Hiring out horses licence
A licence is required if you are hiring out horses as part of a business for either, or both, of the following purposes:
- Riding.
- Instruction in riding.
This does not include premises used solely for military or police purposes, or the instruction of university students on a course of study and examination leading to a recognised veterinary degree.
Inspections and star ratings
All premises will be inspected before the licence is granted. The inspector will be looking to make sure that the applicant has:
- a specialist knowledge in the species that they are caring for and a clear understanding of its needs and welfare (including the animal's mental and physical health, feeding, and knowledge of environmental enrichment)
- comprehensive records that contain all the information required by the conditions that apply to their particular activities
- an understanding of risks involved in caring for the animal, including an extensive risk assessment and written policies and procedures, which are reviewed regularly
- training procedures in place to make sure that staff know what is expected of them
- clear evidence of good supervision of staff.
The premises itself will also be assessed against the national standards relating to the physical environment in which the animals will be kept.
A premises with a lower star rating is not necessarily a premises to avoid as there are other factors that have to be considered, such as the length of time the licence holder has been operating. New businesses will be assessed as slightly higher risk simply because there is no history of good practice that can be considered.
Costs for this service
Application fee of £839.20 (includes veterinary inspection fee), plus the following charge of:
- first 10 horses at £23.20 per horse
- 11 to 50 horses at £15.70 per horse
- 51 to 60 horses at £12.30 per horse
After the initial application fee is paid, an inspection will take place. Once the inspection has been carried out and a license is recommended to be granted, a license grant fee will be charged with additional charge per horse.
Licence fee for a one-year licence of £340.40, plus the following charge of:
- first 10 horses at £22.90 per horse
- 11 to 50 horses at £17.30 per horse
- 51 to 60 horses at £11.70 per horse
Licence fee for a two-year licence of £681, plus the following charge of:
- first 10 horses at £43.90 per horse
- 11 to 50 horses at £30.50 per horse
- 51 to 60 horses at £23.50 per horse
Licence fee for a three-year licence of £1021, plus the following charge of:
- first 10 horses at £65.70 per horse
- 11 to 50 horses at £58.70 per horse
- 51 to 60 horses at £35.20 per horse
What you need to know...
Download and complete
Please download and complete the application form below:
Riding establishment licence application form (PDF, 321KB)
Return it with a cheque payable to 'London Borough of Lambeth' and send it to Animal Welfare Services. You can also contact us if you need more information or have any concerns.