RCVS riding establishment inspections
Information about our Riding Establishment Inspector List. Find out what’s required of inspectors and how to become one, plus information for local authorities and riding establishments.
Riding establishments in England, Wales and Scotland must, by law, hold a licence.
Local authorities issue or deny these licences following an inspection and report. These are carried out by veterinary surgeons on our Riding Establishment Inspector List (also known as the Inspectorate).
On this page
Who manages the Riding Establishment Inspector List
The Riding Establishment Inspector List is overseen by the Riding Establishments Subcommittee (RESC). The RESC reports to the RCVS Standards Committee.
About the Riding Establishments Subcommittee (RESC)
The RESC decides who can join and remain on our list of inspectors. It also:
- Delivers annual training to new and existing inspectors, who must refresh their training every five years
- Provides detailed guidelines, template forms and advice
- Publishes the Riding Establishment Inspector Newsletter (REIN) every year around springtime
- Runs yearly inspection audits and provides feedback via REIN
Becoming a riding establishment inspector
How to apply:
- Complete an application form
- Attend a training and induction course
Before you start your application, we advise reading the eligibility criteria. You’ll find these:
- On the application form
- In Part 4 of the Riding establishment guidelines:
- For England
- For Scotland and Wales
Please consider the guidelines for the location(s) in which you would like to inspect before submitting your application.
About the Riding Establishments Training and Induction Course
Our training and induction course usually runs as follows (dates are approximate):
- May: Online webinar series, hosted on RCVS Academy.
- June: In-person day with practical sessions.
We email exact dates and course fees to applicants in February or March each year.
If you have any questions about an application, please contact our Registration Team at [email protected] or on 020 7202 0707.
Maintaining your role as an inspector
To continue working as a riding establishment inspector, you must refresh your place on our list every five years. This involves attending a refresher course.
The eligibility criteria for maintaining your place is set out in Part 4 of the Riding establishment guidelines:
Please consider the guidelines for the location(s) in which you would like to continue inspecting.
About the inspector refresher course
Our refresher course usually runs as follows. Months are approximate:
- May: Online webinar series, hosted on RCVS Academy
- June or July: In-person day with practical sessions (encouraged), or remote Q&A session.
We email exact dates and course fees to inspectors due to refresh their place in February or March each year.
Applying to refresh early or late
In some circumstances, you may be able to refresh your place on the Inspectorate early or late. For example, if you’ve had to take an extended period of leave during a refreshing year.
If you would like to apply to refresh early or late or have any other questions, please contact our Registration Team at [email protected] or on 020 7202 0707.
Inspector guidelines and template forms
Checklist for inspectors:
- Be familiar with the relevant legislation
- Consider the Riding establishment guidelines
- Keep clear, accurate and up-to-date records
- Use the correct forms
- Submit forms to the local authority with a covering letter
Guidance for inspectors in England
Relevant legislation
Inspectors in England should be familiar with the overriding legislation relevant to inspecting riding establishments. This includes:
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
- The Animal Welfare Act 2006
Riding establishment guidelines and forms
At each inspection, local authorities and inspectors in England should consult the Riding establishment guidelines (England).
Inspectors should then use the following forms. Please make sure you are using the most up-to-date version:
- The Riding establishment veterinary inspector’s form (England) - This can be used for new and renewal licence applications. Inspectors carrying out their work without a suitably qualified local authority officer cannot use this form – see 'Inspecting without a local authority officer present’ on this page.
- Annual (interim) report form - For annual and interim inspections only.
- The schedule of horses inspected form - For all inspections.
- The template form for new horse(s)
- The template notice to withdraw horse(s)
- RESC template statement of fitness to return to work (for horses) - To be used by registered equine veterinary surgeons at an inspector’s request, where appropriate.
These forms should then be submitted to the local authority with a covering letter summarising the inspector’s findings.
Inspecting without a local authority officer present
In certain circumstances, veterinary inspectors may inspect without a suitably qualified local authority officer present. To do this, they must be formally appointed in writing by the local authority under Section 51 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The Riding establishment veterinary inspector’s form (England) cannot be used in these circumstances. A local authority form compliant with the certification requirements in Chapter 21 of the supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct should be used instead.
Keeping accurate records
In line with the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, you must keep clear, detailed and accurate records. This includes keeping copies of all inspection related forms which may later be required, including by the RESC for audit purposes.
Guidance for inspectors in Scotland and Wales
Relevant legislation
Inspectors in Scotland and Wales should be familiar with the overriding legislation relevant to inspecting riding establishments. This includes:
Riding establishment guidelines and forms
At each inspection, local authorities and inspectors should consult the Riding establishment guidelines (Scotland and Wales).
Inspectors should then use the following forms. Please make sure you are using the most up-to-date version:
- Riding establishment veterinary inspector's form (Scotland and Wales)
- The schedule of horses inspected form - For all inspections.
- The template form for new horse(s)
- The template notice to withdraw horse(s)
- Conflict of interest declaration form
- RESC template statement of fitness to return to work (for horses) - To be used by registered equine veterinary surgeons at an inspector’s request, where appropriate.
These forms should then be submitted to the local authority with a covering letter summarising the inspector’s findings.
Keeping accurate records
In line with the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, you must keep clear, detailed and accurate records. This includes keeping copies of all inspection related forms which may later be required, including by the RESC for audit purposes.
Guidance for local authorities
There is currently no formal government guidance for local authorities in Scotland and Wales.
Defra guidance for local authorities in England
- Hiring out horses licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
- Animal activities licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
- Animal activity licensing process: statutory guidance for local authorities
Find a riding establishment inspector
To find an inspector to collaborate with, please search the inspectorate. You can search by location as well as name.
Conflicts of interest
An inspector should not carry out an inspection where there is a real or perceived conflict of interest. For example, where a riding establishment owner, manager or staff member is a friend, relative, or client of the inspector’s practice.
In such cases, local authorities should attempt to secure an alternative inspector from the Inspectorate. Please see Part 4 of the Riding establishment guidelines for England or Scotland and Wales for further information.
Guidance for riding establishment owners
Our video will help you understand what riding establishment inspections involve.
About the Riding Establishment Inspector Newsletter (REIN)
REIN is a yearly newsletter published in springtime each year by the RESC. It is also circulated by email to the Inspectorate and local authority stakeholders.
REIN typically includes the following standing articles:
- A message from the Chair of the RESC
- Information about the yearly Training and Induction Course
- Information about annual Q&A sessions
- Feedback from yearly audits
- Updates to guidelines or forms
When things go wrong
If you have serious concerns about the conduct of an inspector, in relation to a possible breach of the RCVS Code of Conduct, these should be raised with the RCVS Concerns Team.
If you have concerns about the outcome of an inspection and the decision of a local authority, these should be sent to the local authority involved.
For all other general feedback designed to help improve the inspection process, please contact the Secretary of the RESC. This feedback may be included in the next edition of REIN, alongside the RESC audit process.
Contact the Secretary of the RESC
If you have questions about these guidelines or forms, or general feedback, please write to [email protected], marking your email for the attention of the Secretary to the RESC.
You can also contact the Secretary to the RESC via phone on 020 7202 0789 between 9.15am and 5pm Monday to Friday. RESC input will be requested where required.
Other useful links
- DEFRA Code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids
- National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) codes of practice for the welfare of equidae
- Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Officers (CIEH) health and safety in horse riding establishments and livery yards: what you should know
- The Donkey Sanctuary website, resources on donkey care and management