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Horses Smith
For buyers in Brazil

British-Produced Showjumpers for Brazilian Riders

Horses Smith produces elite showjumping sport horses in Kent, England. Brazilian buyers take them two ways: imported home through MAPA, or kept in Europe and campaigned on the circuit. We will tell you honestly which one suits the horse and the plan.

Why Brazilian buyers look to Europe first

Brazil produces riders who win at the top of the sport, and it has done for decades. What Brazil does not have is the sheer depth of produced horses that sits within a day's drive of Kent. A rider chasing ranking points needs a horse that has already seen a full arena, a water tray and a bad distance, and Europe is where those horses are made. Our own horses are bred or bought in the UK and produced on one yard, so what you are told about a horse comes from the people who brought it on, not from a chain of agents.

Importing a horse to Brazil, honestly described

Import is routine but it is not quick. Brazil requires an import permit issued through MAPA, pre-export isolation in the UK, and blood testing that typically covers equine infectious anaemia, glanders, dourine and, for breeding stock, contagious equine metritis. Horses fly into Viracopos at Campinas, the country's main equine entry point, and are inspected by VIGIAGRO on arrival before quarantine. You will want a despachante aduaneiro handling the customs side. Budget two to three months from agreeing the horse to it standing in your yard, and expect import duty plus state ICMS on the declared value: the combined figure is significant and varies by state, so get it confirmed for your own case before you commit.

Or keep the horse in Europe, which many Brazilian owners do

A great many Brazilian owners never import at all. They buy in Europe, stable the horse in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany, and compete the European circuit where the classes and the ranking points are. It avoids the import tax entirely, keeps the horse in the climate and the competition it was produced in, and it is usually the right answer for a serious sport horse bought for results rather than for home. We will say so if we think it is. One useful technical note: Brazil is endemic for equine piroplasmosis, so a horse that tests positive and is therefore barred from the United States is frequently still perfectly importable to Brazil.

Prices in GBP or EUR on application, not BRL. Horses measured in centimetres (hands in brackets). Import duty and ICMS are additional and are yours to confirm.

Available now

Just J-Nius NL foal head shot

Just J-Nius NL Z

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United Topaz Smith

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Dominate-Her Smith

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Daniel Coyle's mare, Legacy.

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Valentina Smith headshot

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Beautiful showjumping foal

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Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a horse from you and keep it in Europe rather than importing it?
Yes, and for a competition horse it is often the better plan. We can deliver to a yard in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany and put you in touch with people who will stable and campaign it. You avoid Brazilian import duty and ICMS, and the horse stays in the circuit it was produced for.
What does importing a horse to Brazil actually involve?
An import permit through MAPA, pre-export isolation and blood testing in the UK, an export health certificate, a flight into Viracopos at Campinas, VIGIAGRO inspection on arrival and a period of quarantine. A Brazilian customs broker handles the clearance. Realistically two to three months end to end.
What will the taxes cost me?
Import duty plus state ICMS on the declared value of the horse, and the combined figure is high enough to change a buying decision. It varies by state and by how the import is structured, so we will not quote you a percentage we cannot stand behind. Ask your despachante for a figure on your specific case before you commit, and factor it in alongside the horse.
Can I try the horse before I buy it?
Yes. Most Brazilian buyers start with honest video, including the parts that are not flattering, then either travel to Kent or send a trusted rider or agent. We will not push a horse that has not been tried by someone who is on your side.
Do you speak Portuguese?
Harriet does not, but the whole process runs comfortably in English over WhatsApp, and this page carries a full Portuguese section below. Written Portuguese is never a problem, and we are used to working across the time difference.

Enquire from Brazil

Tell us what you're looking for, we'll reply personally, in confidence.