International competition horse movement

The international horse sports industry has grown substantially in recent decades, with an increasing number of equestrian and racing events held globally. These events require the temporary movement of horses between countries that may have different animal health statuses, creating a potential risk for the spread of infectious diseases.

To address these challenges while supporting the safe and efficient movement of competition horses, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) established a public–private partnership in 2013. This collaboration has resulted in the development of tailored practical and science-based tools such as:

• The High Health, High Performance (HHP) Framework, which supports the harmonisation of sanitary requirements among countries and regions for the temporary importation and re-entry of competition horses.
• Equine Disease Free Zones (EDFZs), designated areas with enhanced biosecurity measures to host international equestrian events and facilitate the safe return of horses to their countries of origin.

Both tools are grounded in international standards outlined in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, specifically the chapters on zoning, compartmentalisation, and high health, high status horse subpopulations.

WOAH and IHSC provide active support countries and regions in strengthening their capacity to implement these tools and ensure the safe participation of horses in international sporting events.

High health, high performance (HHP) horses

General principles of the HHP framework, as well as supporting information on the management and biosecurity measures for HHP horses are available as follows:

• International standards on the general principles for the establishment of a High health status horse subpopulation are defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code – Chapter 4.17. They are an extension of the concept of compartmentalisation as defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 4.4. Zoning and Compartmentalisation).
• WOAH Guidelines for the management of HHP horses, including detailed biosecurity provisions and Model HHP Veterinary Certificates are defined in the HHP handbook.

The health status of HHP horses is safeguarded by the application of HHP standard conditions pertaining to veterinary supervision, identification and traceability and strict compliance with stringent biosecurity measures to create and maintain a functional separation between horses in the “high health equine subpopulation” and other equids, at all times, including the usual place of residence and venues of international competitions, and during transport. This compliance is ensured through continuous supervision.

A risk assessment (HHP disease risk mitigation strategies) demonstrated that, provided HHP standard conditions are continuously complied with, specific health requirements for the temporary importation of HHP horses for competition purposes can be limited to six diseases: African horse sickness, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, equine influenza, equine infectious anemia, glanders and piroplasmosis.

Model HHP Veterinary Certificates listing specific health requirements for those six diseases for the initial certification of HHP horses and for onward travels are available as reference documents.

Equine disease free zones (EDFZ)

The establishment of a zone which is free of multiple specified equine diseases (“Equine Disease Free Zone”- EDFZ) can be considered by countries that wish to host an international equine sport event but where the control and eradication of all equine diseases in the entire territory is not feasible or achievable.

The establishment of an EDFZ is an extension of the concept of zoning as defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 4.4. Zoning and Compartmentalisation). Separation of the subpopulation inside the EFDZ from the general population (i.e. equines and other species outside the EDFZ) is achieved by the implementation of sound biosecurity management, identification and control of movement and certification procedures. This separation ensures that horses within an EDFZ are protected from diseases that may occur in other parts of a country and vice-versa.

Regional Initiatives to Support the Safe International Movement of Competition Horses

As part of their ongoing collaboration, WOAH and IHSC conduct regional and sub-regional workshops to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders involved in the international movement of competition horses. These workshops aim to build technical skills, promote knowledge exchange, and support the implementation of tools based on WOAH’s international standards.

By fostering dialogue between public authorities and private sector representatives, the workshops serve as a platform to identify key challenges and develop coordinated, region-specific strategies to facilitate safe and efficient cross-border movements of horses.

Read More about the Regional Strategies to facilitate the movement of competition horses:

1. Asia and the Pacific: International Horse Movement
2. Middle East: Facilitation of temporary international horse movement   
3. The Americas: Harmonisation of health requirements and protocols for competition horses – Americas
4. Europe:  Capacity building seminar on horse movement – WOAH
5. IHSC (International Horse Sports Confederation): https://www.horsesport.org/