CALLS for mandatory licensing, welfare inspections and independent veterinary checks for riding schools and other commercial equine operations have been made by the Jersey Horse Association – days after more than a dozen animals were seized from a local equestrian centre.
The Jersey Horse Association said that anyone using horses or other equines for money – whether as a business, charity or individual – should be formally licensed and subject to regular welfare oversight.
It comes just days after animals – including 12 horses, three goats, chickens, ducks and guinea – were seized from a Five Oaks-based equestrian centre and placed into private care across the Island.
The States Vet, working with the Viscount’s Department, took the animals on Friday morning.
Happy Hooves contacted several customers last week to inform them that the riding school would be ceasing trading and that its horses were due to be seized.
A message seen by the JEP described the situation as “heartbreaking”, and explained that it was the result of a Petty Debts judgment.
The Jersey Horse Association was unable to comment specifically on the Happy Hooves case, but called for all riding schools, livery yards and other commercial or charitable equine operations to be licensed and inspected.
The association is calling for regular, independent veterinary checks to be a condition of that licence, alongside scrutiny of anyone travelling to the Island to work on horses.
“This should include visiting practitioners to the Island to be assessed for relevant and up-to-date qualifications in their respective field of equine expertise,” the group added, calling for background checks “to ensure no previous convictions for animal abuse”.
The Jersey Horse Association urged Jersey to adopt a system similar to the UK, where riding schools and livery yards are licensed – but to extend this to cover all uses of horses for money, including charitable operations.
Since being established in early 2025, the association has pursued three core aims: promotion and growth, health and welfare, and education and training.
Jersey Horse Association chair Alasdair Crosby added: “As part of our health and welfare objective, we seek to create an equine register and to review current legislation and codes of practice – working towards enhancing equine legislation as a whole, regarding health, care and transport, to bring it up to date based on the latest veterinary and professional guidance, and in line with UK standards.”
