04/11/2024
Is your estimated horse journey OVER 8 HOURS? Ie Cornwall to Newcastle, or Scotland to Essex, or travel time is 8 ½ hours.
If so, you need a Type 2,. long distance UK, EU or international horse transporter.
Only a Type 2 transporter is legally allowed to travel this length of time and longer in one day. They have to take compulsory stops and have regular breaks in line with long distance driving, during the transport journey.
So if your pony is in Cornwall and needs to go to Scotland, a Type 2 transporter is required.
However....., you can book a Type 1 transporter that will take this journey over a couple of days AND has overnight stabling for your pony on route! They cannot do any journey that takes longer than 8 hours, on a Type 1 licence.
To clarify this further, Type 1 cannot move the same horse unless 48hrs rest before moving the same horse again. So its 4 days from start to end.
Be aware of transporters who claim to have a Type 2 licence, they may even advertise it, but they dont! They may have been a Type 2 transporter in the past, but carried on when their licence expired and still claimed to be licenced. Or they may have completed training but didn't apply for the licence from DEFRA.
It will also list what animals the transporter can legally move. Some may just have horses, some may have sheep, goats, pigs etc in addition to horses. But it will say what they can legally transport on the register. If it doesn't state goats, then no, they cannot take your goats with your ponies!
Always make sure you check the most recent register of Type 2 transporters before booking. We have included the link at the end of this post.
Gemini Equine Horse Transport has Type 1 drivers. We have access to overnight stabling on longer routes.
We can recommend legal Type 2 drivers and EU transporters, if you need them.
Pricing: Just because a transporter is 'cheap', doesn't mean they are not legal. It does not mean they do not have insurance. It does not mean the vehicle is of poor quality.
It may mean they may have less overheads or outgoing expenses than other transporters, or they do not depend on transporting as the sole income, or they already have shared transport runs established and have a return empty space.
Don't think 'cheap' is bad just because they are 'cost effective'!
Competitors: This is a dog eat dog (or should it be horse eat horse) industry where everyone is in direct competition with each other. Some are cut throat, some are supportive, some are just plain nasty. Slagging off another competitor isn't just unprofessional, it's ugly, rude and unnecessary. Especially when unfounded lies and allegations and claims are made. We have often found that those who shout loudest against others, usually have the most to hide themselves.
When a new transporter ask for help, instead of seeing them as a threat, sending condescending or abusive mesaages to them or worse, to other transporters about them, give them your advice, your words of wisdom, or even, any warnings.
You never know when that person may be the only person who may come to your aid in an emergency or just to pass work your way.
Be nice to each other, it doesn't cost a penny to be polite.
Current list of all UK based Type 2 transporters are available, and updated regularly, by DEFRA. You may need to copy and paste:
www.data.gov.uk/dataset/e769d17f-71f5-4dd1-bf13-3aec52ebc801/list-of-type-2-long-journey-authorised-transporters
