Our History

Pioneered by Wright, Stephenson & Co (now NZB), the first racehorses to be flown out of New Zealand left Christchurch for the United States in May 1962. The first trans-Tasman air shipment by the company was made on 2 October 1962, with the flight from Wellington across to Melbourne carrying the champion galloper Even Stevens. Under Wrightson Bloodstock, new routes of equine airfreight continued to be opened, including the first shipments to Hong Kong (1978) and China (1993).

The evolution of airfreight practices has changed significantly, with horses initially travelled on full charter flights with aircrafts fitted out exclusively for horses. The shift has seen scheduled services the new norm with horses travelling alongside other freight on a regular basis. Loading methods have also evolved from ramp-based boarding to specialised horse stalls lifted by scissor lifts. 

Major disruptions have temporarily halted transport over the years, including the EVA outbreak in standardbreds in the late 1980s, the Nipah Virus in 1989 halting movement to Malaysia and Singapore, the Equine Influenza in Australia disrupting trans-Tasman flights in 2007, and detection of Piroplasmosis leading to costly testing protocols in 2020. Recently, COVID-19 had the largest effect on airfreight, with major restrictions placed on grooms and attendants from 2020, as well as the price of equine airfreight increasing significantly with the space on chartered flights at a minimum.

NZB Airfreight has continued to be at the forefront of innovation and advancement within equine airfreight, developing the Professional Groom Scheme, which allows grooms to carry sedatives and antibiotics ensuring safe travel of horses, and contributing to the Guidance Document of Horses by Air, setting industry practise standards. NZB Airfreight has flown a number of champion horses over the 60 years in business, from Japan Cup winner Horlicks, to Hong Kong elite winners Sunline and Romanee Conti, to Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate winners Ethereal, Empire Rose, Poetic Prince, Bonecrusher, Ocean Park and more.

With regular flights scheduled to and from all parts of Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and further afield, NZB Airfreight transports over 2,000 horses a year including the majority of young thoroughbreds purchased at NZB's National Yearling Sale, but also standardbreds and sport horses.