Comparing providers
Looking for an alternative to Pets RIP?
Most families comparing large-animal cremation providers are asking one question underneath all the others: will the ashes that come home really be my horse's? Here is exactly how we answer that.
We do not publish other companies' prices, turnaround times or operating details on this page. Providers change how they work, and a comparison table written by a competitor is not a fair source. What follows is what we do, and the question we would want a family to ask us.
What to compare, point by point
The left column is what Harbourside does. The right column is the question we would want you to put to Pets RIP — and to us.
| What matters | Harbourside | Ask Pets RIP |
|---|---|---|
| Individual cremation for horses | Individual large-animal cremation, one horse at a time, with the same numbered SafeHarbour tag system used for companion animals. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Is my horse cremated individually, and will the ashes returned be only my horse's?” |
| On-property collection | Alby attends the paddock personally with purpose-built equipment, usually within 24 hours, and works around the family and any horses still in the paddock. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Who will actually arrive, and what equipment do they bring onto the property?” |
| Quotes for horses and large animals | Every horse, pony, steer, alpaca and large animal is quoted individually by phone, because weight, access and distance genuinely change the job. Call Alby on 0493 814 474. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Does the quote include travel, access difficulty and disposal, or are those added later?” |
| After-hours emergencies | Answered 24/7, including colic and paddock emergencies at night, with no after-hours loading. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Who takes the call at 1am, and is there an after-hours fee?” |
| Who is trusted with the work | Referring equine practices and organisations including NSW Mounted Police, Racing NSW and REC Equine Specialists. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Which equine vets and organisations refer families to you?” |
| Return of ashes | Usually within 5–7 business days, returned in person, with a signed certificate and the option to hold them as long as needed. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “How long will it take, and how will my horse come home?” |
| Proof it is your pet | SafeHarbour Verification: a numbered stainless tag stays with your companion from collection to return, with each stage logged on your private tracking page. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “How is my pet identified at every stage, and can I see that record?” |
| Who answers the phone | Alby or Rachael, personally, at any hour — including nights, weekends and public holidays. The number is 0493 814 474. There is no call centre and no answering service. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “If I ring at 2am, do I reach the person who will actually collect my pet?” |
| After-hours and weekend fees | No after-hours surcharge, no weekend surcharge, no public-holiday surcharge. The package price is the price. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Is there a surcharge for after-hours, weekend or holiday collection?” |
| Independent feedback | 132 Google reviews at 5.0 stars, published on our Google Business Profile where we cannot edit them. | Question to ask Pets RIP: “Where can I read reviews you do not control?” |
How we prove the ashes are your horse's
- A numbered stainless SafeHarbour tag is fitted at the point of collection, in front of you if you are there.
- That tag number is recorded against your horse's name on your private tracking page.
- One horse in the chamber at a time. There is no shared or partitioned option to choose from.
- The tag returns with the ashes, alongside a signed Certificate of Individual Cremation naming your horse.
Paddock work, done properly
Collection is the part families dread most, and it is the part we take most seriously. Alby brings purpose-built equipment, works quietly, and will move other horses out of sight first if you would like that. Nothing is dragged and nothing is rushed.
If the ground is wet, the access is tight, or your horse is down a long way from the gate, tell us on the phone — it changes the equipment, not whether we come.
Why we do not publish horse prices
A horse cremation quote depends on weight, paddock access and travel distance. A published figure would be wrong for most families and would set the wrong expectation on a day when nobody needs a surprise.
Ring Alby on 0493 814 474 and you will get a firm number on the call, with travel and access included in it.
Verified on Google
What families say after their companion comes home
5.0 out of 5132 Google reviews
They dropped everything to be here the day I lost my boy.
“I could not recommend Alby and Rachael highly enough to take care of your beloved fur family. The empathy and support they provide is second to none. They made an already difficult process so reassuring. And I trusted them to take the best of care of my boy.…”
Stephanie ThompsonChampion Jockey · Sky Racing Expert Commentator · Gold Coast QLD · with her heart horse “Dunk” Treated with such kindness from the very first call.
“Alby and the Harbourside team were so kind and compassionate when we lost our beloved Lydian. From the first phone call we felt looked after — nothing was rushed, nothing was outsourced, and every detail was handled with such care. Having him returned home to…”
Lydia SmithFor Lydian · Google Review They understood she was family, not ‘just a bird’.
“Our cockatiel Pippa was with us for 18 years — through three house moves, two kids growing up, and every morning coffee on the verandah. When she passed I was nervous about ringing around because some places really do treat small pets like an afterthought.…”
Hannah WilkinsonFor Pippa · Cockatiel · Google Review
Questions families ask us
- Is Harbourside an alternative to Pets RIP for horse cremation?
- Yes. Harbourside offers individual horse, pony and large-animal cremation with 24/7 on-property collection from Brisbane to the Southern Highlands and west to Tamworth. Call Alby on 0493 814 474 for a firm quote.
- How much does horse cremation cost?
- Large-animal cremation is quoted individually rather than published, because weight, access and distance change the job. Call Alby on 0493 814 474 and you will get a firm figure on the call, travel included.
- How quickly can a horse be collected?
- Usually within 24 hours, and the same day where we can. The phone is answered at any hour, including nights and weekends, with no after-hours surcharge.
- Will my horse be cremated individually?
- Yes. One horse in the chamber at a time, with a numbered SafeHarbour tag from collection to return and a signed certificate naming your horse.
Talk to Alby about your horse
Large animals are quoted individually, on the call, with travel and access included. No obligation, and no pressure.