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Live Horses on ATA Carnets with CPDs Along for the Ride

Friday, May 14, 2021

Boomerang carnets® provides ATA Carnets and Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) for the Equine Industry offering convenience and savings when transporting live cargo and trailers/vehicles into another country.  Both international trade documents allow temporary admission into foreign countries without payment of import-duty or -tax, saving the temporary importer money.

Though we have been issuing ATA Carnets in the U.S. for 30+ years and in the U.K. for 5+, boomerang carnets can (since 2016) accommodate U.S. and Canadian customers with CPDs that cover trailers and vehicles that transport horses across borders or that are shipped and used to transport horses once they reach their destination.  Both documents provide significant savings with the avoidance of any duty or taxes as well as the assurance and ease clearing customs.

The ATA Carnet is an internationally accepted customs document for temporarily exported merchandise or goods including live animals.  It allows cross border movement of those goods import-duty and -tax free into 87+ carnet countries and territories for up to a year.  The ATA Carnet is known as the “Merchandise Passport” for boomerang freight®. 

Horses that are taken abroad for the following intended uses can be declared using an ATA Carnet as the customs declaration for temporary admission: 

  • Medical treatment and tests.
  • Sporting events, dressage, matches, and trials.
  • Pleasure riding excursions or vacations.
  • Training, education, breeding, horse shoeing, pasturage, and accommodation.

If you are residing or domiciled abroad and personally use your horse, you can also use the ATA Carnet for the following intended uses:

  • Tests, Trials.
  • Sporting events.
  • Riding excursions or holidays.
  • Dressage, training, education, breeding, horse shoeing, veterinary treatment, pasturage, and accommodation.

In accordance with foreign customs administrations' requests for better standards in identification and valuation of horses listed on ATA carnets, the U.S. national guaranteeing association has issued the following rules:

  • General Lists are to be constructed with each horse described as -
    Live horse: "---Name---", Color, Gender, and U.S. or FEI horse passport number.
  • Value: all horses must have a minimum value of US$10,000.

As an appointee of the U.S. national guaranteeing association, boomerang carnets® has implemented these rules and will be advising carnet applicants accordingly.

IMPORTANT: If the horse is being sent for a possible sale, please discuss this with your ATA Carnet specialist on how best to handle this transaction, BEFORE, the ATA Carnet is issued.

Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) the “Vehicle Passport”

The CPD differs from the ATA Carnet in that it is used for the temporary admission of road vehicles (private and commercial road motor vehicles) in countries where required.  The CPD is known as the “Vehicle Passport” which allows a vehicle to enter multiple countries for temporary importation without paying the import-duty and -taxes.

If you plan on temporarily exporting a vehicle and trailer to transport the horse, you will need a CPD Carnet for these items.  In other words, for the horse and any equipment the ATA Carnet is to be used.   For a vehicle and trailer that will be driven on public roads to transport the animal, the CPD Carnet is to be used.

Boomerang carnets® is available to assist with carnet applications for live horses. For additional information on live horses, other livestock and vehicles on carnets contact a Carnet Specialist at the boomerang carnets® Carnet Helpline® (800) ATA-2900 / (800)282-2900.

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Resources:

The U.S. Equestrian Federation provides information regarding the U.S. or FEI horse passport number:

The U.K. Equestrian Federation provides information on:  

The Canadian Equestrian Federation provides information on: