Fact or Fiction? Do you need a license to give lessons on your own horse?

[sandi_84]

Right I have a 3 of people contact me recently eek: but slightly pleased at the same time ha ha!) who would like me to give them some lessons!

I told them I'd have to be insured and I can't afford that right now They even offered to sign some sort of disclaimer to say they released me from any liability etc but I've said that I just can't do it - I didn't think that a disclaimer would cover me tbh but as I'm not sure I thought it's best to be on the safe side

The lessons would have had to be on my own horse as they do not have horses of their own.
Anyway I was talking to a friend about it who had read a post on facebook (brilliant timing ) that stated that not only do you need to be insured but that if you are giving lessons on your own horse you are then classed as riding school and therefore must have a license and be health and safety inspected etc.

I was wondering is that true? If it is but it just means that even if I could afford to insure myself to teach in the near future I still couldn't do it anyway as I doubt that I'd be able to afford a license as well let alone have my field with no proper surface or dedicated arena pass a health and safety inspection.

 

[be positive]

Technically you would be running a riding school, even with just one horse, you would not get insurance without having the correct license from your local authority and have to put in for planning permission to use your arena as a business as well

You could get insurance to teach people on their own horses which is a totally different criteria.

 

[sandi_84]

Ah cool thank you for clearing that up, I did think it sounded right but I just wanted to check because I was thinking that when I had a bit more money insurance would be an option so I could teach... but that's it out the window now Oh well onwards and upwards Most of the people I know with their own horses already have instructors so I'll just have to wait till I've got my own (prepare yourself to enter my dream world!) yard with a wee outdoor school and then hopefully people will come to me

How does it work with like for example my best friend occasionally visits with her wee one and I'll give her a mini lesson and let her wee lad have a wee bimble about on lead rein, do I need to be insured for that?!

 

[Horseymumma]

I believe that is true, yes.

I used to run a children's activity farm and we had to have a riding school licence to lead small children once around a field on a shetland!

 

[sandi_84]

I believe that is true, yes.

I used to run a children's activity farm and we had to have a riding school licence to lead small children once around a field on a shetland!

Oh god! Even for my best mate and her wee boy? They don't pay me or anything, they just come up for a bit of horsey time

 

[be positive]

You would not need a license to let your friend have a free ride, insurance needs to be looked at but you may be covered on existing insurance as long as you are not giving a lesson and no money changes hands. It could probably be considered the same as sharing, people seem to be able to charge for letting others ride but not instructing them.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I *think* if there's no payment its ok and you're not a riding school. But your friend is right, even one horse hired out makes you a riding school.

 

[sandi_84]

You would not need a license to let your friend have a free ride, insurance needs to be looked at but you may be covered on existing insurance as long as you are not giving a lesson and no money changes hands. It could probably be considered the same as sharing, people seem to be able to charge for letting others ride but not instructing them.

I *think* if there's no payment its ok and you're not a riding school. But your friend is right, even one horse hired out makes you a riding school.

Ah phew! I was a bit worried there! When my best friend and her wee boy come over (not a lot tbh) to see the horses it's literally just a wee bimble about for her boy and the longest she's ridden Loki for was about 15mins and my mini lesson was just me leading her and trying to teach her to rise to trot She's heavily pregnant right now so hasn't ridden since last year but they were out last week for her wee boy to groom and have a wee lead about. Oh and they don't pay! I don't charge my friends for a couple of minutes sit on ha ha! I doubt we are covered even for that insurance wise though, he's got all the health stuff and third party liability but I don't think that covers anyone else to ride him...

 

[Horseymumma]

Sorry I was replying to your original question with my answer.

If your friend isn't paying then you wouldn't need the riding school licence but check what your insurance covers as you may need something additional to cover other riders.

Unfortunately it seems no one can do anything these days without a million documents, shedloads of insurance and a live-in health and safety inspector documenting your every move!

 

[sandi_84]

Sorry I was replying to your original question with my answer.

If your friend isn't paying then you wouldn't need the riding school licence but check what your insurance covers as you may need something additional to cover other riders.

Unfortunately it seems no one can do anything these days without a million documents, shedloads of insurance and a live-in health and safety inspector documenting your every move!

Ha ha! that's ok, panic over now
I have to say it's very flattering that people love my horse and want me to teach them but tbh in this day and age it's really not worth the risk to do it without going through the proper channels and I just can't afford to insure us for teaching. Like I say our field wouldn't cut the mustard health and safety wise for a riding school license anyway, it's a bit rough and ready ha ha!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

It's not just about lessons, its the hiring. I think the difference with sharers is they are paying towards the cost of horses keep, not paying per ride. I know that someone running a b&b and wanting to hire her horse out for hacks needed a riding school licence.

 

[sandi_84]

It's not just about lessons, its the hiring. I think the difference with sharers is they are paying towards the cost of horses keep, not paying per ride. I know that someone running a b&b and wanting to hire her horse out for hacks needed a riding school licence.

Cool, thank you

Cheers for the info everyone