Equine Exports

Equine Vets in Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire

Equine Exports | GEM Equine Ltd
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Georgina Parkin
(BVSc., Cert E.P., MRCVS.)
Email: enquiries@gemequine.co.uk
Phone: 07791806970

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Equine Exports

Taking Your Horse Abroad? We’re Here to Help

Exporting a horse — whether for competition, breeding, sale, or permanent relocation — involves a significant amount of paperwork, pre-travel testing, and careful planning. GEM Equine Ltd is a qualified Official Veterinarian (OV), and can guide you through every step of the export process, ensuring your horse travels safely, legally, and on time.

What Is an Export Health Certificate?

Every horse leaving Great Britain must be accompanied by an Export Health Certificate (EHC), issued by DEFRA and completed by a qualified Official Veterinarian (OV). The EHC can only be signed following a full clinical examination of the horse, confirming it is fit to travel and free from infectious disease.

The type of certificate required depends on your destination:

  • EU Countries — An Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate is required.
  • Non-EU Countries — A specific Export Health Certificate is required, with individual requirements varying by destination.

Important: Horses travelling to the EU or Northern Ireland must depart from premises with a registered County Parish Holding (CPH) number. Contact APHA to apply if you don’t already have one.

Our Equine Export Services

Georgina Parkin (BVSc., Cert E.P., MRCVS.) holds full OV accreditation and carries out all clinical examinations required for export certification. She liaises directly with your chosen shipping agent and the DEFRA/APHA export office to ensure all documentation is completed accurately and on time.

Most countries require blood sampling prior to export. Key tests include:

  • Coggins Test (Equine Infectious Anaemia / EIA) — must be taken within 90 days of travel for temporary exports, or within 30 days for permanent exports.
  • Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) — required within 21 days of travel for uncastrated male equines over 180 days old (unless EVA vaccination requirements are met).

We recommend booking blood tests as early as possible to allow 10–14 days for laboratory processing. Fast-track testing is available at an additional laboratory cost.

Certain destinations require additional testing, such as swabs for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM). We will advise you on the specific requirements for your destination country and arrange all necessary testing.

Some countries require specific vaccinations to be administered or verified prior to export. We will review your horse’s vaccination history and advise on any additional requirements well in advance of travel.

We certify horses as fit to travel in accordance with welfare regulations, working alongside your transport company to ensure all journey authorisation requirements are met.

We handle the coordination between you, your shipping agent, and the relevant authorities — including submitting draft EHCs for approval by the border control post at the destination port — so you don’t have to navigate the process alone.

The Export Process — Step by Step

  1. Contact us early — ideally several weeks before your planned travel date.
  2. We confirm the specific requirements for your destination country.
  3. Pre-export blood tests and/or swabs are arranged and submitted to the APHA laboratory.
  4. Your shipping agent applies for the EHC from APHA, issued to GEM Equine Ltd.
  5. A draft EHC is prepared and sent to the shipping agent for border control approval.
  6. A clinical examination is carried out by Georgina within 24–48 hours of travel.
  7. Certified certificates are issued — copies to your shipping agent, originals travel with your horse.

Why Plan Ahead?

Export regulations are detailed and time-sensitive. Delays in testing, certification errors, or missing documentation can result in your horse being unable to travel on the planned date. We strongly recommend contacting us as early as possible — ideally 4–6 weeks before travel — to ensure everything is in place.

Get in Touch

Ready to start the export process, or simply want to find out what’s involved? Contact GEM Equine Ltd today on 07791 806970 for more information.