When Kyle Ecclestone launched Ecclestone Horse Transport (EHT) a decade ago, he wasn’t trying to disrupt an industry or build a national brand. He was simply a young horseman who had seen a problem up close and believed the sport deserved better.
“I started as a trainer, and I saw firsthand the challenges around horse transport in Canada,” Ecclestone says. “Especially when it came to top-level sport horses, there was a real gap in the industry.”
That gap he saw was a lack of reliable, professional, welfare-focused transport designed specifically for equine athletes and that became the foundation of EHT. Ten years later, the company has grown into one of Canada’s most respected horse transport operations, trusted by elite riders, owners, and governing bodies alike.
From Horse Kid to Industry Leader
Raised in Toronto, Ecclestone did not come from an equestrian family. His introduction came at age eight, after attending a summer camp where horses quickly became an obsession.
“I caught the bug early,” he says. “And I was lucky that my parents were incredibly supportive.”
He grew up riding in the hunter/jumper ring, competing through his youth and into university. In his early twenties, his interests expanded into the driving world, where he now owns and develops Friesians alongside his hunters and jumpers. While he no longer competes himself, Ecclestone remains deeply embedded in the sport owning, breeding, buying, selling, and showing horses across disciplines.
That broad, hands-on background would later shape how he approached transport – not as a logistics exercise, but as an extension of horsemanship.
Seeing the Need
Working closely with top riders early in his career, Ecclestone witnessed the logistical challenges faced by professionals trying to move horses safely and efficiently, particularly across borders.
“There’s often a disconnect in our sport,” he explains. “We have many governing bodies, but not always strong leadership when it comes to facilitating the movement of horses, who are, ultimately, the athletes.”
EHT was built to close that gap by offering comprehensive, start-to-finish service.
Asked to define the EHT brand, Ecclestone doesn’t hesitate.
“Excellence, leadership, and horsemanship.”
Excellence speaks to the company’s commitment to being the best from equipment and logistics to client experience. Leadership reflects a conscious decision to take an active role in supporting and educating the industry, not just servicing it.
But horsemanship, Ecclestone says, is the non-negotiable core.
“There’s a misconception that anyone can buy a truck and trailer and do this job,” he says. “But our drivers aren’t just truck drivers, and they’re not just horsemen. They’re professional equine carriers. That’s a completely different skill set.”
EHT’s drivers are selected with intention and are experienced horse people who understand equine behavior, health, and welfare, as well as the realities of long hours on the road. As the company’s reputation has grown, so has its ability to be selective.
“We’ve become a top choice for people who want to pursue horse hauling as a career,” Ecclestone says. “And that allows us to build a team that shares our passion for the sport and pride in the job.”
A Defining Moment
Every business has a turning point. For EHT, it came just two years in.
An email arrived from Cavalia, seeking transport for 63 horses from Chicago to Toronto. At the time, EHT was still a young company but the young entrepreneur knew what he was building. He secured the contract, executed it successfully, and was subsequently awarded Cavalia’s transport contract for the remainder of its North American tour.
“That was the moment,” Ecclestone says. “It gave the business legitimacy. It validated everything we were working toward and reminded us to stop and celebrate what we’d built.”
Since then, equestrian sport has evolved dramatically and transport has evolved with it.
“Horses are more valuable than ever,” Ecclestone notes. “And we understand their individual needs far better now.”
Advances in footing, nutrition, veterinary care, and welfare science have reshaped expectations across the sport. Transport is no exception. Modern equipment emphasizes comfort and safety: air-ride suspension, improved ventilation, carefully designed space, and box stalls that allow horses to travel untied are now considered best practices.
“These details matter,” Ecclestone says. “We’re transporting athletes, and the experience has to reflect that.”
The Ecclestone Horse Transport fleet.
Looking Ahead
Now marking its 10-year anniversary, EHT is firmly focused on the future.
The company currently operates 14 trucks, with plans to expand to 18 by summer. A major next step is western expansion, including a permanent presence in Calgary and extended service to the U.S. west coast, including Thermal during the winter circuits.
EHT has also been named official transporter for both Equestrian Canada and Ontario Equestrian, further solidifying its role not just as a service provider, but as a national resource.
“We want to help horse people navigate everything from shipping logistics to legal requirements,” Ecclestone says. “That’s where leadership really matters.”
For Ecclestone, the EHT story is also about possibility.
“I like sharing this story because it shows young people that there are many paths in the equestrian industry,” he says. “You don’t have to be a rider or a trainer. You can find your own niche.”
He’s also clear about responsibility.
“We benefit from this sport every day,” he says. “And as business owners, we have an obligation to help move it forward in a productive way.”
Ten years in, Ecclestone Horse Transport is still doing exactly that, one carefully planned, professionally executed journey at a time.
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