Riding establishment licence
To run a riding establishment (where horses or ponies are hired
out for riding or used for riding instruction) in England, Scotland
or Wales, you need a licence from the local authority.
Licenses are issued subject to a satisfactory vets inspection.
The local authority may impose additional conditions before issuing
a licence.
Apply online
Horse Riding Establishments
If you let out horses for hire or provide riding school
services you will require a licence issued by the Licensing
Authority.
The Riding Establishments Act 1964 defines the keeping of a
riding establishment as: ... the carrying on of a business of
keeping horses for either or both of the following purposes, that
is to say, the purpose of their being let out on hire for riding or
the purpose of their being used in providing, in return for
payment, instruction in riding,'
But as not including a reference to the carrying on of such a
business: in a case where the premises where the horses employed
for the purposes of the business are kept are occupied by or under
the management of the
- Secretary of Defence or
- solely for Police purposes or
- by the Zoological Society of London or
- by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Sec. 6(1)).
Horses kept by a university providing veterinary courses are
also exempt and the place at which a riding establishment is run is
to be taken as the place at which the horses are kept (Sec 6(2) and
(3)).
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be over 18 years of age. In England and Wales
they must have not been disqualified:
- from keeping a riding establishment
- from keeping a pet shop under the Pet Animals Act 1951
- from having custody of animals under the Protection of Animals
(Amendment) Act 1954
- from keeping boarding establishments for animals under the
Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
- under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 from keeping or owning
animals, being able to influence how animals are kept, dealing
animals or transporting or being involved in the transporting of
animals
- from owning, keeping dealing or transporting animals under the
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
Applicants must pay any required fees and comply with any
conditions attached to a licence.
Regulation Summary
Application Evaluation Process
Before deciding an application the local authority must consider
a report from a veterinary surgeon or practitioner detailing
whether the premises are suitable for a riding establishment and
detailing the conditions of the premises and any horses.
The local authority will also take into account whether the
applicant is suitable and qualified to hold a licence. They must
also be satisfied of the following:
- that consideration will be given to the condition of the horses
and that they will be maintained in good health, kept physically
fit and where the horse is to be ridden or used during riding
instruction, be suitable for that purpose
- that the animals feet will be trimmed properly and that shoes
are fitted properly and are in good condition
- that there will be suitable accommodation for the horses
- that for horses maintained on grass there is suitable pasture,
shelter and water and that supplementary feed will be provided as
and when needed
- that horses will be provided with suitable food, drink and
bedding materials and will be exercised, groomed, rested and
visited at suitable intervals
- that precautions will be taken to reduce the spread of
contagious or infectious diseases and that veterinary first aid
equipment and medicines will be provided and maintained
- that appropriate procedures are in place to protect and remove
the horses in the case of a fire and that as part of this the name,
address and telephone number of the licence holder is displayed
outside the premises and fire instructions are displayed
- that storage facilities for forage, bedding, stable equipment
and saddlery are provided
In addition to any other conditions a riding establishment
licence must be subject to the following conditions:
- that any horse inspected by an authorised officer and found to
need veterinary attention will not be returned to work until the
licence holder has obtained a veterinary certificate confirming the
horse is fit for work
- that a horse will not be let out for hire or for use in
instruction without the supervision of a responsible person aged 16
years or older, unless the licence holder is satisfied the rider
doesn't require supervision
- that the business will not be left in the charge of someone
under 16 years of age
- that the licence holder holds indemnity insurance
- that the licence holder keeps a register of all horses in their
possession that are three years old or younger and that the
register is available for inspection at all reasonable times
Will Tacit Consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process
your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard
from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact
us. You can do this
online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use
the contact details below.
Licences
Full licences continue for one year beginning on the day on
which they came into force and then expire. The date of operation,
depending upon the wishes of the applicant, is either the day on
which it is granted or the 1st January next.
Provisional Licences operate for three months from the day on
which they are granted and are used where the Licensing Authority
is satisfied that it would not be justified in issuing a full
licence. The three months period of operation may, on application
before the expiration of the three months, be extended for a
further period of not exceeding three months so long as this would
not exceed a six months period in one year.
On the death of a licence holder, licences pass to his
personal representative for a period of three months and then
expire. The three months period may be extended at the Licensing
Authority's discretion.
Conditions
On granting a licence the Licensing Authority is required to
specify conditions as appear necessary or expedient to achieve all
the objectives set out in the paragraph headed 'Matters for
Consideration' above. In addition the following conditions are
required by the Act, whether specified in the licence or not:
- a horse found on inspection of the premises by an authorised
officer to be in need of veterinary attention shall not be returned
to work until the holder of the licence has obtained at his own
expense and has lodged with the Licensing Authority a veterinary
certificate that the horse is fit for work;
- no horse will be let out on hire for riding or used for
providing instruction in riding without supervision by a
responsible person of the age of 16 years or over unless (in the
case of a horse let out for hire for riding) the holder of the
licence is satisfied that the hirer of the horse is competent to
ride without supervision;
- the carrying on of the business of a riding establishment shall
at no time be left in the charge of any person under 16 years of
age;
- the licence holder shall hold a current insurance policy which
insures him against liability for any injury sustained by those who
hire a horse from him for riding and those who use a horse in the
course of receiving from him, in return for payment, instruction in
riding and arising out of the hire or use of a horse and which also
insures such persons in respect of any liability which may be
incurred by them in respect of injury to any person caused by, or
arising out of, the hire or use of a horse;
- a register shall be kept by the licence holder of all horses in
his possession aged three years and under and this register must be
kept on the premises and shall be available for inspection by an
authorised officer at all reasonable times.
Guidance on conditions for riding establishment licences is
issued by the British Veterinary Association.
Failed application & Licence holder
redress
Any applicant who is either refused a licence or wishes to
appeal a condition of a licence can appeal to the local
Magistrates' court, however please contact us in the first
instance.
Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the
first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the
form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if
you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give
you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other Redress
E.g. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder
complain about another.
Trade Associations
Definitions
Approved Certificate – means
a. Any one of the following certificates issued by the British
Horse Society, namely, Assistant Instructor's Certificate,
Instructor's Certificate and Fellowship;
b. Fellowship of the Institute of Horse; or
c. Any other Certificate for the time being prescribed by
order of the Secretary of State.
Horse - includes any mare, gelding, pony,
foal, colt, filly or stallion and also any ass, mule or
jennet.
Premises - includes land.