Apply for (or renew) a licence to hire out horses
Use this service to apply for a licence if horses or ponies are:
- hired out for riding
- used for riding instruction
Licences are valid for between 1 and 3 years depending on the star rating.
Before you apply, you may need to check if planning permission is required to carry out the specific activity.
Who cannot apply
You cannot apply for a licence if you:
- have previously had a licence revoked
- are disqualified under legislation (as set out in schedule 8 of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018)
Fees
| Number of horses to hire | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 10 horses | £627 |
| 10 to 19 horses | £799 |
| 20 or more horses | £946 |
| 40 or more horses | £1,222 |
Vet fees are also payable for all applications, renewals and annual vet inspections.
Apply for or renew a licence
Before you apply, read our Animal Licensing Policy.
You must be 18 or over to apply.
What you need to send with your application
You'll need to complete and return (by email or post) an application form, along with your:
- premises plan
- operating procedures, including:
- fire risk assessment
- emergency plan
- qualifications and experience (for you and all staff)
- insurance policy
- preventative healthcare plan
- training records
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate (a clear copy of the front and back; no more than 2 months old at the time you apply)
View more about the specific requirements below.
Your plan does not need to be drawn to scale, however it should include measurements of areas (as required by the licence conditions).
You can view the minimum dimensions in the relevant guidance notes (DEFRA).
The plan should also include details of:
- all internal and external walls, fences, and boundaries
- access and exit points
- emergency escape routes
- areas for accommodating and exercising animals, including:
- enclosures
- structures
- pens
- food storage and preparation areas
- fire detection
- where you keep safety equipment
- medical equipment and isolation facilities
- sources of heat and ventilation
Your operating procedures should show that all the standards within the statutory guidance are being met. It should be a guide that explains how you run your business.
You need to ensure that everything in your Policies and Procedures are put into practice. The inspectors will check this.
Your procedures need to cover all aspects of your business, including:
Feeding
Details about feeding should include:
- where you store food
- where animals are fed
- whether they're fed together or separately
- what you do if the animal won't eat
- when you clear bowls away
- when you clean bowls
Cleaning
Information about cleaning should include:
- how frequently you clean
- which cleaning products you use
- where you store cleaning products
- how you clean toys
- how you clean bedding
- information about cleaning your vehicles
Transportation
Information about transportation should include:
- if you offer a pick-up and drop-off service
- walks that you take that are longer
- how visits to vets are arranged
- how you attend shows
- how animals are transported including:
- how you keep them safe and secure
- how long the journeys are
- do you need to consider toilet breaks
- how you make water available
- whether you have business cover on your vehicle insurance
- how you keep a record of journeys
Disease prevention and biosecurity
Information about the prevention of disease and infection (and preventing them from spreading) should include:
- where you would isolate animals
- what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) you have
- information on your disinfectant, which should be:
- bactericidal
- virucidal
- fungicidal
- whether your disinfectant needs to be diluted
- whether you're prepared to isolate a sick animal long-term or if you have an agreement with your vet
- what equipment and bedding would be used
- how you dispose of items and waste
Animal health, welfare and monitoring
Information about the health and ongoing welfare of animals (including monitoring) should include:
- what checks you do
- whether you check their:
- coats
- ears
- eyes
- other parts of their body
- whether you groom them
- how they are monitored during their stay or throughout the day
- whether unusual or unwanted behaviours are recorded
- whether you make a record of how much they're eating and drinking
- at what point (of a health concern) you would contact the owners or a vet
- whether you have a daily monitoring record or health diary
Death or escape of an animal
Information about the death or escape of an animal (including the storage of carcasses) should include:
- what you do
- who you call (and all emergency contacts)
- what you do with the body until the owner arrives
- what steps you take to find the missing animal
Fire risk assessment and emergency planning
Risk assessments are needed if you're self-employed or an employer.
Information about fire risk assessments and emergency planning should include:
- who your emergency contacts are
- details of risk assessments you've produced, and:
- how they protect staff from injury
- hazards that they explain (including lifting, trips and slipping)
- how staff and the public are protected from zoonotic diseases (a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans
You can read more guidance about risk assessments at:
If you have the relevant qualifications (that the guidance requires) you need to send us proof.
Send us a copy (or a photo) of the certificates.
