Transportation of Livestock

The Livestock Identification and Commerce Act (LICA) came into effect on January 1, 2009, and governs the transportation of horses and other livestock within Alberta and to destinations outside Alberta's borders. Depending on the type and purpose of transportation and the destination, a horse may be transported without any paper work or may need to be accompanied with either a livestock manifest or one of four types of permits.

Within Alberta 

When transporting or driving horses within Alberta, a Livestock Manifest is no longer needed, unless the horse is being transported for sale or slaughter or to an inspection site. This includes transport to a country sale, auction market, livestock assembling station or abattoir.

Transportation within Canada

Horses being transported or driven to another province must be inspected and must have one of four required permits. These permits have specific expiry dates.

Livestock Permit 

Allows the transport of one or more horses out of Alberta one time only. This permit expires on the earliest of the following: seven days from the date of issue; when the horse is delivered to its destination; or, when an inspection is required. Cost of this permit is $2 per horse.

Annual Horse Permit 

Allows the transport of one or more horse out of Alberta more than once in a calendar year. This permit expires on December 31 of the year in which the permit was issued or if there is a change of ownership within the same calendar year. Cost of this permit is $10 per horse.

Rodeo and Exhibition Permit

Allows the transport of a rodeo or exhibition horse out of Alberta more than once in a calendar year. As with the Annual Horse Permit, this permit expires on December 31 of the year in which it was issued or if there is a change of ownership within the same calendar year. Cost of this permit is $10 per horse.

Lifetime Horse Permit 

Allows the transport of one horse out of Alberta more than once during the lifetime of the horse or the time the person who is issued the permit owns the horse. This permit is valid for the life of the horse under the possession of the owner who purchased the permit. The permit is not valid if the horse changes ownership or dies. Cost of this permit is $30 per horse. Copies of these permits can be viewed on the Livestock Identification Services (LIS) website at www.lis-alberta.com and click on Alberta Horse Transportation Documents.

Transporting horses into Alberta from another jurisdiction - the sections of LICA regarding livestock permits and livestock manifests do not apply to persons who transport horses into or through Alberta from an originating point outside of Alberta if the originating jurisdiction requires the horse to be accompanied with documentation to be transported out of that jurisdiction to the horse's destination, and the horse is accompanied with the documentation.

This exemption which allows the horse to be transported into or through Alberta on its out of province documentation expires when the horse stops in Alberta for a purpose other than rest, or is required to be inspected in Alberta.

If a horse from out-of-province stops in Alberta for a purpose other than rest, the location where the horse stops is considered to be its originating point for the purpose of having to be accompanied with a livestock permit or a Livestock Manifest to be transported within or outside of Alberta.