Taking Flight: A Look at What it’s Like to Fly with Horses

Interview by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse.

Transporting horses can be one of the most stressful things an equestrian does. It is fascinating to watch this prey species put their full trust in us, as we ask them to get in and out of random trucks, planes, and trailers. Some of these athletes are true frequent fliers, with more airtime than most people. Whereas competitors used to stay local, flying horses across the country and the globe has certainly picked up speed over the past few decades.

Angela Cornes grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, surrounded by posters of horses, imagining a life amongst them, but she never knew where that dream could take her one day. As a child, she rode in the equitation and hunters before becoming an instructor in those disciplines as well as dressage and eventing. She’s a U.S. Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Credentialed Instructor, a fourth level dressage rider and judges local shows. She’s also been an assistant trainer at the racetrack, galloped young horses, and is a certified MagnaWave PEMF therapist.

Now, her office is at 37,000 feet, where her passengers are million-dollar athletes who prefer hay over peanuts, and her primary duty is interpreting a nervous swish of a tail instead rather than enforcing the seatbelt sign. Her title, equine flight attendant, might sound made up, but for Cornes, it’s the heart-centered reality that grew from a single, casual “yes.” In addition to helping horses travel with comfort and ease, Cornes currently works as an equine travel agent, organizing the logistics of equine air travel.

We chatted with Cornes about her business Cornes Equine Services and how she became an equine flight attendant.

Equine flight attendant isn’t a title most people have heard of before. How did you and your husband first step into that role? Was it a natural introduction from driving to flight? We had both previously been on planes with horses, and he took a job as an agent. One day they were short handed and asked if I wanted to go, and the rest is history. Working for the ground transport companies has definitely helped me to understand and gave me the skills to deal with all kinds of horses that won’t load, are unsure, or just how to help them have a good trip in general. Being a horse owner myself, I treat them like I would my own.

What are the differences between domestic and international? What planes are best? Do you have rapport with the pilots? 

For the most part, the way they travel is usually the exact same. Depending on where the horses need to go, their container is a bit different. Otherwise, for international, you get into what the governmental requirements are for quarantine and pre-export isolation. We can make a trip happen in just a few days domestically, where for international travel, it takes a good bit of planning and paperwork. We have to have a working relationship with the pilots. Their job is to fly the plane; my job is to keep the horses safe. We work together to make all of that happen. 

You’ve described your journey as a “dream come true.” Looking back, what would you tell that 11-year-old girl in Fort Wayne who first fell in love with horses? 

If I went back to talk to my 11-year-old self, I would tell her to dream even bigger and make a plan. I have always just said yes and then figured out how to make things happen but never really had a business plan or where the road was leading. I have been so very blessed with my journey in the equine industry, and I don’t have too many regrets. There are things that I have experienced that even I would not have dreamed of, such as traveling to Dubai or Hong Kong with racehorses, when going to a racetrack was part of a family vacation when I was a child. Horses really do show you the world and give you so many experiences if you just embrace the journey.

You’ve compared flying with horses to shepherding kids on a long car ride. What’s the most challenging part of keeping horses calm and safe in the air? 

Ha! It can be just keeping them from fighting with each other, to keeping hay in front of them at all times to keep them busy, and just reading them and their personalities to help them out the best we can before, during and after the flight

How do horses typically react to being on a plane for the first time? Can they tell they’re flying? In comparison to ground transportation, tell me what it looks like through the horse’s eyes, as their advocate?. 

For younger horses that are still in the learning phase of their life, it’s usually pretty simple as it’s just another new thing. But it really depends on their personalities. Some are anxious, some are scared, and some are just like “OK, where to now?” It is very much like going in the trailer, even the setup of the jet stall that they fly in. The horses can be three across or two, which is more like the typical trailer slot size. The driving to and from the plane is a bit bumpy and noisy, but the actual plane ride is just like going down the road. 

Horses can’t exactly pop their ears like humans—how do you help them stay comfortable during a flight? 

Keeping hay in front of them is essential. They can chew and yawn, and we offer water throughout the flight as well. The planes regulate the temperature, which makes it much nicer than driving anywhere since you aren’t dealing with multiple climates. I tend to not ship with blankets on because we can’t get to them to take them off if a horse gets too warm, and they don’t have that air movement coming in the trailer windows. If someone wants to ship with a sheet, I always suggest a cooler of some sort that will wick heat and moisture.

You’ve flown with horses worth millions of dollars—how do you manage the pressure of that responsibility?

It’s very simple. The horses don’t know what they are worth, and they all deserve the same treatment. The pressure comes when they are shipping to race or compete and you don’t want them banging a knee or worrying about medication withdrawals.

What’s the farthest you’ve traveled with a horse, and what goes into preparing for a journey that long? 

Hong Kong was definitely the longest trip I have ever done. The owners, trainers, and their veterinarians have to devise their plan for each horse and each trip. I also suggest some sort of fluids, whether that is IV or “tubing” electrolytes. Some people will pretreat and send extra stomach support on the plane. Sending more hay than you think necessary is great because they munch the entire trip, and they aren’t switching hay right away on arrival.

You often have only a few minutes to gain a horse’s trust. How do you connect with them so quickly? 

Experience. I like to go into the trailer and meet each horse so I have a feel for their personality or where their head is at that day. Very rarely do I get to ship the same horse twice, so it’s a very quick assessment. You can feel if a horse is anxious or scared or curious, and you make a plan to get them all loaded accordingly.

If college Angela could see you now, flying horses across the world, what would she say? 

Good thing you quit! Haha! I was studying Computer Programming Technology at Purdue and didn’t finish. Everything happens for a reason.

If you had one flight “pinch me” moment to share, what would that story be? 

Walking off a plane with horses and seeing news cameras. That is super real! I landed in Hong Kong with a horse named Little Mike, and when we arrived at the racetrack and I brought him off the van, the number of people and reporters was crazy. I never thought I’d be there.

Tell me about the in-flight experience. Give me a snapshot into what it looks like as an equine flight attendant.

While each aircraft and airline has a different set up for the jump seats (where we sit), it’s usually pretty basic. We have access to the horses for most of the flight. We have food and beverages, but no wifi or entertainment. I’ve gotten really good at downloading books to my phone. Sometimes there is food to heat up or an extra blanket with a spot on the floor to lay down. It’s not too glamorous.

What’s next for Cornes Equine Services? Are there new horizons or goals you’re hoping to reach? 

My husband is running that. My husband, Jim, is a long time horseman that worked extensively on the racetrack with Thoroughbreds. At one time he worked for a trainer and then for the racetrack in Dubai. so flying horses was a necessity and where he learned to fly on the planes with them. Now he works full time for Succeed Equine but is a professional flying groom as well.

I now work for Horse America as the equine travel agent. I book flights to and from all over the world and within the States for all kinds of horses. Occasionally I do fly still if I need to or a client asks specifically for me. I bring the whole picture to your horse’s travel, and I am finding that owners are really appreciative of that aspect of what I can offer. I am not just some agent behind a computer, I am a horse owner, and I have flown.

What advice would you give to young people who dream of working with animals or turning a childhood passion into a lifelong career? 

Find ways to soak up all of the information you can find from the best in the business. Work hard and then work harder. Working with animals is never a 9-5 job, it’s a