An interview on exports with Candice Hobday
With South African equestrian talent on the rise, more riders are looking beyond our borders to test themselves on the international stage. But competing in Europe is not as simple as booking a flight – it requires careful planning, logistics, and expert knowledge to ensure horses arrive safely, legally, and in peak condition.
To better understand the process, we sat down with Candice Hobday of Hobday Equestrian Enterprises, a leading authority on equine exports. In light of recent shipments that will allow some of our top showjumpers to compete in Europe ahead of Aachen 2026, Candice shared her insights on what it takes to move horses across continents, the challenges involved, and what this means for the future of our sport.
HQ: Please could you start by telling us a bit about Hobday Equestrian Enterprises and how and why the company began?
CH: Hobday Equestrian Enterprises began in 2000 out of a passion for horses and international sport. What started small has grown into South Africa’s largest horse shipping company. From the outset, our focus has been on providing a reliable, professional service, while always putting the horse’s welfare first.
Over the years, we’ve gained hands-on experience navigating the many logistics involved. This would include customs, quarantine, sanitary requirements and related testing, as well as the complexities of air freight. This is all the while ensuring every detail is carefully managed, as there is no margin for error.
Our vision has always been to give riders, breeders, and owners the means to take their passion worldwide and make their dreams possible.
HQ: How many horses (roughly) do you export each year, and how many do you import? What are the main ‘reasons’ for these journeys (sale, competition, relocating, etc) and which disciplines are most heavily represented?
CH: On average, we export around 60 horses to the EU, 80 to Mauritius and import around 150 each year. The reasons vary. Many are sold into the international market like UAE and Hong Kong. Others are to further competition careers in Europe, or owners relocating with their horses. Showjumping and dressage are the most prominent disciplines among sporthorses, but exports are predominantly made up of flat racehorses, endurance, show Arabs, polo ponies and a few pets.
HQ: What are the main steps involved in exporting a horse from South Africa to Europe?
Step 1:
The starting point is putting the flight together, and this is almost the hardest part. As horses can only fit in cargo dedicated aircraft, and there are no scheduled (regular) cargo flights into Cape Town, we have to charter an entire aircraft to fly dedicated to Cape Town to uplift these horses to the EU. The EU protocol (the sanitary requirements) only allows for export from the free zone in the Western Cape and not all airlines qualify to land in South Africa or the Cape. These charters cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and are only economical when shared – numbers of 18, 20 and 32 are the economical variations. Our job requires coordinating all the clients to start and depart at the same time. This is often difficult as seasons don’t always coincide, like the racing season in the UAE, polo in the UK and showjumping in the EU, all differ.
Did you know?
Currently, you can only export to the EU or the USA. Unfortunately, due to piroplasmosis restrictions (horses must be negative on IFAT and ELISA, which is rare), exorbitant charter costs, and 60 days post-arrival hard lockdown quarantine, the USA is not economically an option.
Step 2:
Getting the horses into the Western Cape, if they are not already based there, can be a task of note. These horses may require a 16-17 day stopover quarantine, depending on their vaccination status and movement permissions related to AHS infections in their area at the time of departure.
Step 3:
Completing 40 days of residency in the free zone is the next step; partly at the residency stables and finishing off at the quarantine, which has some logistical steps. Facilities in the Free Zone are extremely limited. Residency is completed at Milnerton Racecourse, and although well suited to racehorses, only a sand track is available for the sporthorses, but at least they can stay in work during this stage. All tests, permits, and transport must be perfect for compliance, and it is essential to ensure the horses acclimatise well to the new environment. Micromanaging the horse’s well-being and the client’s anxiety are top priorities.
Within this 40-day period, there is a minimum of 14 days in hard lockdown at Kenilworth Quarantine before departure. During the hard lockdown, the horses are restricted to the indoor barn, which features eight large stables per block. Access is highly controlled, utilising a double-door pressurised system with seals. All relevant testing is done during this time, and the general health of the horses is monitored for any changes in normal vitals.
Step 4:
After the completion of quarantine with negative tests, the horses are certified by the state veterinarian and are then transported in vector-protected trucks, under supervision, to the airport, where they are loaded into specialised stalls that can hold up to three horses each. These stalls are also covered with vector-protected nets. During the flight, the horses are cared for by experienced and qualified flying grooms. All necessary safety equipment, specialised loading ramps, and in-flight supplies are provided by us, with a minimum of one professional handler per stall for loading the stalls onto the aircraft. There is always a veterinarian available, but sedation is very rarely needed.
