Impasse resolved as stranded New Zealand horses cleared for travel

A border impasse that has left dozens of racehorses destined for Malaysia stranded in New Zealand has been resolved after government agency intervention, paving the way for an important trade partnership to resume.

Two of the major equine transport companies who service New Zealand, NZB Airfreight and International Racehorse Transport (IRT), use Singapore as a hub to transport horses into Malaysia, but that route had been blocked since late last year.

The reasoning behind Malaysia’s decision is unclear, although it is believed an incident involving an ex-racehorse in Johor, a region in the south of Malaysia near the Singapore border, may have prompted the ban.

A temporary solution, allowing more than 30 racehorses to be flown directly to Malaysia in February, was implemented by Equine International Airfreight’s Cameron Croucher.

With negotiations between NZB, the New Zealand Trade Enterprise and High Commission  and Malaysian authorities ongoing, Croucher was able to organise a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines. 

Thirty-one racehorses were sent to the Malaysian capital from New Zealand on February 2 on the Equine International Airfreight-booked flight but at least another 30 have been stuck as owners and trainers from Malaysia awaited another plane to be organised.

NZB director of business development Mike Kneebone, who has a long-established relationship with the Malaysian racing industry, welcomed the outcome after months of negotiations.

“Of course, we can get the horses there directly (to Malaysia), but the costs are prohibitive, especially for the sort of the price range that they purchase at ($20,000 to $80,000),” Kneebone told The Straight.

“So, we really needed to just resolve the situation and we, along with our Airfreight team and the marketing team, got in touch with New Zealand Trade up in Malaysia because it’s an import (issue). 

“It took a bit of toing and fro-ing, so  we’re really, really pleased (it’s resolved).”

The majority of horses on that Croucher-organised shipment in February were two-year-olds purchased from the NZB Ready to Run Sale, with about 10 reoffered for sale via the Selangor Turf Club’s Community Sale.

The Selangor Turf Club conducts racing in Kuala Lumpur while the Perak Turf Club, Malaysia’s only other racing venue, operates in Ipoh.

With confirmation that the Singapore-Malaysia border has reopened for the transportation of horses, NZB Airfreight is planning on running a flight in May carrying more than 30 horses.

The majority of horses on the coming flight were purchased by Malaysian owners and trainers at last November’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.

Tried racehorses, which have been sold privately, will also be on the NZB Airfreight-chartered equine flight.

The decision by the Malaysian government to re-open the Singapore border to horse movement is vital as NZB start canvassing the country’s owners and trainers in the coming months, encouraging them to attend this year’s Ready to Run Sale.

It will also come as a relief to Kiwi horse traders as competition is fierce between New Zealand and Australian auction houses to secure investment from Malaysian owners and trainers.

“We wanted to get the confidence back that (New Zealand-bred and sold horses) can be bought and taken back into the country because there were obviously a few nervous owners and trainers,” Kneebone said. 

“It was an issue and (Malaysia) wasn’t a market that we wanted to lose. We’ve made sure that we’ve put everything we possibly could into getting it back as quickly as possible.

“It’s just one of those things and you’ve got to work through.”