and dogs).
At this point, you can also let them know if your horse should fly in either a 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or a full jet stall (see the layout of the jet stall for two or three horses).
If you’re coming to the EU for up to 90 days, please inform your agent, as your horses will receive a different health status and will be labeled as “returning horses.”
All horses leaving the US must also clear customs. Either shipping agent will be able to advise you on the best option for your EU stay. You can find a list of the various import options listed on our website: Import – Guido Klatte
Pre-Export Quarantine & Airport Handling
On the day of your flight, your horses will be shipped to a government-supervised quarantine to complete the required minimum 8-hour pre-export quarantine. After isolation, the horses are transferred to the airport and loaded into their jet stalls. Once your horses are secured, you’ll go through the check-in process at the cargo section and meet them on the plane. Meanwhile, your agent’s representative will monitor your horses.
Your equipment and personal luggage will arrive at the airport separately. Depending on the flight schedule, your equipment may be collected either the day before or together with the horses. Please keep any items you’ll need immediately upon arrival in your carry-on bag.
On the Cargo Plane
The cargo plane typically has a main deck and a lower deck. Your horses will be on the main deck, while the equipment will be stored on the lower deck and cannot be accessed during the flight. Hay and water are provided throughout the journey, but you are welcome to bring additional feed or supplements if needed.
The cargo hold is temperature-controlled, so horses usually travel without blankets. However, you’re welcome to pack a blanket in the tack bags provided for arrival.
As the accompanying groom, access to the horses during the flight is permitted at the discretion of the pilot and crew, and you must always follow their instructions.
Non-alcoholic beverages and typical in-flight meals (chicken or pasta 😉) are available for the entire crew, with self-service throughout the flight.
Arrival in Europe
Most flights from the US arrive in Amsterdam or Liege. Depending on your departure airport, your horses might alternatively arrive in Brussels, Luxembourg, or Frankfurt.
After landing, you will leave the cargo aircraft and proceed through immigration. A member of the crew or your receiving agent will guide you through the process. Once you’ve cleared immigration, you’ll either get picked up or transported to the designated cargo area of the airport.
Procedures
Depending on the airport of arrival and the applicable local regulations, procedures may vary regarding the timing of the government veterinary inspection, the availability of stabling, and the release of the horses. A government veterinarian will inspect each horse and issue the required documentation (TRACES), which will be provided together with the horses’ passports once the horses are cleared. All horses arriving will also be subject to a customs inspection.
Equipment
Meanwhile, your equipment, including personal luggage, will undergo customs clearance as well. Please consider that this process can take around 6–8 hours, depending on the number of incoming flights, the volume of equipment, and the available airport personnel. Once everything and everyone is cleared, you can leave the airport—either with a truck arranged by us or with your rider’s own transportation.
Important Note on TRACES & Returning to the US
If you’re traveling to shows in EU countries other than the one where your horses are residing, a government veterinarian must issue new TRACES documents for each movement. Crossing EU borders without proper paperwork is prohibited.
If you plan to return to the US with your horses, you need to keep each TRACES document, and furthermore have an official veterinarian sign the “60-day” declaration, which is a US health paper addition to track the movement of the horses in Europe, at each showground / stable where your horses have resided within the 60 days prior to their re-export. For the “returning horses” (mentioned under Preparation), that declaration needs to be issued throughout the entire 90-day period. You can read more about it on our website: https://gklatte.de/export/
Click here to find an example of a complete TRACES document (with private information blacked out).
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a seasoned flying groom or preparing for your first international trip, traveling with horses is always an exciting and rewarding experience. Our team at Guido Klatte Horse Transport is here to support you throughout your time in Europe—whether it’s airport handling, trucking services, paperwork support, or coordination.
We look forward to assisting you and your team in having a successful stay in Europe!
A groom’s view while loading horses onto a plane with the high lifter.
Guido Klatte Horse Transport is an international company based in the heart of Europe, with direct access to major airports and more than 40 years of experience in global horse transport. The company provides full-service solutions for flying horses, grooms, dogs, and equipment worldwide, operating around 25 inbound and outbound flights to and from Europe each month and transporting roughly 3,000 horses annually. Many of these horses travel regularly alongside their long-time grooms, supporting a safe, efficient, and familiar journey from departure to arrival. Learn more at www.gklatte.de or @guido_klatte_horsetransport.