Proof of personal developments
If you are a sole trader, you will not need to keep training records, but you will be expected to show evidence of continued personal development over the period of your licence. This can include taking relevant short courses for example animal first aid or animal behaviour.
These courses are becoming more common. Check your local vet or college. There are also internet courses and published scientific papers, which are useful, not all charge a fee.
Even if you are a sole worker you need to show evidence of your ongoing knowledge development. This can include books, seminars and courses. You must keep a record of everything you do.
Proof of First Aid Course
You should have proof of an up to date First Aid Course, relevant to the species you intend to care for.
If you take an online course, it must be based in the UK.
Download and complete the Hiring Out Horses Application (PDF, 1.04 MB).
We'll contact you to request payment for the licence after we receive your application.
Send the completed application form and other requirements by email or post to:
Licensing
Buckinghamshire Council
The Gateway
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP19 8FF
Pay the fee
Do not send cash or cheques. We'll contact you for payment when we have verified your application.
Renewing your licence
You should renew your licence at least 10 weeks before your current licence expires.
If we do not receive your application within this time, it may be delayed and you may need to stop trading until it’s approved.
If your licence is approved
You’ll need to display your licence in a public-facing area of the premises, such as the entrance or reception area.
You’ll also need to show the name of the licence holder and the number of the licence holder’s licence on any website used in respect of the licensable activity.
Premises inspections and star ratings
We will inspect your premises before the licence is granted. You’ll need to be able to show that you have:
- a specialist knowledge in the species that they are caring for and a clear understanding of its needs and welfare
- comprehensive records that contain all the information required by the conditions that apply to the activities you want to carry out
- an understanding of risks involved in caring for the animal, including an extensive risk assessment and written policies and procedures that are reviewed regularly
- training procedures in place to make sure staff know what is expected of them, a system of annual staff appraisals and ongoing knowledge development for all staff, including yourself
- suitable accommodation for the animals as set out in statutory guidance
Based on the application, and the information given to us at the inspection, we’ll assess the risk rating and award stars using the animal activity star rating system.
View more pre-inspection advice including a checklist.
Challenging your star rating
If you want to challenge the star rating awarded, you should contact the inspecting officer to discuss the matter. If they do not revise their decision, you can appeal in writing.
You have 21 days to make your challenge following the issue of the licence.
If you disagree with the outcome of the appeal, you can challenge the decision through a judicial review.
Requesting a reinspection
If you feel that your star rating should be reviewed, and have made improvements or changes, you can apply for a reinspection in writing by showing:
- what changes you've made
- evidence of the changes
Find out about reinspection requests during the term of a licence on GOV.UK.
If your application is refused
You can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal if we refuse to grant or renew a licence.
You must make your appeal within 28 days of the day following the date of the decision.
Make a change to your licence
You'll need to apply to vary your licence if you want to:
- increase the number of horses on your licence
- move to a new premises
Contact [email protected] for advice.
Add or remove a horse
Complete the online application below (select 'Apply now').
You will be asked to login or register for an account on our licensing portal.
To complete the application you will need:
- details of each horse you'd like to add or remove, including their:
- name
- passport number
- microchip number
- proof that a vet has deemed any new horse as 'fit for the activity' (or a declaration that your vet will send us this proof)
You must use one of the following Royal College Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) templates for this proof (they must be completed and signed by your vet):
- statement of fitness to return to work form (where a horse is returning to work following rest or recovery)
- withdrawal of horses form (where a horse has died, is ill or injured)
- new horse form
Statutory guidance and other links
View more information for your business:
- hiring out horses statutory guidance (GOV.UK)
- code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids (GOV.UK)
- codes of practice for the welfare of equidae (NEWC)
- health and safety in horse riding establishments and livery yards (CIEH)
- fire safety risk assessment: animal premises and stables (GOV.UK)
- British Horse Society (Equestrian Charity & Membership)
- The Horse Trust (home of rest for retired horses)
- World Horse Welfare
Templates and forms for your business
You can use these example and template documents for activities that may be required in the procedures:
- continuous professional development template (Word, 19 KB)
- fire evacuation drill records (PDF, 45 KB)
- fire safety logbook (Word, 33 KB)
- staff appraisal form template (Word, 55 KB)
Contact the animal licensing team
Email: [email protected]