Although racehorses are used to travelling, transportation by sea must be planned carefully to ensure that they will keep fit during the crossing. Horses can be said to be guests of honour on Finnlines’ ships.

The ship’s crew is well familiar with the best transportation practises. Horse trailers and vans are parked on the car deck so that there is an easy access to a water tap and good ventilation. The trailer shall not be exposed to any adverse weather conditions as horses get stressed easily and they may suffer from hypothermia or have heatstroke in unpleasant conditions.

It is a requirement that horses are accompanied by grooms, or handlers, or attendants. They check the well-being of horses and feed them during the voyage. Some come to visit horses once every four hours, others more seldom. If necessary, the accompanying groom may spend the whole night with the horse.

At its best, the sea voyage can provide horses and their caretakers an opportunity to rest and relax before and after the competition.