Horses on ATA Carnets: “Just Call Kiel!”

Call Boomerang Carnets, Your Carnet Specialists

At boomerang carnets®, ATA Carnets have long played a role in the temporary export of horses.  We have served the equestrian sector for nearly forty years in the United States and over a decade in the United Kingdom.  The equestrian sector’s multi-layered capacity also includes veterinarians, equine massage and chiropractic specialists, saddle and equipment designers, equine coaches, trainers, breeders and more.

At the heart of it, however, is the horse.  Their beauty, strength, grace, and movement elicit a universal appeal and devotion.  Horses are temporarily exported for numerous reasons including international dressage, show jumping, and cross-country competitions, as well as test/trials, sporting events, and riding excursions or holidays.  ATA Carnets are not only used for horses but also for the essential and ancillary equipment needed for all who are part of the sport.  One of our customers, a prominent politician’s wife, used a boomerang carnet for her favorite horse that was headed to the EU.
 

The ATA Carnet

The ATA Carnet is an internationally accepted customs document for temporarily exported merchandise, goods or equipment that allows cross-border movement of those goods import-duty and -tax free in and out of 90+ carnet countries and territories for up to a year.  Also known as the “Merchandise Passport”, the ATA Carnet is a unique international trade tool serving various purposes from temporary importation of professional equipment to trade show exhibiting.  

Not all carnet providers offer the same level of expertise, especially when it comes to live animals.  Transporting a horse under an ATA Carnet requires careful attention to documentation, valuation, and identification standards.  Boomerang carnets ensure these standards are met while guiding clients through the nuances that come with equestrian travel.
 

More Than Horses—and Support Vehicles

Beyond the horse itself, equestrian travel often includes an extensive list of supporting equipment. ATA Carnets can cover everything from riding gear and training tools to competition infrastructure.

We also assist with CPDs (Carnet de Passages en Douane) for horse trailers and support vehicles traveling internationally ensuring that every element of the journey is accounted for and compliant at the border.  The CPD is an international customs document which covers the temporary admission of motor vehicles (private and commercial road motor vehicles) in countries where required and saves you the duty and taxes on trailers and road motor vehicles used to carry horses across international borders.  We issue CPDs in the U.S. and Canada.  If you are in the U.K., call us and we’ll recommend one of our trusted partners to accommodate your CPD needs.
 

“Just Call Kiel”

Within the equestrian community, word travels fast.  With greater frequency, we’ve heard a simple phrase repeated among riders, trainers, and logistics coordinators, “Just Call Kiel.”  The Kiel in “Just Call Kiel” (pronounced Kyle) refers to Kiel Ursin, Carnet Specialist at boomerang carnets with ten years of experience serving customers.  Kiel also has the distinction of being our Communications Specialist.    

In presentations for export organizations and industries of all kinds, Kiel sheds light on the benefits of using ATA Carnets with an engaging direct and knowledgeable style.  In February of 2025, he was invited to the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), to give a presentation on the benefits of ATA Carnet use to a global audience in the unmanned vehicle industry in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Kiel has also become known for his expertise with ATA Carnets for horses.  He is continually being asked for by referral in the equestrian community with the recommendation: “Just Call Kiel at boomerang carnets.”  He understands the importance of his charge and his experience is fully utilized when handling specialized carnet applications, particularly those involving live horses, tight competition schedules, and international coordination.

We recently caught up with Kiel to ask him about his ATA Carnet equine expertise:    

How many equestrian clients did you have this year compared to years past?  A difficult question to answer, as this season really just started.  The “big” shows in Canada are May, June, July, and August.  But we do definitely get more and more horse owners, barns, trainers etc. each year!

What, if any, are the special demands involved with a carnet for a horse?  The horse needs to be listed on the carnet in a certain way, starting with the words “LIVE HORSE: “, and then the horses name, year / date of birth, breed, sex, color, any identifiable markings, the horse’s passport number (if using a passport), and always ending with the microchip #, just like we would end a camera’s description with the serial number.  Customs in Canada requires the microchip # to be listed across all paperwork, including the carnet, vet / health certificate, and COGGINS report.

What advice or tips do you have for equestrian clients using an ATA Carnet for their horse/s and equipment?  Use a reputable commercial ‘hauler’, who knows carnets, and has used them before.  If hauling yourself, always read through all instructions and call me / our team before traveling for the first time for a walkthrough.  Call U.S. and Canadian customs at the border in advance, so you know if that particular port prefers you go through the commercial lane, passenger lane, park and get out somewhere, etc., and what their finite procedures and preferences are.

Is there a season for equestrian carnets?  Why are they being temporarily imported into another country?  Which countries are horses under carnet going to?  In the past, we mostly did carnets for horses going to Europe, and a handful of carnets to Canada, but a couple years before the pandemic some ‘switch flipped’ with Canadian customs. They used to look the other way for horses, especially if you were a single owner and hauling your own horse, rather than a commercial hauler, but then they, all of a sudden, started cracking down and requiring carnets for all horses, and that’s when we saw a HUGE influx of horse carnet applications, destined for Canada.  Some people go up in March and September, but the weather isn’t the most reliable and there is higher risk of injury to the horse in bad weather.  Mostly, it is at least one big show each month April – August.

How did you become aware of the “Just Call Kiel” word-of-mouth recommendations that spread in the equestrian community for your expertise with horse carnets?  Once more and more barns and trainers found out about carnets, over the hassle and added expense of brokering, the word really spread like wildfire.  I got the first barn in Washington to find out about them, and it just kind of naturally happened where if it was a horse going to Canada, it would get assigned to me by my team.  I have heard the haulers give out my name and business card, I am talked about at horse shows, my name is spread across horse blogs and forums, etc.  I’ve had many people say, “you’ve kind of become a sort of celebrity in our world.” 

Which countries are horses under carnet going to?  Unless going to Europe via air cargo, and verrrry rarely to Mexico, most all go to Canada.

Do you have a favorite “horse story” you’d like to share?  During the Canadian customs crack down, I mentioned earlier, requiring carnets for horses crossing the border, there was one day in July where seventy horses were all waiting at the Canadian border with no carnets or documentation in place for their temporary importation into Canada.  Most turned back to head home with their horses, but one woman stayed.  She pulled off the road, led her two horses out of the trailer, stabilized them under a tree, fed and watered them, and waited at the border somewhere between 8 to 10 hours.  Her tenacity paid off and customs decided to allow her to pass through into Canada with a promise that this was the last time she would get through without a carnet.  I admire her persistence and from then on, she was fully prepared with ATA Carnets for her horses at the border.  She is now one of our best customers and recommends us to everyone.
 

To All Our Customers

At boomerang carnets, we strive to understand your unique needs, and we’re honored to support the equestrian community with the expertise and service needed to keep horses, equipment, and teams moving across borders with confidence.

Whether you are an equestrian, hauler, horse owner, event organizer, judge, trainer, broker or in any of the many sectors we provide ATA Carnets and CPDs for, our goal is simple: to empower you to optimize the advantages of ATA Carnets and CPDs.  Our mission is to make traveling with your temporarily exported goods, merchandise, equipment, and vehicle as effortless as possible.
 

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