For the 2024 summer Olympics, horses had to be flown to Versailles from all over the world for the equestrian events. While once, transporting horses long distances was a very long process, the fact that horses can now go on specific aircraft makes the process much faster, allowing for international competitions, moving breeding animals across hemispheres, importing and exporting horses, and more.
Flying with horses has become a regular event, though most people don’t quite understand how it works. Whether you were watching the equestrian games and wondering how those horses from all over the world got to France or you’re curious for another reason, here is a brief look into what flying with horses looks like. We’ll touch on how flying with horses works, whether horses are fed and watered during the flight, and how horses settle in after flying. Let’s get into it.
How Does Flying With Horses Work?
When flying with horses, horse people are involved throughout every step of the process to ensure that the process is as stress-free as possible for the horses and everyone involved. There is always a handler with the horses, so they aren’t left on their own on the plane, but they have someone with them to help keep them calm.
Horses are flown in cargo planes. They are loaded into special containers, which are essentially padded stalls in metal containers that have sides the horses can look over. The container is then loaded onto the plane, where it is locked into the floor of the plane, so it cannot move. Everything is kept as dim and quiet as possible, in order to help the horses stay relaxed.
The most anxious part of flying with horses for the horses is the long loading period, as well as takeoff and landing. Once the horses are actually airborne, they rarely have issues.
Are Horses Tranquilized During Flights?
Tranquilizing horses during flights is avoided when possible. Most horses travel very well, no need for tranquilization. Horses need to be able to focus on maintaining their balance, though pilots flying them do their utmost to avoid turbulence. Horses may be tranquilized if it seems like a horse may be a danger to itself and others. When this happens, the owner is notified as soon as possible.
Are Horses Fed And Watered During Flights?
Yes, horses are indeed fed and watered during flights. There are always grooms flying with horses in order to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. The grooms provide horses with adequate water and hay, which helps them not only meet nutritional needs, but also to stay calm throughout the flight. Plus, chewing helps to equalize their ear pressure, because flying can hurt horses’ ears too.
How Do Horses Settle In After Flying?
The more horses travel, the easier the entire process is for them, settling in included. There is a quarantine process for horses after flying, though, the length of which depends on a variety of factors. Once the horse is released from quarantine, it can then be transported to its final destination.
Once the horse gets to where it’s supposed to go, the settling in process is fairly standard, akin to moving with a horse.
Are You Looking For A Non-Electric Automatic Horse Waterer?
Non-electric automatic horse waterers make your horses’ journey before and after flying easier, by ensuring that they have easy access to fresh, clean water. Bar Bar A provides non-electric automatic horse waterers throughout the United States. We offer insulated models for the colder states and non-insulated models for the warmer states. To learn more about our waterers, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.