All the King's horses transported by Emirates SkyCargo

More than a hundred horses were flown in to the UK by two Emirates SkyCargo special freighter charters in the past two weeks.

The first shipment of 70 horses, which touched down on 27th April, was the largest number ever transported by Emirates SkyCargo on a single freighter flight. The second flight arrived two days later carrying 42 horses.

The horses of the Royal Cavalry of Oman were flown from Muscat to Stansted on the carrier’s Boeing 777 freighter aircraft for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant, which takes place from 10th-13th May at Windsor Castle.

The Diamond Jubilee Pageant is a major event marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The event takes place on the private grounds of Windsor Castle. Over 550 horses and more than 1,000 Dancers, musicians, and performers from around the world will come together each night in a performance to pay tribute to the 60 years of the Queen’s reign.

“With our Dubai hub now a major player in the world of horse racing, we have gained considerable experience in the care and transport of horses and fly hundreds across the globe every year,” said Hiran Perera, Emirates’ senior vice president - cargo planning & freighters.

“We are honoured to have been chosen to bring the Royal Cavalry of Oman to the UK for this prestigious event.”

The horses were transported in custom-built IATA-certified horse stalls, which have been developed in consultation with veterinary experts and can each carry up to three horses. The interior of each freighter aircraft has a sensitive air conditioning system that can be continually adjusted, ensuring the comfort of the horses at all times.

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A team of eight grooms, and a veterinary surgeon, accompanied the horses on each flight.

The complete movement of the 112 horses from stable to stable using two Emirates 777F charters was organised by Equitrans Logistics LLC, a horse-shipping agent in the Gulf region.

The charter also marked the first ever UK touchdown for an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777F aircraft. The carrier has four of the state-of-the-art freighters in service, with a further nine on order.