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Under the terms of the Riding Establishments Acts of 1964 and 1970, any person operating a riding establishment where horses or ponies are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction in exchange for payment must be licensed.

Licence fee

 Type of licence Fee
 Horse riding establishments  £101
Any veterinary inspection fees are in addition to the fee of £101.

Apply for a licence or renewal

Please complete the application form and submit to licensing@east-ayrshire.gov.uk. On receipt of the application a member of the Licensing Section will contact you for payment.

The licence will be granted for a period of one year.

Online via our GLAMIS system 

You can also download and print the application form below:

Application for horse riding establishment licence (PDF 162Kb)

Legislation

Legislation related to the horse riding establishment licence:

Licence conditions

The undernoted conditions will be attached to a licence. The Licensing Section may also add additional conditions where necessary.

Horse riding establishments

  1. That a horse, found on inspection of the premises by an authorised officer to be in need of veterinary attention, shall not be returned to work until the holder of the licence has obtained, at his own expense, and has lodged with the Licensing Authority a veterinary certificate that the horse is fit for work.
  2. No horse will be let out on hire for riding, or used for providing instruction in riding, without supervision by a responsible person of the age of 16 years or over unless, (in the case of a horse let out for hire for riding) the holder of the license is satisfied that the hirer of the horse is competent to ride without supervision.
  3. The carrying on of the business of a riding establishment shall at no time be left in the charge of any person under 16 years of age.
  4. The licence holder shall hold a current insurance policy, which insures him against liability for any injury sustained by those who hire a horse from him for riding, and those who use a horse in the course of receiving from him, in return for payment, instruction in riding and arising out of the hire or use of a horse aforesaid and which also insures such a person in respect of any liability which may be incurred by them in respect of injury to any person caused by, or arising out of, the hire of use of a horse as aforesaid.
  5. A register shall be kept by the licence holder of all horses in his possession aged three years and under, and usually kept on the premises, which shall be available for inspection by an authorised Officer at all reasonable times.
  6. That paramount consideration will be given to the condition of horses and that they will be maintained in good health, and in all respects physically fit and that, in the case of a horse kept for the purpose of its being let out on hire for riding or a horse kept for the purpose of its being used in providing instruction in riding, the horse will be suitable for the purpose for which it is kept.
  7. That the feet of all animals are properly trimmed and that, if shod, their shoes are properly fitted and in good condition.
  8. That there will be available at all times, accommodation for horses suitable as respects construction, size, number of occupants, lighting, ventilation, drainage and cleanliness and that these requirements be complied with not only in the case of new buildings, but also in the case of buildings converted for use as stabling.
  9. That in the case of horses maintained at grass, there will be available for them at all times during which they are so maintained, adequate pasture and shelter and water and that supplementary feeds will be provided as and when required.
  10. That the horses will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and (except in the case of horses maintained at grass, so long as they are so maintained) bedding material, and will be adequately exercised, groomed and rested and visited at suitable intervals.
  11. That all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread among horses of infections or contagious diseases, and that veterinary first aid equipment and medicines shall be provided and maintained in the premises.
  12. That appropriate steps will be taken for the protection and extrication of horses in case of fire and, in particular, that the name, address and telephone number of the licence holder or some other responsible person will be kept displayed in a prominent position on the outside of the premises, and that instructions as to be taken in the event of fire with particular regard to the extrication of horses, will be kept displayed on a prominent position on the outside of the premises.
  13. That adequate accommodation will be provided for forage, bedding, stable equipment and saddlery.
  14. The Licensing Authority may amend the above conditions as and when they deem necessary.

The licence shall remain in force for one year. Application for renewal of the licence accompanied by the necessary fee should be made to the Chief Governance Officer, Licensing Unit, Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 7BU four weeks before the expiry date.

Any person aggrieved by any condition subject to which a licence is granted may appeal to the Sheriff and the Sheriff may on such appeal give such directions with respect to the conditions subject to which a licence is granted as he thinks proper.

In the event of death of a person who is keeping a riding establishment at any premises under the authority of a licence granted by the Licensing Authority, that license shall be deemed to have been granted to his personal representatives in respect of those premises, shall remain in force until the end of the period of three months beginning with the death and shall then expire. The Licensing Authority may, however, on the application of those representatives, extend or further extend the said period of three months if they are satisfied that the extension is necessary for the purpose of winding up the deceased’s estate and that no other circumstances make it undesirable.

The Licensing Authority must be advised immediately of any proposed changes in the circumstances relating to the riding establishment, such as alterations or additions to the premises, changes in management etc.

Contact Information

 

Licensing Board Administration
London Road
Kilmarnock
East Ayrshire
KA3 7BU
Telephone: 07557 168826