Our Agriculture and Rural group regularly
publishes material that provides useful background information
and guidance on key issues or legislation affecting the sector.
Below we list a selection - please click on the links provided
for more detail.
-
Driving licence requirements relating to
horseboxes
The relevant provisions are contained in the Motor Vehicles
Regulations 1999 (the Regulations) as amended. If the horsebox has
a maximum authorised mass which exceeds 3.5 tonnes but not 7.5
tonnes then a category C1 licence is needed. If the MAM exceeds 7.5
tonnes then a category C licence is required.
- Loaning
horses
It can often seem an attractive option to loan a horse rather than
buying a horse or pony of your own because you do not have the
initial costly outlay and you always have the option of returning
the horse if it doesn’t work – well that’s the theory at
least!
- Livery
agreements
Legal claims against livery yard owners or irresponsible clients
are on an increase. It is therefore, sensible to enter into an
agreement in the first place, ensuring both parties know who should
be doing what.
- Importing
from the EU
The emergence of a truly global market for commercial goods has not
escaped the equine world, with a host of horses/ponies on display
at the click of a button via an internet browser.
- Syndication
agreements
Syndication agreements are contractual agreements setting out the
arrangements between a group of people who have pooled their
resources to acquire a horse. Syndication agreements are commonly
used by groups of people wishing to purchase a stallion for
breeding purposes.
- Small
claims
Claims not exceeding £5000 will normally be allocated to the small
claims track in the County Court and do not require legal
representation.
- Is
planning permission required?
Equestrian properties often throw up planning problems because the
keeping of horses appears similar to agriculture and many people
(wrongly) assume that they are an agricultural activity.
- Personal
injury and compensation
If you or your horse has suffered an injury, no matter how
trivial, it is worth finding out from a solicitor if there is
any possibility of claiming compensation.
- Buying
and selling horses
Your legal rights will depend on whether you bought your horse from
a private seller or someone selling in the course of a business,
for example a dealer or breeder.
- Certificate of Lawfulness of
Existing Use or Development (CLEUD)
When purchasing equestrian property and to pre-empt problems on a
sale, it is essential to ascertain whether there are any problems
with the planning title. Due to the passage of time many can be
dealt with by obtaining a CLEUD.
-
Commercial tenancies for equestrian
businesses
Many equestrian businesses are run on land rented by the business
owner from a landlord. It is extremely important for owners
of such businesses to be clear as to the legislation governing
their tenancy and the implications that flow from that.
-
Employment in the equine industry
Anybody hiring someone, whether part-time or full-time, to provide
regular duties is an employer in the horse industry.
- Grazing
arrangements
There are many instances in which horse owners would like to take
grazing, but landowners are reluctant to enter into an agreement
that may constitute a tenancy.
