InformationWhat is a Hiring out Horses Business?
Overview
If you want to operate a business which involves people paying to ride or sit on horses, ponies or donkeys, you’ll need to obtain a licence.
This also includes loaning horses, ponies or donkeys, where they will be ridden or used for instruction.
The business cannot lawfully operate before a licence has been granted by the Council.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have published statutory guidance which explains what activities fall in scope of requiring a Hiring out Horses licence and it provides some additional clarification and guidance to each of the licence conditions.
Local authorities must have regard to this statutory guidance when carrying out their inspections.
A Hiring out Horses licence is valid for between one and three years, depending upon the risk rating the premises is allocated following the inspection and the standard of licence conditions met.
Applicants who have not held a licence in East Devon before will be considered 'Higher Risk' automatically, until they accrue 12 months of licence compliance without complaints or licence condition breaches.
How to apply
Please visit our 'Apply for a Hiring out Horses Licence' web page for more information
Inspections
New and Renewal Inspections
Before a licence can be issued, your premises and horses will be inspected by the Council's appointed Veterinary Inspector and an Animal Health and Licensing Officer.
Before a licence can be issued, you will need to demonstrate that you and your staff are operating in accordance with the licence conditions, and that the standard operating procedures for the business are reflective of this.
A licence may be refused if we are not satisfied that the licence conditions are being met, or that good animal welfare practice is not being maintained effectively.
After an inspection, you will be provided with a copy of the inspection report and risk scoring form.
Annual Inspection of Horses.
During the term of a licence, the Council's appointed vet and Animal Health and Licensing Officer will carry out an annual inspection of horses. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure the horses used in the activity are fit, healthy and that the equipment used is safe and in good condition.
You will receive a copy of the Council's findings after each of these Annual Inspections. If horses are added or withdrawn from the licence at the time of the inspection, you will also receive an updated copy of the Schedule of Horses in the post and this will replace any previous versions.
We strongly recommend you contact us for advice on what you need to do to comply with the licence requirements while you are still planning the business.
Renewing your licence
You will need to submit your application to renew your Hiring out Horses licence no later than 10 weeks before your current license expires if you want to keep running the business. If you submit an application later than this, you may be required to close the business until a renewed licence is granted.
Changing your licence
You can only use horses in the business activity which are listed on the Schedule of Horses accompanying your licence. If you wish to change the horses listed, you must make a request to the Council to vary the Schedule of Horses.
Licences are not transferrable to a new premises.
Please contact environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk to discuss any planned changes and they will advise you of the correct information to provide depending upon the circumstances of the change.
Displaying your licence
You must display your licence certificate, schedule of horses and public liability insurance certificate (or a copy of it), in a public facing and prominent location on the business premises at all times.
Legislation
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
Complaints
If you have a complaint or enquiry about a licensed premises for horses, or you want to tell us about an unlicensed business, please report this to us.
You can do this by emailing the Environmental Health Team at environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk.
Public register
You can check which animal establishments hold a licence by viewing the Council's Animal Licence Public Register.
Trade associations
Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS)