Hiring out horses

Check if you need a licence

You need a licence if your business hires out horses for riding or for riding lessons. This includes:

• hiring out horses for trekking
• pony parties if the ponies are ridden
• hunter hirelings
• polo or polocrosse instruction
• pony hire
• pony or donkey rides

You do not need a licence for hiring out horses if you:

• run pony parties where none of the ponies are ever ridden – these should be licenced as animals for exhibition
• have horses solely for military or police purposes, for example riding stables that are only used by the military
• have stables that are only used for instructing veterinary students at university for the purpose of their course
• are an individual who occasionally lends a horse, even if a small fee is charged, where there’s no profit and no intent to make a profit

Find out more about the standards and conditions for hiring out horses on GOV.UK

Apply for a licence

For a new licence or to renew a licence, complete an application form. Send it to us using the details at the bottom of this page, along with any supporting documentation.

You must submit an application to renew a licence at least 12 weeks before the licence expires. This is so we can access your application and carry out any inspections in time for the licenced activity to continue without a break.

Only horses included in the licence can be used for the licensable activity, so you must amend the horse list when horses are added or removed. Contact your local licensing team using the details at the bottom of this page to request a form for this and you’ll need to pay a variation fee of £36 when you submit the form. 

Fees

Barrow area

For both new applications and renewals the total fee is £278 plus vet fees. This is made up of a
£166 application fee and a £112 grant fee.

In the Barrow area, you can pay for your application online.

Eden area

The application fee for a new licence is £52 and £45.50 for a licence renewal, which you must pay when you apply. Before we issue your licence we'll send you an invoice for an additional fee for the initial inspection, interim inspection and risk assessment. This fee is determined from the inspecting officer’s admin and inspection time at a rate of £48 per hour. There may also be an additional vet inspection fee, if appropriate.

You can pay the fee by calling 0300 373 3300 using payment code: E03042 E8001 and your name and business name as the reference. Alternatively, you can send a cheque by post using the details at the bottom of this page or at the reception at Voreda House.

South Lakeland area

New applications are £312 and renewals are £281 plus vet fees.

When we get your application, we’ll either contact you to take the payment by card or send you an email with the details you need to make a payment.

Visit to your premises

Before we issue a licence, an officer will arrange to visit your premises to inspect your business. This is to see how you look after the animals in your care. We’ll establish if your business can comply with the conditions attached to the licence and assess you to ensure you’re a fit and proper person to carry out the licensable activities. For example, you need a good understanding of the risks involved in the care of the animals and will have to show extensive risk assessments, written policies and procedures during the inspection.

A veterinary inspection will also be carried out annually, for which you'll need to pay an additional fee.

Following these visits we’ll complete a risk assessment and if your licence is granted, we’ll issue a star rating ranging from one to five stars. Depending on the star rating the licence will be issued for one, two or three years.

Contact our Licensing Team