After years of deliberations and delays, European Union officials have given the green lithe for the resumption of direct horse transport from South Africa to Europe.
The South African authorities hope the decision will give a recent boost to the ailing industry by attracting recent investment in breeding and expanding the international market for South African thoroughbreds. It will also make it much quicker and easier to send South African horses to international horse races.
Under the rules in place since 2011, export to Europe takes several months and includes a stopover in Mauritius, an island state in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa. This has effectively cut off the flow of horses to international races, including those in Dubai.
The difficulties were illustrated by the dwindling presence of South African trainer Mike de Kock at the Dubai World Cup Carnival since the restrictive protocols were introduced. Once a dominant force at the carnival, thanks in part to Arab owners buying in the South African market to run in Dubai, de Kock's ownership group shrank to the point that he had no runners at the 2023 carnival.
Negotiations on the change were delayed because a required on-site audit by EU officials was postponed from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid pandemic. Since 2022, the issue has been the subject of back-and-forth negotiations with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which has strongly supported the South African officials.
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“I look forward to our horses flying the flag internationally and making us all proud,” said Dr. Mpho Maja, Director of Animal Health in the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
David Abery, Chairman of South African Equine Health and Protocols, said: “This is very stimulating news and I thank everyone who made this possible.
“It is expected that this opening up to direct EU exports will, over time, provide a significant boost not only to the South African thoroughbred racing and breeding sector, but also to other equine disciplines, all of which have been somewhat isolated internationally for many years.”
