Transporting your horse across Australia can take anywhere between a couple of hours to 3-4 days depending on where your final destination is.
Whenever you think about a means of horse transport, you also need to consider the horse transport cost that you will spend on your horse transport, both locally and internaionally. You may try checking some companies that offer low horse transport cost rates but one thing is for sure, you will be having a hard time to get a lowball rate when it's the racing season. Most of them are giving a high cost or rate this season.
INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRANSPORT
Say for example, when you go on horse transport by air internationally, horse transport cost varies depending on the departure or the last destination. Some of the airlines operate from your nearest airport and what class of travel you want for your horse. The horse transport cost can range from $3,000 to $15,000. Again, this varies depending on the final destination.
We recently got a quote to send a horse from Perth, WA to Chicago, USA. The total cost was $13,770AUD. (Quoted in 2019) - Prices have likely inreased since.
On the day of your horse transport cost internationally, the horse will be transported to the airport and some, undergo an additional five hours quarantine. The horse transport cost for this is based on the travel time between the isolation facility and the nearest airport.
There are lots of many professional horse transport companies out there. Mostly, they will be able to quote a fee for you that will cover all the horse transport cost from start to finish including some paperwork. It will also add some additional cost but it will prevent horse owners from making some usual mistakes.
VET CHECK
Aside from the airline trip for horse transport cost, you also need to consider that exporting a horse requires a vet check and a valid passport. This must be done by an approved veterinarian. The types of tests done and the cost will vary based on the horse's age, gender, and current livestock health issues. The tests will cost approximately $1,000 to $3,000.
LOCAL HORSE TRANSPORTATION WITHIN AUSTRALIA
If you are sending your horse locally within Australia, the horse does not have to fly as a normal horse truck is fine. Sending a horse from one coast to another (for example Sydney to Perth) does usually cost anywhere in between $2,000-$3,000.