European Horse Services

What European Horse Services does

European Horse Services (EHS) is a Belgium-headquartered specialist in end-to-end international horse transport, founded in 1991 by Filip Vande Cappelle and now led by CEO Lieselot Hamerlinck as part of parent Pegasus Holding. The company serves professional equestrian athletes (e.g., Nicola Philippaerts, Abdel Said), horse traders and breeders, royal and institutional operations (Al Shaqab, Qatar Navigation Q.P.S.C. "Milaha"), and temporary-import clients, exporting and importing horses between the European Union and 120+ global destinations. Operations are vertically integrated around a 106-box purpose-built quarantine and transit facility in Meetkerke, a modern climate-controlled truck fleet equipped with onboard cameras, misting systems, and lowered loading ramps, and full regulatory documentation handling spanning ATA carnet, TRACES, BCP, FAVV, HorseID, and the FEI HorseApp. EHS uses six European hub airports (Brussels, Ostend, Luxembourg, Liège, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt), is the first horse transporter worldwide to hold the IATA CEIV Live Animals certification, and in March 2026 demonstrated large-scale crisis capability by coordinating the return of 147 horses from Doha to Europe on two charter cargo flights within 36 hours.

The business model is transaction-based with quote-based per-shipment pricing that varies by destination, horse type and sex, blood tests, quarantine, and special requirements; revenue is generated from transport service fees, quarantine and stabling fees, and ATA Carnet and customs documentation services, with cancellation penalties of up to 100% of total shipment cost within seven working days of scheduled departure. A French subsidiary, E.H.S. France sas (created in 2022, led by Anna Gance-Kubik), extends direct sales coverage in France, and the company sells through a multilingual "Let's fly" web form, direct phone/email/WhatsApp contact, and pickup-delivery via its owned truck fleet. Distribution partnerships span Qatar Airways, Cargolux, Lufthansa Cargo, DNata (Amsterdam Schiphol), Schiphol Animal Centre, and overseas agents such as Milaha in Doha, with charter-flight capability demonstrated at scale by the Al Shaqab repatriation mission.

The technology stack is operational rather than digital: it is built around a purpose-built physical infrastructure, dedicated personnel (in-house professional grooms, drivers trained by the company veterinarian, and business unit managers for USA, Non-USA, and Import operations), and deep regulatory expertise codified through the IATA CEIV certification and the founder's presidency of the Animal Transportation Association. The integrated offering — road transport, paperwork, quarantine, flight booking, in-flight care, and arrival evaluation — is positioned as a premium, end-to-end service that lets owners focus on training, competition, and horse management rather than logistics.

Name

European Horse Services

Legal name

E.H.S. bv

Website

https://ehs.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

European Horse Services is a Belgium-based specialist in end-to-end international horse transport, combining a 106-box quarantine facility with a climate-controlled truck fleet. It serves professional equestrian athletes and institutions across 120+ destinations, holding the IATA CEIV Live Animals certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine logistics services

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (112920), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Racing Logistics & Transport (Equine Haulage, Quarantine) (MPAEADAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equine Transport & Hauling Services (AFAEAGAI)

Keywords

• International horse transport
• Equine logistics services
• Horse air freight
• Equine quarantine services
• Horse transport documentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Meetkerke

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Transport service fees (export & import): Per-shipment fees for international and intra-EU horse transport, including road transport, air freight, documentation handling, customs clearance, and end-to-end logistics. Pricing is quote-based and varies by destination, horse type, sex, blood tests, and quarantine needs. One-time per shipment.
2. Quarantine & stabling fees: Charges for pre-export quarantine stays (e.g., 30-day quarantine for China export) and transit stabling at the 106-box facility. Cancellation within 7 working days of scheduled departure can incur up to 100% of total shipment costs.
3. ATA Carnet and customs documentation services: Assistance with ATA Carnet issuance and customs documentation for temporary horse import/export, particularly between the EU and the US, to avoid import duties and taxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

European Horse Services provides all-in, end-to-end international horse transport by air and road, including pre-export quarantine in a 106-box facility, climate-controlled road transport in its own truck fleet, documentation handling (ATA Carnet, TRACES, BCP, FAVV, FEI HorseApp), customs clearance, air freight booking, in-flight grooms and final delivery. Services are sold on a custom quote basis to individual horse owners, professional riders, traders, breeders, and large equine institutions, covering both export from Europe and import into Europe across 120+ global destinations.

