Miami International Airport (MIA) has handled 79 top European horses for the Longines Global Championship Tour – to be held at Miami Beach on 7-9 April.

The horses were flown in from Liege in Belgium to join their US counterparts for the competition. The animals were transported by international equine shipping agent, Peden Bloodstock. MIA is home to one of two United States Department of Agriculture facilities equipped for equine quarantine, and handles more than 2,000 horses during the peak season.

Miami-Dade Aviation director, Emilio Gonzalez says: “These prized horses demonstrate the diversity and value of cargo that comes through MIA regularly, and we are honoured to serve as the welcoming point for this important global equestrian event.”

Peden Bloodstock managing director, Martin Atock says: “It is a pleasure for Peden Bloodstock to be transporting the world’s top horses back to Miami for the first stop on the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour.”