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- About extra-mural studies (EMS)
- EMS requirements
- Information for vet students
- Information for EMS providers
- Information for vet schools
- Temporary EMS requirements
- Practice by students - regulations
- Health and safety on EMS placements
- EMS contacts and further guidance
- Extra-mural studies fit for the future
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- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons
- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
- Contact the Advice Team
- XL Bully dog ban
- 'Under care' - new guidance
- Advice on Schedule 3
- Controlled Drugs Guidance – A to Z
- Dealing with Difficult Situations webinar recordings
- FAQs – Common medicines pitfalls
- FAQs – Routine veterinary practice and clinical veterinary research
- FAQs – Advertising of practice names
- GDPR – RCVS information and Q&As
Riding Establishments
RCVS Riding Establishment Inspections
Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 for England and Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970 for Scotland and Wales, riding establishments are required by law to be licensed by local authorities.
The licence may only be issued or denied by the local authority following an inspection and report by a veterinary surgeon who is a member of the RCVS Inspectorate.
Environmental Health departments of local authorities have responsibility for enforcing health and safety legislation in the majority of riding establishments. They investigate reportable accidents and undertake health and safety inspections which they may carry out during licensing visits. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Officers (CIEH) have published comprehensive guidance on relevant legislation, suggested control measures etc intended for use by enforcement officers, proprietors and other interested parties, available free to download from the CIEH site.
NB. As the above video was produced in 2011, some of the information is no longer current for inspections in England following the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Inspectors carrying out inspections in England should note the following:
- The video references annual licenses, however the Regulations provide for both annual and extended two/three year licenses;
- The video does not reference interim inspections, which are provided for under the Regulations where an establishment has an extended license;
- The video references three monthly provisional licenses, which are not provided as an option under the Regulations; and
- The video does not reference local authority inspectors, though they are usually actively involved in the inspection process under the Regulations.
The inspection requirements in the video remain current for inspections taking place in Scotland and Wales.
Finally, please note that while the Donkey Sanctuary advocate for getting donkeys properly microchipped and collaborate with the BHS and NEWC where owners can get this done at a reduced fee, they are no longer able to offer free microchipping unless it is necessary to support welfare.
Riding Establishment Inspectors and working donkeys
There could be as many as 1,000 working donkeys in the UK, mostly found around our coastline. Recently, however, more ventures using donkeys for riding other than beach are appearing, such as fairs and children’s parties. Any vet registered as an inspector may be called upon by the local authority to complete the annual inspection of licensed riding establishments in their locality.
Ridden-donkey operations should be inspected with the same care and attention given to horse riding stables and are licensed under the same Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 or Riding Establishments Acts of 1964 and 1970.
Donkeys are different from horses, and beach donkey riding is a seasonal business. These and other factors need to be taken into account when planning and performing the inspection.
More information can be found on working donkeys on the Donkey Sanctuary website.
Riding Establishments Inspectorate List and other useful documents
The list of approved riding establishment inspectors can be viewed below.
Riding Establishments Inspectorate List
Licensing authorities and their inspectors should use the forms of application and inspection report below.
An updated Riding Establishment Veterinary Inspector's Form (England) and Guidelines (England) have been uploaded. The updates have been made in line with the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and the associated DEFRA guidance. The form can be used for both full and interim inspections while we await further clarification from DEFRA as to the remit of the interim inspections. If you have any feedback or questions, please contact Stephanie Bruce-Smith in our Standards and Advice team on [email protected].
- Riding Establishment Inspector Application Form
- Riding Establishment Guidelines (Scotland and Wales)
- Riding Establishment Veterinary Inspector's Form (Scotland and Wales)
- Riding Establishment Guidelines (England)
- Riding Establishment Veterinary Inspector's Form (England)
- Annual (Interim) Report Form (England)
- Template Form for New Horse(s)
- Template Notice to Withdraw Horse(s)
- Template Statement of Fitness to Return to Work
- Template Declaration of Veterinary Inspector’s Interest
- Schedule of Horses Inspected
- Schedule of Horses Inspected (PDF)
Course information
If you have any questions for the Riding Establishments Subcommittee, please fill in the form here: Q&A form
2025 Course dates and information will be communicated to refreshing Inspectors and new applicants via email shortly. Find out about upcoming training and induction courses here.
On the Riding Establishment Training and Induction Course page, could you please update the wording to read as follows:
The Riding Establishment Training and Induction Course runs annually for both veterinary surgeons looking to become a Riding Establishment Inspector and for existing Riding Establishment Inspectors who need to complete their 5-year refresher training.
All inspectors who are due to complete their refresher training in 2025 will be contacted shortly.
How to register
Please contact our Registration department at [email protected] or 020 7202 0707 if you would like to apply to be an Inspector.
REIN newsletter
The 2024 edition of the Riding Establishments Inspector Newsletter (REIN) can be found here.
Contact details
| Query type |
Contact name |
Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Member of the public, course information, existing inspector or local authority |
Stephanie Bruce-Smith |
T 0207 202 0754 |
| New applicants requiring further information and booking places on the course |
Emma Cameron |
T 020 7202 0780 |
Postal correspondence
The postal address for all correspondence is:
Registration Department
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
3 Waterhouse Square,
138 – 142 Holborn,
London
EC1N 2SW