Riding Establishment Licence

Licence summary

To run a riding establishment (where horses or ponies are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction) in England and Wales, you need a licence from the local authority. See How to apply.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must be over 18 years of age or a body corporate and 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

Applicants must pay any required fee and comply with any conditions attached to a licence.The fee is  non-refundable if your application is rejected. This fee does not include the cost of the vet inspecting the premises, to ensure that the premises meet the requirements of the Act, and the cost of the vet inspection will be invoiced to the applicant(s).

Regulation summary

A summary of the eligibility criteria for this licence

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

Veterinary Inspection

A vet and an officer from the council will inspect your premises to establish if you are following those requirements. The veterinary inspection is carried out annually and the fee for this is not included in the application fee.

The Council will also check the insurance policy of the riding establishment for public liability and check that the Planning Authority are aware of the application being made.

A minimum of 30 days needs to be allowed from initial application to the grant of a licence.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted.

How to apply

You can apply online.

Apply online for a Riding Establishment Licence

Alternatively, you can apply by completing:

• Riding Establishment Licence application form

You will need to contact us if there is any change in your circumstances which might affect your licence.

Failed application redress

In the first instance please contact:

The Licensing Manager
Licensing Service
South Somerset District Council
The Council Offices
Brympton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 2HT

Telephone: 01935 462462

Contact the Licensing team online.

Any applicant who is refused a licence can appeal to the local Magistrates' court. The appeal must be bought within 6 month's of receiving written notice of the authority's decision.

The Magistrates Court
Petters Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 1SW

Telephone: 01935 426281

Licence holder redress

In the first instance please contact:

The Licensing Manager
Licensing Service
South Somerset District Council
The Council Offices
Brympton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 2HT

Telephone: 01935 462462

Contact the Licensing team online.

Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to their licence can appeal to the local Magistrates' court. The appeal must be bought within 6 months of receiving written notification of the authority's decision.

The Magistrates Court
Petters Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 1SW

Telephone: 01935 426281

Consumer complaint

Other redress

None.

Trade Associations

Public Register