David Robson is Managing Director and Co-Founder of Equitrans Logistics, based in Dubai, UAE. David has been working in equine transport and logistics for over two decades now, overseeing operations that take horses safely across the world for competition, breeding, and relocation. From Olympic-level sport horses to treasured family ponies, his role is to ensure each journey is executed with precision, professionalism, and the highest standards of welfare. Equitrans was established to provide exactly that — a trusted, specialised logistics service built by horse people, for horse people.
What services does Equitrans offer?
David Robson co-founded Equitrans in 2002 to meet the growing demands of the national and international equine industry
Equitrans Logistics is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the Middle East’s trusted partner in global equine, exotic animal and pet transport, in addition to high-value embryo, equine semen and blood sample shipping. We are a stable-to-stable solution, whether you’re shipping one horse or an entire charter for a special project or event.
When planning to transport a dressage horse, What steps should be taken?
The process begins with a conversation. We’ll ask for basic information — where the horse is currently based, where it needs to travel, the preferred timeframe, and any special considerations such as competition schedules or health conditions and equipment to travel with your horses. From there, our commercial team provides a detailed quotation and proposed routing. Once confirmed, our operations team takes care of organising everything from the health and veterinary requirements, quarantine if required, blood testing, flu vaccinations, health certificates, export permits, flight bookings, and stable-to-stable delivery. For the client, it’s essentially a door-to-door service with complete transparency and constant communication.
Can you share the journey from start to finish?
On the day of travel, our professional grooms and ground teams arrive at the horse’s stable with a custom-built horse transport vehicle. The horse is loaded calmly and securely, then taken to the airport’s animal handling facility. After final veterinary, customs and document checks, the horse is loaded into an air-stall/stable — a specially designed, padded container that can hold up to three horses — which is then secured inside the aircraft.
Throughout the flight, our flying grooms monitor the horses continuously, ensuring they’re comfortable, hydrated, and relaxed. On arrival, the horses are unloaded, cleared through veterinary inspection and customs, and either moved into a short quarantine or delivered directly to their new stable. Every step is supervised by our team until the horse is safely settled.
How are the horses cared for on the aircraft?
Each horse travels in a Jet Stall unit — a secure, padded enclosure designed for equine air transport. Horses are typically flown in either single, double, or triple stalls depending on their size, temperament, and the client’s preference. They are provided with hay and water throughout the flight, and our flying grooms check them at regular intervals to ensure comfort and safety. The aircraft’s temperature and cabin pressure are closely controlled, and the flight plan is designed to minimise stress, turbulence, and duration wherever possible. Our grooms will brief the crew of any temperamental horse passengers so that they can do the best with a smooth take-off and soft-landing.
How should someone prepare their horse for a flight?
Preparation is key. We always recommend that horses be gradually familiarised to loading and confined spaces before travel. Avoid changing feed or supplements in the days leading up to the flight, and ensure the horse is fit, healthy, and appropriately vaccinated. Horses should travel on a slightly lighter stomach — not completely empty, but not immediately after a large meal and preferably walked before loading so that they can pass droppings before travel. Owners should also avoid heavy exercise or sedation unless advised by a veterinarian. Our team provides a pre-flight checklist to make sure both horse and owner are fully ready.
Who arranges flight paperwork?
Equitrans handles all the paperwork on behalf of the client. This includes veterinary health certificates, export and import permits, CITES documentation (where applicable), customs declarations, and flight manifests. We work closely with official veterinarians and government agencies in both the departure and arrival countries to ensure all requirements are met. Clients simply need to provide the horse’s passport and vaccination record — the rest is managed by our operations and compliance teams in conjunction with the veterinarians and other parties.
What problems can arise when horses are travelling?
Horses are remarkably adaptable travellers, but occasional issues do arise — often related to stress, dehydration, or mild colic if they are not eating or drinking normally. Sometimes, less-experienced travellers can become restless during loading or take-off. That is why our flying grooms are so vital; they are highly trained in recognising signs of discomfort early and adjusting care accordingly. Careful preparation, calm handling, and professional oversight make all the difference.
What happens if a horse becomes, ill or frightened during the flight?
Every flight includes professional Equitrans flying grooms who are trained in equine first aid and emergency response. They carry veterinary supplies on board and are in constant communication with the cockpit crew. If a horse becomes unwell or distressed, the grooms assess and stabilise the animal immediately. In the rare case of a serious issue, our flight operations team coordinates with ground handlers and veterinary authorities at the nearest airport to arrange priority landing and treatment. Fortunately, such situations are extremely rare due to our pre-flight assessments and experienced handling.
What advice do you offer to the person caring for the horse after travel?
Just like human passengers, they may experience mild dehydration or stiffness from standing for long periods. Fresh water, light exercise, and turnout if permitted will help them recover quickly. Horses generally bounce back very well — most sport horses are back in light work within 48 hours.
Are there any misconceptions around flying horses?
Absolutely. One of the biggest misconceptions is that flying is inherently stressful or unsafe for horses — when in fact, with professional planning and the right equipment, it is often far more comfortable than long road journeys. Another is that it is only for elite competition horses; we transport everything from leisure ponies to retired companions, all receiving the same level of care. Many people also do not realise the extent of planning involved — it is not simply loading a horse onto a plane, but a coordinated process involving veterinarians, customs, handlers, and aviation specialists across multiple countries. With live animals the responsibility and checks and balances are numerous and the most difficult part is change in motion that we have to adapt to as there are a number of factors involved in ensuring a horse can travel as planned.