The cost to transport a horse depends mostly on distance, and establishments quote it either per mile or per trip. Among the horse transport establishments listed on Barnmap, the median published price is $1.62 per mile or $90 per trip, as published by the establishments and listed on Barnmap as of October 2026. Those medians rest on 50 and 20 establishments, so use them as a starting point and get a written quote.
Key takeaways
- Per mile: $1.62 median, from 50 establishments.
- Per trip: $90 median, from 20 establishments.
- Only 66 of 249 listed establishments publish a hauling price.
- Most states require a health certificate for interstate hauls.
- Get a written quote stating distance, horses and stops.
Find horse transport near youPrices checked on each business's own website.
How much does it cost to transport a horse?
Barnmap lists 249 establishments that offer horse transport across 36 states. Texas has the most with 33, followed by Florida with 28, California and New York with 20 each, Pennsylvania with 19, Virginia with 17, Michigan with 13 and Kentucky with 11; each of the other 28 states has 9 or fewer. Only 66 of the 249, about 1 in 4, publish a hauling price on their own website. They quote it per mile (50 establishments) or per trip (20 establishments), and because 50 and 20 add up to more than 66, some publish both. A further 6 establishments quote a price in another unit and 3 quote it per horse; the table leaves those out.
The table shows the horse transport prices they publish, as listed on Barnmap as of October 2026. “Middle half” is the range from the 25th to the 75th percentile, which holds about half of the published prices.
| Published price | Establishments | Lowest | Middle half | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per mile | 50 | $0.30 | $1.25 to $2.00 | $1.62 | $4.00 |
| Per trip | 20 | $25 | $60 to $100 | $90 | $450 |
The charts draw the same figures from lowest to highest, with the median marked.
lowest to highest published price median
lowest to highest published price median
Watch out: These figures rest on a limited number of establishments, 50 for per-mile prices and 20 for per-trip prices, so a single listing can still set the lowest or highest figure. Barnmap records the price a business publishes, not the distance, trailer or number of horses behind it, so a per-trip price cannot be compared with a per-mile rate. Treat all of it as a starting point, not a quote.
Which establishments publish horse hauling rates?
Here are the five lowest published prices for each unit, as listed on Barnmap. Each business sets its own price and publishes it on its own website. The list shows where each range starts, not a typical price, and it is not an endorsement; for recommendations, see Barnmap Picks.
| Business | Location | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Landmark Eventing | Pilot Point, TX | $0.30 per mile |
| Kalie Beckers Dressage | Folsom, LA | $0.50 per mile |
| Grand Paradise Ranch Inc | Caseyville, IL | $0.60 per mile |
| Val Siegel Performance Horses | Wilsall, MT | $0.65 per mile |
| NorthWoods Arabians | Park Rapids, MN | $0.75 per mile |
| Stellar Riding | New Freedom, PA | $25 per trip |
| Spring Creek Stables | San Antonio, TX | $50 per trip |
| Buzz’s Barn | Norco, CA | $50 per trip |
| Pletch Equestrian Center | Lafayette, IN | $50 per trip |
| True Connections Stable | Freehold, NJ | $50 per trip |
The other listed establishments are on the horse transport directory, which covers 36 states. State pages for the 16 states with five or more listings are horse transport in Texas, Florida, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky, Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Minnesota. The directory also lists the other 20 states. A few listings also cite a US DOT number on their own websites.
Tip: Prices change. Open the listing, then confirm the current price, what it covers and any minimum charge directly with the business.
What affects horse transport rates?
Barnmap records prices, not the reasons behind them. Extension fact sheets point to three things that shape any haul, and each is worth pricing out with every hauler.
Distance and time
University of Maryland Extension says horses need a rest about every 3 to 4 hours while traveling.
- Past 18 hours, it advises a prolonged rest, with the horse unloaded and stalled for the night.
- Ask whether the quote covers overnight stabling and who arranges it.
Horses and trailer
The same fact sheet lists stock, ramp, hauler, slant and straight-load trailers, in bumper pull or gooseneck styles.
- Full partitions help when hauling a stallion with other horses, or a mare and foal.
- Ask how many horses the quote assumes and how they would be loaded.
Paperwork and route
Each destination state sets its own entry rules, so where the horse is going matters.
- Most states require a health certificate for interstate hauls, according to USDA.
- Ask who carries the papers and what the quote assumes about them.
Tip: Compare totals, not rates. A per-mile rate is multiplied by the miles driven, so ask each hauler for one total for your route, with dates, number of horses and stops written in.
What is the cheapest way to have a horse transported?
It depends on your distance, your equipment and your horse. The lowest prices published on Barnmap are $0.30 per mile and $25 per trip, but those are the very bottom of the range, while the medians are $1.62 per mile and $90 per trip. If you already own a suitable truck and trailer, hauling your own horse removes a hauler’s fee, but you take on the driving, the preparation and the cost of running the rig.
Hauling it yourself: pros
- No hauler’s fee.
