Transport

Choosing a Horse Transport Company: What Credentials Matter?

Check the company's authorization, the drivers' and attendants' certificates of competence, and vehicle documents for long journeys. The route, transport duration, and applicable exemptions are crucial.

Equidara editorial team · 22 October 2026 · 4 min read

Documents for choosing a horse transport company — File photo. Photo: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

When choosing a horse transport company, you should check three key areas: the company's authorization, the drivers' and attendants' certificates of competence, and, for long-distance transports, the vehicle documentation. These are three distinct types of documents. Ensure they align with your planned route and the duration of the journey. The information below is based on data from German authorities: the Nordwestmecklenburg district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the regional administrative authorities (Regierungspräsidien) of Baden-Württemberg. It is based on EU Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005. Some requirements apply specifically only in Baden-Württemberg.

Company Authorization: Checking Route, Duration, and Validity

According to the Nordwestmecklenburg district, Veterinary Department, transport operators must be authorized for journeys exceeding 65 kilometers, in accordance with Articles 10 or 11 of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005. This authorization is issued by the competent authority of their Member State.

The duration of the transport is also important for your selection. The authority distinguishes between two types of authorization:

Type 1 applies to journeys lasting a maximum of eight hours.
Type 2 applies to journeys exceeding eight hours.

Therefore, ask to see the authorization and verify its type against your planned journey. Also, check its validity: authorizations are granted for a maximum period of five years. A company may only apply for it with a single authority and in only one Member State.

In Baden-Württemberg, the STV is responsible for authorizing transport operators for long journeys exceeding eight hours. According to the Regierungspräsidien Baden-Württemberg, this Type 2 authorization includes Type 1 authorization.

Drivers and Attendants: Reviewing Certificates of Competence

According to information from the Nordwestmecklenburg district, individuals require a certificate of competence if they drive or accompany road vehicles transporting domestic equidae in connection with an economic activity. Horses are classified as domestic equidae. Therefore, this requirement applies not only to the driver but also to any accompanying personnel.

Ask the company who will be driving and accompanying your horse, and request to see their individual certificates. Do not confuse these personal certificates with the company's authorization.

The district outlines one path to obtaining a certificate of competence as follows: a fully and successfully completed training course in accordance with Annex IV, Number 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005, combined with an examination recognized by the competent authority. If these requirements are met, the competent authority responsible for the applicant's main residence will issue the certificate upon application. This is typically a veterinary and food surveillance office.

Vehicle Documentation: Long Journeys and Exemptions

According to the Nordwestmecklenburg district, for road vehicles used for long journeys, the competent authority can issue a certificate of approval upon application. Truck trailers and semi-trailers require their own separate certificates of approval. Therefore, don't just check the documents for the towing vehicle if a trailer or semi-trailer is being used.

There is an exception: For purely national transports within Germany lasting more than eight up to twelve hours, road vehicles do not require such vehicle approval under the German Animal Welfare Transport Ordinance (Tierschutztransportverordnung). This exception applies only to the transport of breeding and production animals. Therefore, do not automatically apply it to every horse transport.

Requirements in Baden-Württemberg

Anyone applying for company authorization for long journeys in Baden-Württemberg must submit valid certificates of approval or applications for approval for all road vehicles used or intended for this purpose, according to the Regierungspräsidien Baden-Württemberg. When speaking with the provider, pay attention to whether a certificate has already been issued or is only applied for.

Vehicles intended for approval for journeys exceeding eight hours in Baden-Württemberg must comply with the requirements for construction, design, and maintenance set out in Annex I, Chapters II and VI of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005.

For the transport of equidae, excluding registered equidae, vehicle approval for long journeys in Baden-Württemberg also requires the following documentation:

a temperature monitoring system with a data recorder and warning device,
proof of the ventilation system's performance.

For registered equidae, the authority does not specify these two requirements.

Checking Organization and Emergency Plans

For company authorization for journeys exceeding eight hours in Baden-Württemberg, the company must demonstrate sufficient and suitable personnel, as well as adequate and appropriate equipment and procedures to meet legal requirements. Furthermore, it must submit emergency plans for urgent cases.

Ask the company to explain the procedures and emergency plans they have in place for your transport. This will give you more insight than just knowing if an authorization exists.

As a further prerequisite for this authorization, the Baden-Württemberg authority states that the applicant must not have committed any animal welfare violations in the three years prior to the date of application.

If you are unsure which requirements or exemptions apply to your transport, have them reviewed by a lawyer.

Common questions

From what distance does a transport company need authorization?

According to the Nordwestmecklenburg district, transport operators must be authorized by the competent authority of their Member State for transports exceeding 65 kilometers, in accordance with Articles 10 or 11 of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?

According to the Nordwestmecklenburg district, Type 1 applies to transports lasting a maximum of eight hours, while Type 2 applies to transports exceeding eight hours. In Baden-Württemberg, according to the Regierungspräsidien, Type 2 authorization includes Type 1 authorization.

Do drivers and attendants need a certificate of competence?

Yes, if they drive or accompany road vehicles with domestic equidae in connection with an economic activity. This condition is specified by the Nordwestmecklenburg district.

Is there an exception for vehicle approval on long journeys?

According to the Nordwestmecklenburg district, road vehicles for purely national transports within Germany lasting more than eight up to twelve hours do not require such vehicle approval under the German Animal Welfare Transport Ordinance (Tierschutztransportverordnung). This exception applies only to breeding and production animals.

Sources

Written by Equidara editorial team. Last checked: 22 October 2026.