From 11 to 23 September, North Carolina, a state in the southern United States is hosting a prestigious sporting event where the athletes are... horses. Endurance, show jumping, dressage and even equestrian vaulting are all competitions that the spectators can watch at these World Equestrian Games.
Exceptional horses, which sometimes come from afar, are essential to the reputation of a competition of this magnitude. This is why, on Tuesday morning, 45 horses transited through Liège Airport to reach the town of Tryon in America.
Indeed, Liège is internationally recognised as a hub for the travel and trading of horses. The city’s airport, in addition to being the only European airport that gives priority to full cargo, has developed an equestrian area, the Horse Inn. This is the perfect solution for accommodating and relaxing the horses before or after transporting them. On offer, there are 55 spacious and luxurious stalls, a veterinarian available during (un)loading, special ramps and flooring, a soothing environment, etc. In short, a luxury, ultramodern motel which is well equipped in terms of animal welfare.
In September, over a thousand horses will take off or land in Liège. They will travel in an aircraft operated by one of the many airlines that use this appropriate infrastructure such as Emirates Airlines which was chosen to carry the 45 horse stars westward on Tuesday.
