Apply to surrender or vary a Hiring out Horses Licence

Varying a Hiring out Horses Licence

You must make a request to the Council if you wish to vary your Hiring out Horses Licence.

You may need to vary your licence if the horses on the Schedule of Horses attached to the licence needs to change or your personal information needs to be updated.

Changes we need to know about include:

  • Changing your name or contact details.
  • Returning a horse to work when it has been certified as 'fit to work' by your vet.
  • To add a new horse to the Schedule of Horses attached to your licence.
  • To remove a horse from the Schedule of Horses attached to your licence, because it is not fit to work, it has retired from use in the business activity or it has died.

The following changes cannot be made as a variation, and will require you to make an application for a new licence:

  • Selling the business to a new operator.
  • Moving premises

If you need to apply for a new licence, please see 'Apply for a Hiring out Horses Licence'.

Surrendering a Hiring out Horses Licence

If you no longer operate a business of Hiring out Horses, please notify us in writing to surrender your licence. 

You can do this by email to environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk or by post to Environmental Health, East Devon District Council, Blackdown House, Border Road, Heathpark Industrial Estate, Honiton, EX14 1EJ. 

Payments

There is no charge for administrative changes to a licence.

You will need to pay a fee if the Council's Veterinary Inspector is required to visit your premises and you will be invoiced accordingly after the visit.

Start the journey

More info about the journey

Documents you will need for varying your licence

If you're returning a horse to work after it has been withdrawn from the licence, please complete the 'Statement of Fitness to Return to Work' form which must have the relevant section signed off by your vet. 

If you wish to add a new horse to the Schedule of Horses attached to your licence, you will need to complete the 'New Horse Form' which must have the relevant section signed off by your vet. 

For any other variations you wish to make to your licence, please email environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk.

When this content has been updated

Last updated 29 May 2026