Uber For Horses? New App Hopes to Revolutionize Horse Transport Industry One Ride at a Time
By: Brittany Bevis
If only scheduling a trip for your horse was as easy as catching a ride on Uber… Well now it is, with Equo, a new horse transportation app that hopes to eliminate the much of the stress and headache that has become so common with horse transportation.
In the spring of 2013, the group of vets, horse owners, transportation experts, and competitive equestrians behind Equo came together with the goal of creating a revolutionary transportation platform that would help horse owners avoid the pricey, complicated, and often low grade equine transport services they’ve become accustomed to.
“When we first thought of the idea, it was more based towards a ride-sharing type of service, where we would make our platform available for both drivers and riders to share their trips and needs and connect through the app,” says Juan Palacio, the CFO and CMO of Equo. “However, when we started digging into the idea and concept, a bigger picture came to mind. Shipping a horse is very different than shipping a box or requesting an Uber!”
Although there are obvious comparisons between Equo and human transport services, such as Uber or Lyft, there are notable differences. “With horse shipping, it’s an entirely different story,” Palacio says. “Our service is much more personalized than other such apps as we know the importance and intricacy when it comes to shipping horses. Horses are not only worth considerable amounts of money, but they have an invaluable emotional value to their owners, and all our staff is aware of this. Because of this, Equo is 100% based on customer experience, and horses’ safety is our #1 priority. We not only get the best shippers at the best rates, but we make sure routes are planned correctly, all horses have their appropriate paperwork ready, we are in constant communication with the drivers to make sure that everything is going well, and that stops are made frequently to check on the horses and make sure they have all they need to travel comfortably (hay, water shavings or whatever it may be). All of these is done to ensure that horses get to their destination comfortably and safely.”
One of the most helpful features of the app is that it allows users to get a quote instantly and free of charge. Because Equo has access to more than 500 shippers, that high volume means lower prices for the consumer. “Due to our high volume of horses, we are able to get better rates than if you were to call to ship one horse,” Palacio says.
Why is Equo a better option than contacting a horse hauler directly to obtain a quote? Palacio explains that is has to do with convenience. “Paperwork is very important when it comes to shipping. We not only aid our clients with getting coggins and health certificates done; we also help them get paperwork ready when it comes to international shipping. Also, there’s no horse ambulance out there. At Equo, we understand that emergencies happen. This is why we created an emergency option where we are able to pick up a horse in less than 20 minutes to get him or her to the clinic.”
Another big advantage of the app is GPS live tracking. All Equo shippers are required to have smart phones, so clients can track their horses as they travel across the country. Another benefit is that payment is a cinch. Just use a credit card through the app.
“Our app allows for both the driver and horse owners to be in constant communication both before and during the trip. Another important feature to mention here is that we have a 2-way rating system where the driver can rate the horse owner and vice versa. This helps us to keep a balance between both!”
Similar to other human-ride sharing programs, people can sign up to be Equo drivers. However, before they join the service, they must be vetted. All drivers must pass background checks, including driving and criminal offenses. Also, the drivers’ equipment must pass Department of Transportation guidelines. In addition, “drivers must pass our proprietary Horse Knowledge test to guarantee that they are horse savvy,” Palacio confirms.
Currently, Equo offers four different types of trips:
Equo Rush: This type of trips allows the user to request an immediate trip or up to four days in advance. Rush trip also gives you the option to request the trip as an emergency which alerts our team that a horse is in distress and we must act extra fast!
Planned: Planned trips are just like the name implies. With the planned option, you get to plan your trips with at least 5 days notice to us. This gives us more time to plan your trip and get the best rates possible for the users.
Pool: Pool trips are just like planned trips, but it allows us to get more horses in your truck while on route to destination, which therefore gives you a better rate.
Concierge: This service is for those that have barns with four or more horses that need an even more personalized service.
This video explains how the app works:
For more information about Equo, visit www.ridewithequo.com.
