Horses are frequently transported by air, with an estimated 30,000 equine flights annually, especially for top race and competition horses that travel globally. In the U.S., flying horses coast to coast is common to avoid long trailer rides, with companies like Dutta Corporation handling around 1,200 domestic flights yearly. FedEx, the exclusive U.S. domestic animal carrier, primarily uses its MD-11 aircraft for these flights, but the grounding of these planes since November 7th has disrupted routes and caused logistical challenges, especially during the busy holiday season when horse flights are typically embargoed.

To address these disruptions, companies like Horse America and Dutta Corporation are adapting by chartering alternative aircraft, such as a 747 from Atlas to transport horses for major events like the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. The resumption of normal horse flight operations depends on when FedEx can inspect and return the MD-11s to service, with hopes to stabilize routes by mid-January after the peak season.