Product overview

European Horse Services operates a single, vertically integrated horse-transport offering rather than a software platform: the core "European Horse Services (EHS) — International Horse Transport" service is supported by a set of interlocking service modules and facilities, including the EHS Import and Export service lines, the 106-box EHS Quarantine & Transit Stables, the in-house EHS Modern Truck Fleet for road transport, the Professional Grooms who accompany horses in-flight, and the ATA Carnet Service for temporary cross-border moves. The offering is delivered through two entities — the Belgian parent EHS bv in Meetkerke and the French sub-brand EHS France (Chaumontel) — and is made bookable to customers via the digital "Let's Fly" online transport request form on the website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• European Horse Services International Horse Transport
• EHS Import Service (Rest of World to Europe)
• EHS Export Service (Europe to Rest of World)
• EHS Quarantine and Transit Stables
• EHS Modern Truck Fleet (Road Transport)
• Professional Grooms (In-Flight Care)
• ATA Carnet Service
• EHS France (French Subsidiary)
• Let's Fly Online Transport Request

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of continuous operations since 1991
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• Al Shaqab (Qatar)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAl Shaqab (Qatar's world-renowned royal equestrian operation) partnered with EHS as the receiving partner in Europe to coordinate the safe return of 147 horses from Doha via two charter cargo flights in 36 hours. Al Shaqab led the operation alongside Qatar Navigation Q.P.S.C. 'Milaha' in collaboration with Qatar Airways.
• Qatar AirwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQatar Airways worked closely with Al Shaqab and EHS to operate two charter cargo flights transporting 147 horses from Doha to Europe. The airline is one of the carriers EHS collaborates with for horse transport services.
• Qatar Navigation Q.P.S.C. 'Milaha'coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMilaha was the local logistics partner in Doha that, together with Al Shaqab, coordinated the 147-horse return mission, leveraging its local authority relationships and operational capacity to support EHS as the European receiving partner.
• DNata (Amsterdam Schiphol animal handling center)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEHS strongly recommends DNata's new animal handling center at Amsterdam Schiphol for loading horses into airstalls. The facility features rubber floors, smart funnel partitions, and calm rest boxes. DNata loading is an additional option - other loading facilities at AMS are also available.
• Pegasus Holding (Pegasus Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPegasus Holding is the parent company of European Horse Services (E.H.S. bv). Lieselot Hamerlinck became CEO of both EHS and Pegasus Holding in mid-2023, creating strategic synergies between EHS and other Pegasus brands (notably Cavalor).
• Cavalor (Pegasus Holding sister brand)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister brand under Pegasus Holding (also led by Lieselot Hamerlinck, former Nutriquine/Cavalor CEO). Pegasus's vision is to create synergies between EHS (transport) and Cavalor (nutrition) to offer a complete equestrian solution.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIATA awarded EHS the CEIV Live Animals certification (first horse transporter worldwide). Brendan Sullivan, IATA's global Head of Cargo, publicly endorsed EHS. IATA's standards and live animals regulations underpin EHS's transport protocols.
• Animal Transportation Association (ATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Filip Vande Cappelle serves as president of the Animal Transportation Association (ATA), giving EHS leadership influence in international live animal transport policy and standards. The ATA Carnet is also widely used by EHS clients for temporary horse transport.
• European Horse NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Filip Vande Cappelle is a member of the European Horse Network, a stakeholder body that engages with the European Parliament on equine industry priorities including Brexit-related horse shipment rules.
• Brussels Airport (BRU)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrussels Airport is one of EHS's six regular European hub airports for horse export/import. Notable scale: in March 2016, an aircraft from BRU departed with 86 horses bound for the Middle East - at the time the largest equine transport on a single flight in Europe.
