Hiring out horses

Licensing of animal activities

Licences for hiring out horses are controlled by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and we are the licensing authority for Rushmoor.

You can read the hiring out horses licensing statutory guidance to determine whether you need a licence to hire out horses. Please contact us if you need to discuss the licensing requirements further.

Applying for a new licence

To apply for a new licence, please contact us using the contact details on this page.  

New licence fees

Also payable:

*A veterinary inspection fee is also payable for hiring out horses new licence inspections and for the annual inspection. Please contact us for further details.

There is a non-refundable application fee payable when you apply and an enforcement fee payable once the licence is granted. We cannot issue the licence until we receive the enforcement fee.

If you carry out more than one licensable activity, there is a fee of £50 for each additional activity. This assumes the licences are applied for and renewed at the same time for each activity, otherwise separate application and enforcement fees are payable for each activity.

Renewing your licence

We will write to you before your licence is due to expire to explain how to renew your licence. You will need to submit your completed application at least ten weeks before your existing licence expires. Please contact us for an application form. 

Renewal fees

Also payable:

* A veterinary inspection fee is also payable for hiring out horses renewal licence inspections and for the annual inspection. Please contact us for further details.

There is a non-refundable application fee payable when you apply and an enforcement fee payable once the licence is granted. We cannot issue the licence until we receive the enforcement fee.

If you carry out more than one licensable activity, there is a fee of £50 for each additional activity This assumes the licences are applied for and renewed at the same time for each activity, otherwise separate application and enforcement fees are payable for each activity.

If you carry out more than one licensable activity, there is a fee of £50 for each additional activity.

Additional fees for these licences

• Application for re-rating - £159.53
• Transfer / variation - £15.10
• Additional copy of licence - £5.92

Star ratings for your business

Under these regulations, we will give your business a star rating, ranging from 1 star to 5 stars. We will base this rating on the level of risk and the animal welfare standards you adopt.

The star rating determines how long your licence will be for, which can be for one, two or three years.

Please read the animal activity licensing process statutory guidance to understand more about the regulations, how we decide on your business' star rating and the length of the licence.

Statutory guidance

Defra has issued guidance for the animal activity licensing process and specific guidance for hiring out horses. We have listed these below:

• Animal activity licensing process statutory guidance
• Hiring out horses licensing statutory guidance

We are legally required to use the above guidance when making our licensing decisions. This will include their mandatory conditions, which we have to include in your licence. 

The guidance contains explanatory guidance for each mandatory condition, which we also must consider when determining your application and assessing compliance with the licence conditions.

Licensed businesses in Rushmoor

We do not currently have any businesses in Rushmoor licensed for hiring out horses.