In 1922, Mr. L BARA, trainer in Chantilly and Mr. CAVEL, veterinary surgeon, create the STH, Société de Transports Hippiques. The main owners and trainers are the shareholders which has expanded STH and introduced it in stock exchange.
Before the creation of STH, the French Jockey Club chartered a special train to take the horses to Parisian racetracks. Nevertheless, because of the sights of the organization and the quality of the service offered, the French Jockey Club will entrust the transport of the horses to the STH and will stop the special rail transport. During the Second World War, the fleet of vehicles was entirely destroyed. All were rebuilt with the support of the Jockey Club.
In 1951, Dr. LESSAFFRE, veterinary surgeon in Chantilly , creates a true travel agency for horses: HIPAVIA. This company was developed considerably under the impulse of Mrs. de Kerlakian. HIPAVIA is fully licensed, agent IATA and has a very diversified activity: brood mares travelling by plane towards/onwards the United Kingdom and Ireland; horses running in the English races and reciprocally; transport for the Equestrian Federation.
In 1960, HIPAVIA belonged to the principal French breeders and François Boutin was the President.
The flying activity increased. The charters are organized for the breeding season in source and bound for the United States , Japan and Australia . The network of the correspondents covers the whole world.
The races also develop in Hong Kong and bring an additional traffic.
STH and HIPAVIA function together while remaining two separate entities: the freight and the customs paperwork are carried out by HIPAVIA, STH accomplishes the road part.
In 1990 Mr. Paul de Moussac is HIPAVIA's president. He decides to bring closer the two companies: "it is necessary to reduce the costs of the services and to prepare Europe ", in 1992, fusion is carried out and STH-HIPAVIA is born. The shareholders are still owners
STH HIPAVIA since its origin remained a company managed by people from the horse world. Today, Veronique de MOUSSAC, Paul's daughter, manages the Company. She is assisted for the commercial part by one of HIPAVIA's pioneer: Vincent de BERNEDE. Erick Maillet takes care of all the technical part.
Our various services are managed by people from the horse's seraglio. The road department is managed by Mrs Marie Claire MERITET whereas the International Freight Department is ruled by Daniel ROELANTS. Daniel used to work for one of the biggest show jumping stable. Finally the Europe department is managed by Olivier BERGHGRACHT.
Many champions travelled with STH-HIPAVIA. Since our origin in 1922, more than 2 million 200 horses have been transported. The latest Arc de Triomphe's french winner BAGO arrived at Longchamp in one of our lorries as same as the fresh Derby winner DARSI....
STH-HIPAVIA is still specialized with race horses but is also a travel agency for any animals. We have taken care of the shipment of all the theatre (animals and material), polo horses, endurance horses and trotters.
We also purpose a rental service. You can rent 2 stalls horseboxes for a day or longer… all depends of your needs.
The company is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The team is composed of 50 people fully aware of the care required to transport horses.
Around 30 specially designed vehicles are on the road under the famous colours “WHITE BLUE STRIP”; it goes from the 2 stalls horsebox to the tractor and semi trailer for 6 or 9 horses.
The specialized correspondent network we are working with, allow us to be more efficient in all countries and to organize shipment for the whole world
Stéphanie CARPIO takes care of the employees' files, insurances.
Virginie BARTHOLOMEW takes care of all the communication (website, advertisement … ) on top of some commercial files for Far east - Tunisia....
On the administrative side, the account department is under Ghislaine SIMAER's responsibility, she is helped in her task by Nathalie RICHARD for the clients' and suppliers' accounts.