How to import friesian horse: international shipping, cost and quarantine explained

International horse shipping sounds intimidating. And honestly? It does involve more steps than loading up a trailer and driving home. But it's not impossible, thousands of horses are successfully imported into the United States every year, and Friesians specifically are one of the most commonly imported European breeds. With the right information, the right shipping agent, and a realistic budget, you can do this. This guide covers everything, how international horse shipping works from start to finish, what the USDA requires, what quarantine looks like, how much the whole process actually costs in 2025–2026, and what's specifically unique about importing a Friesian from the Netherlands.

Why So Many Friesian Buyers Import Directly from the Netherlands

If you've been shopping for a registered Friesian horse in the United States, you already know the domestic supply can be limited, especially for well-bred, KFPS-inspected horses with strong bloodlines. The Netherlands is home to the Koninklijke Vereniging "Het Friesch Paarden-Stamboek" (KFPS), the original Dutch studbook that has governed Friesian breeding since 1879. It's the gold standard. Most serious Friesian buyers eventually find themselves looking at Dutch listings.

The good news: the Netherlands is a Category 1 country under USDA APHIS standards, meaning its animal health status is recognized as high-quality and the import process is relatively streamlined compared to many other countries. EU horses require just 3 days of USDA quarantine, the shortest available window, making the Netherlands one of the more practical countries to import from.

That doesn't mean it's cheap. But the process is well-established, and experienced shipping agents handle Dutch-to-USA Friesian imports routinely.

How International Horse Shipping Works: The Big Picture

Before we get into the Friesian-specific details, let's break down how international horse transport works in general. Whether you're importing from the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, or elsewhere, the core process follows the same framework.

Step 1: Find a Licensed Equine Shipping Agent

The first thing you should do, before you finalize any purchase, is identify a licensed equine shipping agent or freight forwarder who specializes in live horse transport. This is not optional. The paperwork, coordination with airlines, quarantine booking, USDA permits, and customs clearance are complex enough that attempting to navigate them alone as a first-time importer is not recommended. Well-known agents who specialize in Netherlands-to-USA Friesian imports include companies like Horse flight, IRT (International Ring Transport), and Intradco Global. Your FHANA-registered breeder will likely have a preferred agent they work with regularly. Your agent will: Coordinate ground transport from the seller's stable to the departure facility Arrange the pre-export quarantine and health testing in the Netherlands Book the flight (typically on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which has one of the most established equine cargo programs in the world) Handle all USDA paperwork and import permits Arrange US quarantine on arrival Coordinate domestic ground transport from the US port of entry to your farm

Step 2: Pre-Export Health Testing and Documentation

Before your Friesian leaves the Netherlands, she must pass a series of blood tests and health examinations required by USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). This is non-negotiable, horses that test positive for any of the required diseases will be refused entry into the United States. Required pre-export tests for horses coming from the EU include:

Test Disease Coggins Test (AGID or ELISA) Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Complement Fixation Test Dourine Complement Fixation Test Glanders Competitive ELISA or CF Test Equine Piroplasmosis CEM culture (mares and stallions) Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)

The official export health certificate must be issued by a full-time salaried government veterinarian from the Netherlands' national Competent Veterinary Authority. USDA will not accept photocopies, the original paper certificate with wet ink endorsement must accompany your horse on the flight.

Important: Vaccines must not be administered within 14 days prior to departure. Time your vet visits accordingly.

Step 3: Pre-Export Isolation in the Netherlands

Your horse will typically be collected from the seller's stable 2–4 days before the scheduled flight. This allows time for the government vet to complete health and export paperwork. Many Dutch shipping operations use dedicated horse hotel facilities, if you're flying through Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (the main hub for European equine air freight), horses often stage at facilities connected to KLM's Animal Hotel.

This pre-export period is included in most all-in shipping packages and is a normal, low-stress part of the process.

Step 4: The Flight

Horses travel as cargo on commercial passenger flights, not in the passenger cabin. They're loaded into specialized jet stalls (also called horse stalls or pallets) that are designed for equine transport and loaded into the aircraft's cargo hold.

A professional groom accompanies the horses throughout the flight, monitoring water intake, hay consumption, and overall welfare. The most common transatlantic routes from the Netherlands land at one of three US airports that are approved to receive live horse shipments:

JFK, New York (most common for East Coast buyers) MIA, Miami (common for Southeast and Florida buyers) LAX, Los Angeles (West Coast) Flight time from Amsterdam to New York is approximately 7–8 hours. With loading, taxiing, and unloading, the full journey from the European facility to US soil typically takes around 24–36 hours.

Step 5: USDA Port Inspection and Quarantine

This is where many buyers are caught off guard, not because it's difficult, but because it adds time and cost that needs to be planned for.

Upon arrival at JFK, MIA, or LAX, your horse will be:

Inspected by a USDA port veterinarian, the original health certificate and import permit are reviewed, and the horse is physically examined Transferred immediately to a USDA-approved quarantine facility for their mandatory quarantine period For horses arriving from EU countries like the Netherlands, the standard quarantine is 3 days, during which the horse is tested for Dourine, Glanders, Equine Piroplasmosis, and EIA. A horse that tests positive for any of these will be refused entry, this is why pre-export testing is so critical.

During CEM quarantine, mares are cultured and tested multiple times. Stallions are cultured, tested, and also required to live-cover two mares who are then tested. It's a thorough process, and it's why importing a stallion is significantly more expensive and time-consuming than importing a gelding or mare.

Your importer or agent must reserve quarantine space at an APHIS-approved facility at least 3 business days before arrival. You cannot show up and hope there's space, this must be pre-arranged.

Step 6: Release and Domestic Transport

Once your horse clears quarantine, all tests negative, paperwork complete, she's officially yours on US soil! 🎉

From JFK, MIA, or LAX, you'll arrange domestic ground transport to your farm or boarding facility. Depending on where you're located in the country, this could mean a short haul or a multi-day cross-country trip with a professional equine transport company.

What Is the USDA Import Permit and How Do You Get One?

Every horse imported into the United States (with the exception of horses from Canada in certain circumstances) must be accompanied by a USDA import permit. This is separate from the health certificate.

Here's what you need to know:

*Apply through APHIS eFile at efile.aphis.usda.gov, your shipping agent will typically handle this *Submit the application at least 7 business days before shipping *The permit is valid for 14 days for live equines *APHIS charges a processing fee for the permit *The permit specifies the port of entry and any special instructions Your agent handles the permit in the vast majority of cases, but it's good to understand what it is and why it exists. The USDA's goal is simple: prevent communicable animal diseases from entering the country. Given that the Netherlands has historically been free of many of the diseases that concern US regulators, Dutch horses have one of the cleaner import tracks, but the permit is still required.

For questions directly to USDA: laipermits@usda.gov or call 301-851-3300.