We are establishing a very small scale operation in horse transportation. Currently studying for the Operators cpc with the intention of applying for an operators licence early next year. Have driver CPC and also WATO horse transport qualifications sorted already.
However,this will only be a part time venture and someone mentioned that companies sometimes allow owners to operate under their management and operators licence and that mioght be more cost effective?
Would be grateful for anyone with more knowledge than me to give some thoughts.
emwmarine:
someone mentioned that companies sometimes allow owners to operate under their management and operators licence
Others on here are more knowledgable but that’s always a highly dubious and often quoted statement as regards O licences.
If you are doing it for hire or reward you will require at least a Standard National licence and a CPC holder, only if you are carrying your own animals can you get away with a restricted licence and without a CPC holder. As well as that you need a parking place, maintenance facilities, and a good insurance policy, you can bet your bottom dollar that if you are involved in an accident while carrying a donkey, it will be an thoroughbred Arab by the time the truck stops bouncing
emwmarine:
someone mentioned that companies sometimes allow owners to operate under their management and operators licence
Others on here are more knowledgable but that’s always a highly dubious and often quoted statement as regards O licences.
Totally illegal and something vosa look at as several horse transporters were caught a couple of years ago all operating under the same umbrella company.
As for considering it as a small part time business you’d be better off going to the bookies every day as you’ll have more in your pocket at the end of the week.
emwmarine:
We are establishing a very small scale operation in horse transportation. Currently studying for the Operators cpc with the intention of applying for an operators licence early next year. Have driver CPC and also WATO horse transport qualifications sorted already.
However,this will only be a part time venture and someone mentioned that companies sometimes allow owners to operate under their management and operators licence and that mioght be more cost effective?
Would be grateful for anyone with more knowledge than me to give some thoughts.
No, you can’t do that, not legally anyway. If it is your operation, using your vehicle, then it has to be done on your own Standard National or International licence.
It use to be that you could operate your own horse box without an O license as long as you were only transporting your own horses, and not for hire or reward. That’s where the horse racing guys got into trouble as the powers that be said that the prize money or potential for prize money was reward.
.
There was some amendment that stated you could also use a truck to transport animals and equipment for a non mechanical race team.
EG if you had a bullock team, horse and carriage, ski team, rowing etc, fine… race car, race boat, stunt plane etc not fine. I’m not sure if cycling was in on the deal.
As far as I know there wasn’t a size limit as long as the driver had the appropriate license.
The vehicle could only be used for the transport of the animals and equipment, so you weren’t allowed to go and get a load of hay with it either.
Jelliot:
It use to be that you could operate your own horse box without an O license as long as you were only transporting your own horses, and not for hire or reward.
Still can with any sized LGV
The criteria is that the intention is not to make or actually make a profit so a little prize money or rosette etc does not count as being commercial
VOSA have a PDF explaining this - vosa.gov.uk/guide-for-horsebox-owners