Step 5:
Post arrival, the horses must go through customs and clearing in Europe, which takes a few hours. Although this paperwork is completed in advance, it must still be validated by the local authorities. The horses are then transported to their final destinations within Europe. In some cases, further residency is required, such as in the UAE (30 days), the USA (60 days), or Australia (180 days), but it can be completed anywhere, as it’s not a quarantine requirement.
HQ: What are the biggest challenges in transporting horses internationally? How do you manage a horse’s individual needs in terms of feeding, etc, during the process?
CH: One of the biggest challenges is ensuring each horse is fully compliant with the export requirements and Health Certificate of the destination country.
Additionally, moving horses from the infected area into the free zone during the AHS Season can be a real challenge. This can be particularly complicated when horses are located in obscure and hard-to-reach areas, especially when timing is crucial.
Another challenge is the hard lockdown period, during which the horses are stable-bound for two weeks before departure.
Next, the fact that each time we are receiving between 18 and 32 horses of different breeds, levels of fitness, behavioural tendencies and owner requirements, in an environment that is highly regulated by both quarantine and health certificate SOPs (standard operating procedures), often limits the flexibility in terms of what can be done to take the best care of the horses, especially when they are used to a very different routine and environment. Having said that, all parties involved do their best to accommodate the differences.
Finally, every horse is an individual, and this presents its own issues. Some travel like seasoned professionals, while others need more reassurance.
In terms of these issues, our team plays a huge role in easing horses into the routine. For example, playful or easily bored horses are given balls or stable toys during lockdown to keep them mentally stimulated. Managing stress and welfare is always the top priority. This may also be addressed medically, on recommendation by the management and the vet, e.g. by starting a course of Omepracote. The management team at the quarantine, along with the supervising private veterinarian, continually monitor and adjusts feed as well as managerial systems (such as ice boots and beamers) to ensure the horses stay in top condition. This is always done within the boundaries of the health requirements.
HQ: Regulations and paperwork for animal transport seem daunting – how does your team manage this side of the process? What is the role of the owner in organising paperwork?
CH: The regulatory side is highly detailed, but that’s exactly where our expertise lies. We manage all veterinary requirements, blood tests, health certificates, flight arrangements, permits, passport validations, and customs clearances. Owners simply need to secure their horse’s booking with us, and we handle the rest, making a fairly complicated process as seamless as possible.
HQ: How do you ensure the horses stay safe and healthy during long-distance travel?
CH: We work exclusively with top-class vets, qualified flying grooms, and airlines equipped for animal transport. Horses are carefully monitored throughout the journey, from hydration to behaviour, to ensure their well-being at all times. During the flight, our experienced flying grooms provide continuous care, quickly recognising and addressing any signs of stress or discomfort. The horses also have constant access to quality forage, with water offered regularly to keep them hydrated and settled.
HQ: How do you support riders and owners through what must be quite a stressful process?
CH: Communication is everything. We keep owners updated at every stage, from the journey down to Cape Town, through quarantine, to loading, take-off and landing. We understand how emotional the process can be, so we focus on providing reassurance and transparency, giving owners confidence that their horses are in the best hands. We treat all horses as important, irrespective of value or purpose. The hardest part is managing expectations, as most clients have no real concept of the regulatory restrictions we have to abide by, including quarantine, health requirements, State Veterinary, SARS, airline, and airport, to name just a few.
HQ: Looking ahead, how do you see the role of equine import/export evolving in South Africa?
CH: We’re seeing steady growth in South African-bred horses being sold internationally, particularly in endurance, racing and polo. South Africa has some incredible breeding bloodlines that are attracting international attention, so the demand for safe, efficient equine transport will only increase. The proverbial wheel has started turning now that people see the opportunity to export. It incentivises them to breed and produce more horses for the international market, which is where the real money is. In turn, for this, you need new genetics and therefore, people import more breeding stock. The local market also benefits from this. The only thing to consider is that the horse commercial life cycle takes some years to produce stock for the market, so although turning, this wheel will take some time to gain real momentum.
HQ: What’s one thing most people don’t realise about flying horses overseas?
CH: Many people are surprised at how calmly most horses handle the experience. They travel in secure stalls with constant care and temperature control. Considering there are not as many starts and stops and turns as with road freight, most horses cope better on a plane than they do on a long road journey.
HQ: Finally, what’s the most rewarding part of your job?
CH: Without question, it’s seeing the horses arrive safely and happily at their new homes or competition yards. It’s extremely satisfying seeing a horse compete with success abroad, or locally, when you know you were an integral part of that particular horse’s journey.