Important things to check to ensure that your transport company is legally allowed to operate:

If the vehicle being used is exceeding 3.5T they must hold an Operating license. If they travelling within one country only they need a National Operators License, to transport outside the country they must hold an International Operators License. In the UK Operators License will be issued through VOSA, in other European countries it will be issued through their own Department of Transport.

Every horse transport company in Europe must hold a valid Transporter Authorisation number. For transporters carrying horses for a MAXIMUM of 8 hours, this is a T1 Authorisation, and for transporters carrying horses in excess of 8 hours, they need a T2 Authorisation (all international transporters will require this)

Since the 5 January 2007 vehicles used for transporting farm livestock and horses on long journeys (those in excess of 8 hours) must be inspected and approved by the competent authority of a Member State or a body designated by a Member State. Each lorry must carry their Certificate of Approval, and in most countries the lorry also carries a plate to show that it has been approved. For vehicles travelling under a T2 type authorisation - they must have fans fitted, specific maximum ramp angles, temperature monitoring equipment, adequate partitions, facilities for carrying feed and sufficient water for journey etc.

Competence Certification By 5 January 2008, all people in Europe who are involved in transporting by road on journeys over 65km in connection with an economic activity must be independently assessed in their competence. Those assessed as competent will receive a certificate of competence. The certificate will be specific to the role the transporter or attendant is charged with, the length of journeys to be undertaken and the species to be transported: a) assessment of those involved in journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours may be made by means of a theory test b) assessments of those involved in journeys over 8 hours must also include practical assessment of their competence including driving and animal handling skills.

Travelling duration times: By law - Unregistered horses in transit must be offered drink/feed after 8 hours travel, and after 24 hours travel they must be unloaded and rested for 24 hours. This does not apply to Registered horses (ie those who hold a passport through a recognised breed/studbook agency). Horses who have a standard passport issued by one of the various passport issusing authorities, would be deemed as unregistered horses.

Horses must have a passport to travel anywhere in Europe - no matter how short the distance. A photocopy of the passport is not sufficient.