• Liège Airport (LGG) - Horse InncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiege Airport features the 'Horse Inn', a 55-fully-equipped-box infrastructure specially designed for the comfort and safety of horses during transport. EHS regularly operates export/import flights through LGG.
• Cargolux (Luxembourg Findel Airport - LUX)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCargolux operates a high-performance cargo terminal at Luxembourg Findel with 'CV Alive' product for live animal transport including horses. EHS uses Luxembourg as one of its six European hubs.
• Lufthansa Cargo (Frankfurt FRA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrankfurt is one of Europe's largest airports and a central hub for international horse transport. EHS uses Lufthansa Cargo's horse transport services from Frankfurt.
• Schiphol Animal Centre (Amsterdam AMS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchiphol is a major hub for international equine transport. The Schiphol Animal Centre offers full quarantine and health monitoring services for horses travelling through AMS - EHS recommends loading at the new DNata center inside the airport.
• Amstel Horse Hotel (Holland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmstel Horse Hotel in the Netherlands is referenced as a stabling/equine service partner in the EHS blog on exporting horses to South Africa, suggesting a working referral relationship.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• Lufthansa Cargo: Frankfurt-based major air cargo carrier with an established dedicated horse transport service and airstall infrastructure at FRA. Comparable as a partner/incumbent on Frankfurt flows, with broader portfolio of cargo beyond live animals.
• Cargolux Airlines: Luxembourg-headquartered all-cargo airline operating the 'CV Alive' product for live animals including horses. One of EHS's six European hub carriers; not a direct service competitor but a key infrastructure provider and partner whose pricing and capacity directly affect EHS's offering.
• KLM Cargo (incl. Schiphol Animal Centre): Dutch flag-carrier cargo division operating Amsterdam Schiphol — one of EHS's six hubs — including dedicated live-animal handling (DNata centre). Comparable as a broad incumbent enabling EHS flows rather than a pure direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Classic Shipping Equine (CSE): European equine shipping specialist focused on international horse transport by air. Comparable in customer profile (sport horse owners, breeders) and service scope (export logistics, customs, quarantine).
• IRT (International Racehorse Transport): Australia-founded international racehorse and sport-horse air transport specialist operating from hubs across the world. Directly comparable to EHS in core service (door-to-door horse air transport, documentation, quarantine coordination) and target customer (FEI athletes, trainers, owners).
• Mersant International: US-headquartered specialist in international horse transport by air, with a global agent network. Overlaps EHS directly on equestrian export logistics, ATA carnet handling, and shipment coordination between the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
• Intradco Global: UK-based live animal transport specialist with a dedicated equine division offering international horse shipping. Comparable to EHS in equine air freight and end-to-end live animal logistics, though broader across species (livestock, zoo animals).
• Peden Bloodstock: Specialist international bloodstock and horse transport company with European operations. Comparable to EHS in the high-end horse shipping niche (often targeting racing and breeding stock) with door-to-door air and road transport.

Others

• Pegasus Holding: Belgian holding company that owns European Horse Services and Cavalor. Not a peer but the parent entity whose strategy (multi-brand equestrian services under Lieselot Hamerlinck) directly shapes EHS's roadmap and access to capital.
• Cavalor (Pegasus Holding sister brand): Belgian equine nutrition brand under the same Pegasus Holding parent as EHS, sharing CEO Lieselot Hamerlinck. Not a competitor but a sister company in the Pegasus multi-brand equestrian group, enabling cross-sell synergies referenced in EHS's strategic narrative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EuropeanHorseServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-horse-services---worldwide-horse-transportation
• Instagraminstagram.com/europeanhorseservices

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about European Horse Services