Should a riding school be registered?

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Always-Riding

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After a chat with a friend yesterday who rang up a lady who offers riding lessons and hacks on her own horses, something didn't add up.

My friend wanted to make sure the RS was registered to BHS - they weren't (but I gather that they don't have to be) and the RS wouldn't say that they were a business, just said that she "hires the horses out" which made me wonder...

Surely the RS needs to be registered as some sort of business to be able to have the correct insurance if something goes wrong? Also be taxed like the rest of us who run our own business etc..!

What's made it worse is that I've seen this lady hack out with 5+ children from little children to older adults, sometimes leading one from other horses. Charging £20 each per hack/lesson.

Should I contact the council about this or is it perfectly acceptable?
 
It's not illegal to hire horses out and it's not illegal to teach people to ride with or without qualifications.
However, if she is a running business from her premises, she would need to be registered with IR and the council. Not sure about actually being registered as a riding school though.

Many people do as she does, some are good, some aren't.

You should have your own insurance even if you are riding at a registered RS. Everyone who gets on the back of a horse should be insured.
 
Agree with the above post the most important thing is to have your own insurance.

They may not have to pay business rates if it's v small even if registered and farm diversification schemes can also cancel out business rates tho they need to register for them.

If they offer tuition on their own horses then they should be registered as a riding school with the council.

No obligation to be BHS registered. Insurance - they'd be mad not to have public liability (might be legal reqmt) and if they employ anyone its def a legal reqmt to have employers liability.
 
Riding school must have a licence from the council, they are inspected yearly.
BHS listing is not a requirement .
 
What Goldenstar has said is correct - anyone who offers lessons or rides on a horse which they provide must be licensed as a riding school by the council.

BHS approval is a higher level 'seal of approval' as it were and is not compulsory.
 
As above, they must have a license from the council and insurance but do not have to affiliate with the bhs.
licensing happens annually where the premises is checked and horses and tack are inspected by a vet working on behalf of the council.
 
Planning permission is also required and, judging from the historic applications for planning on the place I now own, is distinct from permission to run a livery yard or stud.
 
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