Transporting a Friesian Internationally: The Honest Timeline
From bloodwork and quarantine to the flight itself — what international transport really costs, in time and money, when bringing a Friesian to North America.
Buyers regularly ask us what it actually takes to import a Friesian from Europe. The brochures say six weeks. The reality is closer to ten, and the budget is closer to $12,000 than $6,000. Here is what to plan for.
Step one — selection and pre-purchase exam
We always recommend the buyer attend in person if at all possible. A video tour and a vet exam at distance is sufficient for a horse you already know; it is not sufficient for a horse you are betting your time and money on.
A full pre-purchase exam in the Netherlands typically runs €1,200–€2,500 depending on imaging. Bloodwork (EIA Coggins, AHS, EIA, etc.) must be drawn at the right window before flight or it will need to be redrawn.
Step two — booking the flight
Horses fly out of Amsterdam (AMS) or Liège (LGG) into Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), or Los Angeles (LAX). The flight itself is around $7,500–$9,000 for a half-stall, $14,000+ for a full stall (more space, lower risk).
The peak season is March–June (foaling, breeding, show prep) — book at least 8 weeks ahead.
Step three — quarantine
Every horse imported from Europe must do a CEM quarantine at a USDA-approved facility on arrival. For mares this is 14 days minimum; for stallions, it is significantly longer (often 30+ days). Expect another $1,500–$3,500 for board and testing.
Step four — the trip home
Once cleared, the horse can be picked up by a private shipper or your trailer. We recommend a professional shipper for the first leg — a horse just off a transatlantic flight does not need a stressful first ride.
A realistic timeline
- Weeks 1–2: Selection trip, vet exam, contract, deposit
- Weeks 3–6: Bloodwork, paperwork, flight booking
- Week 7: Flight (one day, ~9 hours in the air plus ground time)
- Weeks 8–10: CEM quarantine, then transport home
If everything goes right, you'll have your horse in your barn at week 10 or 11. Build in two more for the things that always come up.
A realistic budget
For a horse purchased at €60,000:
- Horse: €60,000
- PPE & bloodwork: €1,500
- Flight (half-stall): $8,000
- Quarantine: $2,500
- Domestic shipping: $1,500
- Total all-in: ~$80,000
That is the honest number. Anyone quoting you significantly less is leaving something out.
How we can help
We handle all of this for horses sold through our program — pre-purchase coordination, transport, quarantine, and delivery. It is included in our price, not added on. That is one of the reasons our quoted prices may look higher than what you'll see on a European website. It is also why our buyers tend not to lose sleep at 3 a.m. wondering whether their horse is on the right plane.