Horse Riding Establishments

You need a license from the Council under the Riding Establishments Acts of 1964 and 1970 to run a riding establishment (where horses or ponies are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction).

You may find it useful to download a guidance document (151KB - 22 August 2011 - PDF Help) covering the relevant areas you need to consider.

Eligibility Criteria
You must be over 18 years old, and you cannot get a license if you have been disqualified from any of the following at the time of the application:

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 under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
from owning, keeping dealing or transporting animals under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

There is a fee of £150.00 (up to 10 horses) with £10.00 per horse thereafter up to a maximum of £200. You must comply with any conditions attached to a licence.

Licences must be renewed on an annual basis.

Application Evaluation Process
We will arrange for a visit from an Officer and a Veterinary surgeon, who will inspect the premises to ensure they are suitable for a riding establishment, and detail the conditions of the premises and the horses.

Before we can issue a license we must be satisfied that

you are suitable and qualified to hold a licence
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
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

You must keep a register of all horses in your possession and make the register available for inspection at all reasonable times

Will Tacit Consent Apply?
No. You must have a license to be properly insured, and we must be satisfied that the health and safety of the public, staff and the animals is protected. You may apply for a provisional license until suitable inspection can be arranged. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us on the contact details at the top of the page.

Application form
If you would like to apply for a riding establishment licence, then please complete an application form (102KB - 22 August 2011 - PDF Help).

Refusal to Grant a license, or ‘unreasonable’ conditions imposed on a license
Please contact us to discuss why you have been refused a license, or if you think we have imposed an unreasonable condition.

If you are not happy with our decision, you can appeal to the Magistrates court. A court may give directions on the issue of a license, or on conditions set on a license.

Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that you first contact the business - preferably in writing (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you live in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Trade Associations

Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS)
British Dressage
British Equestrian Federation (BEF)
British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA)

Page last updated on 25 November 2011