Licences Hiring out horses licence

Licences to hire out horses for riding or instruction are issued under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

The conditions attached to hiring out horses licences are set out in the regulations. The conditions are mandatory and can't be added to, deleted or amended by us. You can find the conditions and the guidance which accompanies them in the 'Related documents' section of this page.

Required standards and how to meet them

Please visit the gov.uk website for the statutory guidance on the required standards and how to meet them.

The conditions attached to dog breeding licences are set out in the guidance and determined by the regulations. The conditions are mandatory and can't be added to, deleted or amended by us. You can also find the conditions and the regulations in the 'Related documents' section of this page.

Who needs a licence to hire out horses?

Businesses which hire out horses for riding or riding lessons. This includes riding schools and those that hire out horses, trekking, loan horses, pony parties (only where the ponies are ridden), hunter hirelings, polo/polocrosse instruction and pony hire, pony and donkey rides.

Who doesn’t need a licence to hire out horses?
  • Businesses that run pony parties where none of the ponies are ever ridden – these should be licensed as animal exhibits
  • Activities that are carried out solely for military or police purposes eg riding stables that are used exclusively for these purposes
  • Riding stables that are exclusively used for instructing veterinary students at university for the purpose of their course
    Individuals who occasionally lend a horse, even if a small fee is charged, where there is no profit made and no intent to make a profit

What is the ‘business test’?

The regulations specify two business tests to be considered when deciding if an activity is commercial, and therefore requires a licence. They're not the only method to determine if a licence is required, but we must take them into account when deciding if a licence is required.

  1. Does the operator make any sale, or otherwise carry on the activity, with a view to making a profit, or;
  2. Does the operator earn any commission or fee from the activity.

These two tests will be considered alongside the factors in the ‘Who needs a licence to breed dogs’ section when determining if a licence is required.

What is the ‘star rating’ and how is it worked out?

All licences subject to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 will be given a star rating. The purpose of the star rating is to ensure consistency in the implementation and operation of the licensing system, and to ensure that consumers can clearly understand the risk rating the business has received and therefore the standards of animal welfare they provide.

The star rating is determined by a scoring matrix (see below) set out in the regulations. In order to calculate the star rating the results of an inspection of a premises and an assessment of the level of risk a business poses are combined to produce a rating between one and five stars. The higher the star rating is the better the standards of the business.

Scoring matrix (tick appropriate star rating)

Low risk 

Existing businesses that score 17 or less on the risk scoring table 

Minor findings (existing businesses that fail to meet required standards)

One star 
One year licence 

Required standards (as specified in the regulations)

Three stars 
Two year licence 

Higher standards (as specified in the guidance)

Five stars
Three year licence

Scoring matrix (tick appropriate star rating)

High risk 

Businesses that score 18 or more on the risk scoring table 

Minor findings (existing businesses that fail to meet required standards)

One star 
One year licence 

Required standards (as specified in the regulations)

Three stars 
One year licence 

Higher standards (as specified in the guidance)

Four stars
Two year licence

Request a star re-rating inspection

Businesses which have accepted an original rating between one and four, but have subsequently made the necessary improvements to address non-compliance or issues identified during the original inspection, can request a re-inspection of the business. This request should be made by completing the application form in the related documents section of this page. There's a fee for making this request.

Once you've made a request for a re-inspection it will be assessed to ensure that the necessary improvements have been made. Once we're satisfied that necessary changes have been made the re-inspection will be carried out within three months of the application for re-inspection.

There's no limit to the number of re-inspections you can request, but you'll be charged for each re-inspection. We can also refuse a re-inspection request if it's decided that the necessary improvements have either not been carried out, or not been carried out to a sufficient standard, to warrant a re-inspection.

You should be aware that a re-inspection for re-rating purposes could result in a lower star rating being awarded, rather than an increase in the rating.

Appealing a star rating

If you don't accept the star rating you're given you can appeal against it. This must be done within 21 days (including weekends and bank holidays) of the date your licence was issued. You should make your appeal in writing to the Licensing Team.

We'll always aim to discuss and resolve appeals informally in the first instance to avoid the need for a formal appeal to be lodged. If you do enter into informal discussions this does not change the period in which you can formally appeal. You should therefore consider lodging the formal appeal at the beginning of the process, and if it can be informally resolved the appeal may be withdrawn.

Appeals will be determined by a senior officer who was not involved in determining the original star rating. We have 21 days (including weekends and bank holidays) from the date the appeal is received to consider it and reach a decision. The paperwork from the original inspection and past record of the business will be considered, and in some circumstances a further visit to the business may be required.

If an additional inspection is required, the fee for a re-inspection will be payable by the applicant. This is refundable if a higher star rating is awarded as a result of the appeal.

How long does a licence last?

The length of a hiring out horses licence is determined by its star rating:

1 star = one-year licence
2 star = one-year licence
3 star = two-year licence
4 star = two-year licence
5 star = three-year licence
A licence runs from the date it is granted and must be renewed by the anniversary of the date it was granted in either one, two or three years – dependent on the star rating (see above).

Existing licence holders will receive a reminder from us three months before their licence is due for renewal with a renewal application pack enclosed. Renewal applications must be returned to us a minimum of ten weeks before the expiry date of the initial licence.

How much will it cost?

How do I apply?

Pay for this application

If you are unable to pay for your application online, please contact the Licensing team using the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Related documents

Hiring Out Horses Conditions

The Animal Welfare Licensing Of Activities Involving Animals England Regulations 2018

General Conditions Applied To All Licences

Re Inpsection Request Application V2 1

Contact Licensing