New EU rules on the transport of horses have been in effect since the beginning of July 2026

The reason is a new provision in the EU’s so-called Mobility Package I, which was actually intended for professional truck drivers in the freight transport sector. As of this month, the regulations on driving and rest periods, as well as the tachograph requirement, also apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight between 2.5 and 3.5 metric tons. The key factor here is the gross vehicle weight, including the trailer—this affects both self-propelled horse transporters and traditional combinations of a tow vehicle and horse trailer, which together quickly reach this limit. Anyone driving such vehicles across borders will need a second-generation smart tachograph in the future, which logs border crossings via satellite.

From a legal standpoint, this initially applies to commercial road freight transport: Regulation (EU) 2020/1054, which expands the existing regulations on driving and rest periods (Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006) and on the tachograph requirement (Regulation (EU) No. 165/2014) accordingly. This new regulation has nothing to do with the actual animal welfare laws governing transport, which are regulated by Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005—that reform is proceeding separately and has not yet entered into force. The problem for those involved in the horse industry lies elsewhere: in the question of when the transport of horses is even considered “commercial.”

The Gray Area: Hobby or Business?

This is precisely where the FN sees the real risk. Anyone who drives their own horse to a competition or training session generally does so without the intention of making a profit. Nevertheless, riders and owners risk being placed in the same legal category as freight companies—with all the consequences that entails: mandatory tachographs, driving and rest periods, and, in some cases, even requirements for professional licensing.

Dr. Klaus Miesner, who analyzes this development on behalf of Pferdesport Deutschland, sums up the dilemma: The new regulations were designed for commercial freight transport, but in practice they affect people who transport their horses out of passion rather than for economic gain. Pferdesport Deutschland is therefore calling for a clear legal distinction between commercial and non-commercial transport—for example, through a separate documentation requirement for owners and clubs that makes it unambiguous: This is not a freight company; this is a rider traveling with their horse.

What this means in practice

Until such clarification is provided, the following applies: Anyone traveling across borders in a vehicle or combination weighing more than 2.5 metric tons should be prepared for inspections—the Federal Ministry of Transportation has confirmed the expansion of inspection requirements for precisely this weight category, effective July 1, 2026. The European Commission, for its part, justifies the move with “stronger and more uniform enforcement” of existing rules in cross-border road transport—the goal is comprehensive oversight, not micromanaging competitive riders. For those affected, however, it may well feel that way in practice.

The FN recommends that owners and clubs find out early on whether and how their trips will be classified in the future—and keep an eye on further developments. Until the requested exemption is in place, the legal situation regarding non-commercial horse transport remains a gray area.