<p>While most of us are happy to snag an extra inch of legroom in economy, the world’s elite equine athletes are living the high life, with fine foods and padded stalls, kickin’ back at 30,000 feet.</p> <p>When it comes to equestrian <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/olympic-games">Olympic Events</a> or lucrative horse races like the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/australia-nz/epsom">Epsom Derby</a> &amp; the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/melbourne-cup">Melbourne Cup</a>, transporting horses across the globe is a massive industry. From specialised cargo jets to their very own passports, competition horses need to arrive at their destination in peak condition.</p> <p>Read our article below to find out how horses fly and which Aussie horses have conquered in events across the globe.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the latest analysis and betting tips for upcoming events, check out Sportsbet's latest articles on The Huddle.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Horses in Aeroplanes – How Does it Work?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Transporting a half-tonne horse on a plane is a feat of modern engineering and meticulous planning. It begins long before the plane leaves the tarmac, with horses undergoing health checks, vaccinations and quarantine periods to meet strict international biosecurity laws.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/futures/horse">Elite racehorses</a> fly in style, they might not get fancy pyjamas and a reclining bed, but they often wear compression tights, designed to increase the flow of oxygen in the blood, ensuring they arrive ready for competition.</p> <p>Professional racehorses fly in purpose built, climate-controlled Boeing 777’s which are fitted with everything that a flying horse could ever want.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Flying Horses - Preparing for Take Off</h3> <p>Horses are led onto pallets in padded stalls, which are hydraulically lifted onto the plane. Trainers and vets accompany horses 24/7 to help keep the vibes high in flight. If you’re imagining the smell inside a pressurised cabin full of horses on a 20-hour flight, you’re not alone.</p> <p>Handlers buddy seasoned travellers together with anxious flyers to keep horses happy in the air.</p> <p>Knowing the horses and their dispositions is key to a smooth service, geldings are often positioned between stallions and mares to keep anyone from joining the equine mile high club.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Ultimate In-Flight Service</h3> <p>Forget the tiny bag of peanuts, horses are set up with premium hay, hydration, treats and company to help keep their minds occupied.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Do Horses Get Jet Lag?</h3> <p>Horses are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they nap in short bursts, helping them deal with jetlag better than humans, however long-haul travel across multiple time zones can still take its toll.</p> <p>But air travel isn’t too dissimilar from road travel for horses, with comfortable padded stalls and regulated temperatures, horses are usually ready to compete around three to five days after touchdown.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Famous Australian Jet-setting Horses on Planes</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Phar Lap famously won the Agua Caliente Handicap in Tijuana, Mexico in 1932, then the richest race in <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/american-horse-racing">North American horse racing</a>. Phar Lap forged the path for modern horses to test their mettle internationally.</p> <p>Phar Lap arrived by ship after a trans-Pacific voyage to claim his legendary victory, today’s globe-trotting thoroughbreds take to the skies in custom-built aircraft to assert their dominance on the international circuit.</p> <p>Beyond the logistics, the true legends of the air are the horses who travelled and claimed victory on the world’s biggest stages.</p> <p>Here are some of the most legendary Australian horses to have reached new heights overseas.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Black Caviar’s Conquest of Royal Ascot</h3> <p>The undefeated queen of Australian sprinting retired with a record of 25 wins from 25 starts in a career synonymous with perfection.</p> <p>Her most famous win came in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/international/royal-ascot">Royal Ascot.</a> After flying for 30 hours from Melbourne to London, she ran first in the stakes despite injury setbacks.</p> <p>Black Caviar met Queen Elizabeth II and received an iconic pat between the eyes from her majesty.</p> <p>After the mare flew back to Australia, she smashed the 1000m track record at <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/australia-nz/flemington">Flemington</a> with an untouchable 55.45 seconds, further demonstrating that Black Caviar was the fastest horse in the world.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Takeover Target – Flew to Four Different Countries</h3> <p>From humble beginnings on the NSW south coast to a global citizen, Takeover Target was the ultimate underdog story. Bought by former taxi-driver Joe Janiak for $1250, Janiak trained the gelding up to win at the highest level in four different countries.</p> <p>Takeover Target had a jet-setting career, winning the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/asia-racing/tokyo">Sprinters Stakes in Japan</a> and the KrisFlyer <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/asia-racing/singapore">International Sprint in Singapore.</a></p> <p>Despite victories all over Asia, Takeover Target cemented their legacy with a rare double at Flemington in 2006, taking out the Newmarket Handicap and Lightning Stakes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>&nbsp;Choisir – Flew to Three Different Countries</h3> <p>Choisir proved Aussie sprinters could dominate the world stage without losing their&nbsp; edge in transit.</p> <p>The gamble paid off in spectacular fashion during the 2003 Royal Ascot carnival. In just four days, Choisir claimed the historic Royal Double by winning both the King's Stand Stakes and the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/futures-international/diamond-jubilee">Diamond Jubilee Stakes</a>.</p> <p>This settled pub debates worldwide on whether Aussie horses could hack it in the slower English track at the prestigious Royal Ascot.&nbsp;</p> <p>Even after retiring, his global legacy lives on, Choisir sired 11 Group 1 winners across 12 different countries. Imagine the Jamaican relay team if Usain Bolt followed suit.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>So You Think – Flew to Six Different Countries</h3> <p>This dual-hemisphere stallion wasn't just a visitor; he was a global heavyweight who moved across the world to continue his dominance.</p> <p>A rare champion who was a superstar on both sides of the equator winning five Group One races on each side of the equator.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So You Think raced in Australia, Ireland, UK, France, USA and the UAE during his career. Claiming victories at both the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/cox-plate">Cox Plate</a> and Royal Ascot.</p> <p>One of So You Think’s most iconic victories came in his final race at Royal Ascot in 2012, where the dual-hemisphere champion horse delivered a perfect retirement gift.</p> <p>He showcased his trademark grit to outstay the Queen’s actual horse named Carlton House. So You Think gassed Carlton, winning the Prince of Wales’s Stakes by 2.5 lengths in front of 40 000 dismayed posh Brits.</p> <p>What a sight that would’ve been to behold.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jakkalberry – Flew to Seven Different Countries</h3> <p>Call Jakkalberry Mr. Worldwide, because this thoroughbred racked up wins across Italy, Hong Kong, UAE, England, USA, Australia and New Zealand.</p> <p>His trainer noted that Jakkalberry, “loved to travel,” and thrived on the road, a rare trait that allowed him to conquer famous racetracks around the globe.</p> <p>At the end of his days, he settled down in New Zealand having seen more of the world than most people.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Peppermint Grove – Flew to Seven Different Countries</h3> <p>Peppermint Grove, affectionately known as "Fred” was an Olympic legend in his own right. Throughout his equestrian eventing career with best mate and rider Gillian Rolton, Fred won two consecutive gold medals in Barcelona 1992 and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.</p> <p>Peppermint Fred stamped his passport in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands and the USA.</p> <p>From his first international trip to New Zealand in 1991 to the World Championships in The Hague, Fred proved that an Australian horse could land anywhere in the world and immediately contend with the best.</p> <p>His most iconic moment came during his final Olympic appearance at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Despite two heavy falls that left Gillian with a broken collarbone and ribs.</p> <p>Fred galloped on with incredible heart, clearing the final 15 jumps to secure his second consecutive Team Eventing Gold.</p> <p>At the end of his showjumping days, Fred settled down in the Adelaide Hills, where the sweetest grow, to graze and reflect on a life well lived.&nbsp;</p>