Transport

Selling a Horse Outside the EU: Tests, Quarantine, and Where to Get Binding Information

Within the EU, a passport, health certificate, and TRACES are sufficient. However, once your horse leaves the Union, the destination country dictates the rules, and these can change. We'll cover which examinations are frequently required, how quarantine works, and where to obtain truly binding information.

Equidara editorial team · 4 October 2026 · 4 min read

Selling a Horse Outside the EU: Tests, Quarantine, and Where to Get Binding Information — AI-generated image

Your buyer is in England, the United States, or Switzerland. The price is agreed upon, and then begins the part both parties often underestimate: exporting a horse from the EU is a bureaucratic undertaking involving deadlines, tests, and sometimes weeks in quarantine.

The Simple Case: Within the EU

For movement between EU member states, EU animal health law applies, primarily Regulation (EU) 2016/429. You'll need a valid equine passport, an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian, and the consignment recorded in TRACES. No customs duties apply. For more details on what to consider, refer to our article on cross-border horse transport.

Why There's No General List for Third Countries

As soon as your horse leaves the EU, the importing country sets the conditions: which diseases must be ruled out, which testing procedures are required, the timeframe before transport, and whether quarantine is necessary.

These requirements change, sometimes at short notice, for example, if a disease outbreak occurs in a region. Therefore, a list in an advisory article might already be outdated upon publication, and ultimately, anyone relying on it would bear the consequences.

Two sources provide binding information:

The authority of the destination country. They publish import conditions and sample certificates.
Your local veterinary office. They oversee the export process and issue the necessary certificates.

A freight forwarder specializing in horse transport will also be familiar with the usual procedures, but they cannot replace official governmental information.

Commonly Required Examinations

While the specific requirements may vary, some points are consistently requested:

Equine Infectious Anemia, often referred to as a Coggins test after the testing method
Piroplasmosis, prevalent in Europe and often an exclusion criterion or at least a reason for additional requirements in many destination countries
Dourine and Glanders, especially for exports to countries with strict controls
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), depending on sex and breeding use; stallions and breeding mares typically require the most extensive testing

Additionally, an official veterinary examination shortly before transport and a health certificate in the language of the destination country are almost always required.

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, as the responsible German federal research institute for animal health, documents which pathogens are detected in Germany and which laboratories are responsible for testing.

Two Examples

Great Britain. Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is considered a third country. Exporting from the EU requires an export health certificate, registration, and import clearance on the British side. The British government publishes the current rules for importing and exporting horses; if you're selling there, you should read them before price negotiations, not after.

United States. Import is federally regulated (9 CFR Part 93). Requirements include an import permit, an official health certificate, and quarantine at an APHIS-approved facility, along with blood tests for several pathogens. For stallions and breeding mares, CEM testing is also required, which can significantly extend the stay. Requirements also vary by country of origin and are regularly updated.

What to Include in the Sales Contract

For exports, the contract determines both finances and peace of mind:

Who pays for what? Tests, quarantine, certificates, and transport are separate items. It's common for the buyer to cover the import side, but this must be explicitly stated.
What happens in case of a positive test? This clause is almost always missing. It's advisable to include a provision that either rescinds or suspends the contract and specifies who bears the costs incurred up to that point.
When does the risk transfer? Upon handover to the transporter, upon arrival, or after quarantine?
When are payments due? A deposit and the remaining balance before departure are typical; payments after arrival pose a significant risk for the seller.
Which documents accompany the horse? Original equine passport, test results, proof of ownership.

Time and Costs

Both depend so heavily on the destination country that any general figures would be misleading. What can be said is that quarantine is usually the largest expense and the longest time factor, and planning should ideally begin with a call to your local veterinary office, not by booking transport.

Obtain two or three quotes from freight forwarders who regularly handle exports to your destination country, and ask for a detailed breakdown of what's included in the price. The difference between two quotes often lies not in the transport itself, but in who handles the administrative procedures.

Common questions

Which tests do third countries require for horse exports?

Frequently, blood tests for Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins test), Piroplasmosis, Dourine, and Glanders, plus CEM testing for stallions and breeding mares. The exact requirements are determined by the destination country; their authority and your local veterinary office provide binding information.

Why aren't country-specific requirement lists found in guides?

Because the requirements are set by the importing country and are regularly updated, sometimes at short notice due to disease outbreaks. A list would quickly become obsolete, and anyone relying on it would bear the risk.

How long does quarantine last?

That depends on the destination country, the horse's sex, and its breeding use. For stallions and breeding mares, CEM testing significantly extends the stay. Quarantine is usually the largest cost and time factor of the entire export process.

What applies when selling to Great Britain?

Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is a third country: it requires an export health certificate and import clearance on the British side. The British government publishes the current rules on GOV.UK.

What happens if a test comes back positive?

This should be stipulated in the sales contract, as it's the most expensive scenario imaginable. It's advisable to include a clause that either rescinds or suspends the contract and specifies who bears the costs incurred up to that point for tests, quarantine, and transport.

Sources

Written by Equidara editorial team. Last checked: 7 October 2026.