- You choose the departure time and the stops.
- You control feeding, water and rest breaks.
Hauling it yourself: cons
- You need a tow vehicle with an adequate tow rating and a trailer in good repair.
- Fuel and overnight stabling are on you, and towing puts extra stress on the vehicle, says University of Maryland Extension.
- You do the loading, driving and paperwork.
- If money changes hands, the trip may count as commercial (see below).
What do you need to haul a horse yourself?
University of Maryland Extension says to choose a tow vehicle with an adequate tow rating for your trailer, and that the most important decision when selecting a trailer is the comfort and safety of the horse.
How much do horse trailers usually weigh?
There is no single typical weight, because it varies with the trailer’s size, type and construction. University of Maryland Extension points to the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the most a trailer can weigh when fully loaded, which is listed on a tag on the trailer’s tongue or neck. It suggests weighing the fully loaded rig, and, because horses shift as they travel, not exceeding 85% of the tow vehicle’s gross combination weight rating.
As a rule of thumb, a half-ton vehicle is usually enough for a standard two-horse bumper pull, and a three-horse gooseneck usually needs at least a three-quarter-ton vehicle. Always check the owner’s manual for your own vehicle’s rating.
What should you check before you haul?
The University of Maryland Extension pre-trip checklist covers the tow vehicle, the trailer and the safety gear.
- Tow vehicle fluids, and tires for bulges, worn tread and correct inflation, including the spare.
- Brakes, including the emergency trailer brake battery.
- Lights and wiring, hitch, safety chains and the breakaway system.
- Trailer floor and ramp, checked for soft spots, rot, cracks or corrosion.
- Safety kit with flares, fire extinguisher, flashlight and tire-changing equipment.
- Emergency contact information for you and your horse in both the vehicle and the trailer.
- A practice drive, forward and in reverse, before any horse is loaded.
Do you need a USDOT number to haul horses for hire?
Often, yes. University of Maryland Extension (fact sheet FS-964) explains that a commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle or combination used to transport property with a weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and that a horse enterprise counts as a business if it takes in any money, profit or not. Interstate, such a business needs a USDOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), with no fee, and must display it on the vehicle. A business that hauls for hire between states also needs a separate motor carrier (MC) number from FMCSA.
Exemptions exist, for example for some farm vehicles, and rules vary by state. The same fact sheet says an enterprise is commercial if it accepts money for goods or services, whether or not it makes a profit. So if a friend hauls your horse for a per-mile fee, ask your state police’s truck and bus enforcement section whether the trip counts as commercial. This is general education, not legal advice, and FS-964 is a 2013 Maryland publication, so confirm current rules with your state agency or FMCSA.
Before you book a hauler, ask for:
- Its USDOT number and, if it hauls for hire between states, its MC number.
- Proof of the insurance that covers your horse in transit.
- A written quote that states the total price, route and dates.
What paperwork does a horse need to cross state lines?
Most states require horses moving between states to be individually identified and to carry a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI), commonly called a health certificate, according to USDA’s NVAP reference guide. Specific requirements, such as proof of a negative EIA (Coggins) test, are set by each destination state.
University of Maryland Extension adds that transporters are required to carry a negative Coggins test and health certification for each horse, and that insufficient paperwork can leave you stranded at a checkpoint for hours. As one example, the Texas Animal Health Commission’s equine summary, current as of April 2022, requires a CVI issued within 30 days before entry and proof of a negative EIA test within the previous 12 months, with listed exceptions. Rules change, so ask the destination state’s animal health office.
Watch out: Paperwork has dates. Ask your veterinarian which tests, certificate and vaccinations your horse needs for the destination, and book the visit once the haul date is fixed.
How do you get a horse transport quote?
- Shortlist two or three haulers
Start from the Barnmap horse transport directory or a state page, and see Barnmap Picks for recommendations.
- Write down your trip
Note the pickup and delivery addresses, dates, number of horses and any special needs.
- Ask each hauler the same questions
Ask for the total price, what it includes, how stops and overnight stabling are handled, its USDOT and MC numbers, and its insurance.
- Line up the paperwork
Ask your veterinarian about the health certificate and Coggins test the destination state requires.
- Get it in writing
Confirm the price and terms before the haul date. The prices on Barnmap are published by establishments and can change.
For the full process, read our guide on how to ship a horse, or browse more horse owner guides.
Sources
- Safe Trailering and Transportation of Horses (FS-932), University of Maryland Extension
- Selecting a Tow Vehicle (FS-955), University of Maryland Extension
- Maryland Regulations on Transporting Horses (FS-964), University of Maryland Extension
- NVAP Reference Guide: Interstate Movement of Cattle, Horses, Swine, Sheep and Goats, USDA APHIS
- Equine Movement Requirements (summary), Texas Animal Health Commission
This guide is general information for horse owners, not veterinary or legal advice. Prices come from what establishments publish on their own websites, as listed on Barnmap on the date shown. How we check