Riding establishment licences

Do I need a licence to provide horses for hire?

If you provide horses for hire in the course of a business for either or both of the following, you will require a licence:

• Riding 
• Instruction in riding.

This includes riding schools, those that hire out horses for trekking, loan horses or pony parties (when the horse are been ridden) hunter hirelings, polo/polocrosse instruction and pony and donkey hire. 

How do I apply for a riding establishment licence?

If you require further advice on applying for a riding establishment licence, we offer a pre-application advice service, and the fee for this service is £50 plus VAT. 

To book an appointment for pre-application service please email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk.

To apply for a riding establishment licence you must be over the age of 18. All application for a licence will be considered in line with the new Animal Welfare (licensing of activities involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

You can apply using the form below:

Application for a riding establishment licence (word 211kb)

Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations (pdf 5mb)

Guidance on Hiring out horses (pdf 496kb)

Fees

Animal activities licence fees 2019 (pdf  kb, opens in new window) 

The vet's fees are set out as follows:

• 1-5 horses £242.03
• 6-10 horses £270.86
• 11-20 horses £381.34
• 21-30 horses £491.83
• 31-40 horses £602.31
• 41-50 horses £712.80
• 51-60 horses £823.28

Tacit consent

We will aim to have your application determined within 28 days of the receipt of a valid and complete application, however, if we have been unable to determine your application in this time a licence will not be automatically granted due to public safety and animal welfare implications and therefore tacit consent does not apply. This means you must wait for the council to determine the application before any riding activities can take place.

Inspection of establishment

When the licensing team has received your application an officer will contact you to arrange an inspection at your establishment and carry-out the inspection. You are required to meet the standards set out in the animal welfare regulations:

Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations (pdf 278kb)

Who else may I need to contact?

If you are applying for a riding establishment licence you may also need to contact the planning section.

How do I renew my riding establishment licence?

You are advised to apply for your licence at least 10 weeks before it is due to expire to ensure a vet's inspection can be undertaken and considered prior to your existing licence's expiry. 

Renewing your licence

You can apply to for your riding establishment licence using the form below: 

Application for a riding establishment licence (word 211kb)

Animal activities licence fees November 2019 (pdf 56kb, opens new window)

You will also need to pay the vet's fees for the inspection as follows, directly to the licensing team: 

• 1-5 horses £242.03
• 6-10 horses £270.86
• 11-20 horses £381.34
• 21-30 horses £491.83
• 31-40 horses £602.31
• 41-50 horses £712.80
• 51-60 horses £823.28

If you cannot apply online please contact the licensing team for advice by email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

A licence-holder who wishes to appeal against a condition can appeal to the local magistrates' court.

Tacit consent

There is no tacit consent in place for riding establishment licences.

How do I add/remove horses on my licence?

Please email licensing@eastriding.gov.uk to notify of your wish to vary your licence. A fee will be payable for any request to vary your licence. 

If you are adding horses to your licence you will require an appointed vet to inspect the horse(s). 

Costs are determined on a case-by-case basis by the appointed vet and are fully payable by the licence-holder. 

Who regulates riding schools?

The licensing team are responsible for the licensing and compliance of the hiring of horses. 

If a premises holds a licence it should be on display in a prominent position at the premises. If you have concerns about a riding school operating under a licence, have a complaint or would like to report a business that you are concerned is operating without a licence, you can contact the licensing team on:

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Riding Establishment Register

The register of all licensed riding schools in the East Riding can be viewed on Public Registers.

What happens if I do not apply for a riding establishment licence?

If you hire out horses for riding or riding tuition without a valid licence, you may be prosecuted.