Wednesday, 24 June 2026
The UK and much of Europe is currently experiencing very high temperatures, with many areas currently given a ‘red warning’ for extreme conditions. The hot weather has caused disruption to activity within the equestrian industry, with many activities cancelled or shut down in order to protect equine wellbeing.
Defra has been informed that the Calais Border Control Post for live animals is currently closed due to the high temperatures currently being experienced in France. This closure will be in place until further notice.
While it is unlikely that exports of horses are taking place in these conditions, please be aware that this closure also applies to other consignments requiring live animal controls, including commodities such as day-old chicks.
Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have not received similar notifications from other Border Control Posts (BCP) at this stage, so you are advised to check directly with the BCP of entry before setting off.
We will provide a further update once we receive more information.
The hot weather has also seen cancellation of competition fixtures in a number of areas in the UK. If you are scheduled to compete over the coming days, we recommend that you check with the national governing body or organisers that the event is going ahead prior to departure.
It’s important to remember that continuing activity in the current conditions might not be suitable for every horse. There are a number of factors to consider, including their age, fitness and whether they have any health conditions. Some horses are also generally better able to cope with heat than others, so think about what's most appropriate for your individual horse. If you have any concerns, please speak to your vet.
You can find further advice on training and competing in hot weather on the British Equestrian website.
The guidance from Defra is not to transport animals in conditions over 30˚C if you do not have a temperature-controlled vehicle. If movement of horses is necessary during very hot weather, advice is to travel early in the morning when it’s cooler and to keep journey times short. Provide as much ventilation as possible by opening vents and windows, or choose a transport vehicle with air conditioning. Horses should be well rested and hydrated before setting off and offered water on arrival.
Defra has advice for keeping and transporting farm animals and horse in extreme weather on their website.