Nearly a hundred horses were transported from Europe to Calgary via Boeing 747s to participate in the Spruce Meadows Masters, marking a record number of equine competitors for the 50th anniversary of this prestigious event. From September 3 to 7, over 100 horses from around the globe are showcasing their skills at the annual equestrian show jumping event hosted at Calgary’s Spruce Meadows.
The journey to bring these international horses to Canada involved meticulous planning, paperwork, and coordination to ensure their timely and optimal arrival. Martha Worts, the sales and operations manager at Overseas Horse Services in Calgary, emphasized the relief felt upon the horses’ safe arrival on Canadian soil.
Similar to human air travel procedures, each competing horse must possess a passport issued by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. This passport includes an ID page with details on the horse’s breeding, age, and other pertinent information that must align with the import permit requirements. Additionally, every horse must have an import permit for entry into Canada and a health certificate from their country of origin.
Following proper documentation and boarding arrangements, the Spruce Meadows horse athletes embarked on a cargo Boeing 747 from Liege, Belgium, to Calgary. The horses traveled in pairs in spacious stalls, ensuring a comfortable journey. Grooms and a veterinarian accompanied the horses, providing care and attention throughout the flight.
Despite the complex logistics of transportation, ensuring the horses’ well-being is paramount. Elite performance horses are accustomed to travel and quickly adapt to post-flight recovery routines, maintaining their competitive form. Overseas Horse Services delivers the horses to the International Animal Lounge at Calgary Airport post-flight, where they rest before being transported to Spruce Meadows for tournament preparation.
Martha Worts highlighted that travel impacts horses differently, requiring scheduled recovery time before competition. The horses arrived in batches, with the final leg of transport taking them to Spruce Meadows for the CPKC International grand prix, featuring a record $5-million prize purse this year. The event’s climax anticipates the participation of top-ranked riders, including defending champion Martin Fuchs from Switzerland.
As the tournament concludes, preparations for next year’s horse transports to and from the Spruce Meadows Masters begin. Despite the challenges inherent in animal transportation, Martha Worts expressed her passion for the job, recognizing the daily adventures and adjustments required to ensure smooth travel for the equine competitors.