White House Farm Equestrian Centre was founded in March 2002 and as such was created from a clean slate. Best practice was thought through from outset and within months we had local authority approval as a riding school.

What is unique is that the framework for Health and Safety Policy came from quality documentation far more thorough and rigorous than that which is in existence in the horse world. We used documentation and policy that was written for the residential care and education of vulnerable young people as the starting standard. We combined the expertise of Proprietor, AI Qualified Horse Instructor and Residential Specialist School Headteacher to develop an Equestrian Centre Policy that is comprehensive and second to none in terms of its rigour.

Comments from inspection teams, which include vets, local authority officers and equestrian advisers support this view.

The policy is also backed up and supported by a specific Risk Assessment framework on which we have a range of risk assessments relating to everything from mucking out to hacking out and clipping.

Livery yard owners also need to be aware that proposed new legislation is on its way (Likely to be 2006) that might well involve Livery Yards having to be approved and given a licence in a similar way to the structure in existence for riding schools.

With this will come the inevitable scrutiny in respect of insurance and Health and Safety.

There’s potentially a lot of heartache in making decisions and being prepared for this. For a relatively nominal fee we are happy to support and share what we know to be best practice documentation in terms of Health and Safety and Risk Assessment.

If interested e-mail or ring us for more information.

Phone 01508 522152
E Mail: suelees@whitehousefarm.demon.co.uk