Animal activities licence

• 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 (e.g. riding stables that are used exclusively for these purposes).
• Riding stables that are used exclusively 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.

Licence conditions

You must be able to meet the general conditions and specific conditions and the horses must pass a veterinary inspection before a licence is issued. 

Defra guidance

Applicants should read the applicable activity guidance documents and the local authority procedural guidance. Officers refer to these documents during the application process. The guidance sets out the higher standards, the risk rating and how they are applied. Compliance to the lowest risk rating (highest star rating) ensures a longer licence (up to three years) and better value for money. Note: The maximum star rating for a new licence is two years (three stars) and exhibition licenses are not star rated and are issued for three years.  

Documentation required

If your documentation is correct, you will receive a lower risk rating and you are more likely to be compliant with the licence conditions. All the appropriate documentation is requested as attachments to the application form. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the required documentation in the Defra guidance.   

Officers use checklists to feedback on documentation requirements. Absence of any required documentation in most cases will result in a lower risk rating, not the refusal of a licence.

Make an application