A coach whose riding school licence has actually ended after “obstructive” behaviour from the council has actually made main grievances – consisting of over sexual remarks she says were made by among the licensing officers.
Victoria Baker informed H&H that Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has actually lost her files and made duplicated “ridiculous” ask for extra info because her examination on 13 February. Her licence ended at the end of that month.
“It’s an absolute nightmare,” she said.
Victoria’s is not a standard riding school set-up; she has 5 horses and generally teaches one rider at a time, generally those getting ready for their British Horse Society examinations.
Her previous 2 examinations, with a various inspector to the 2 who arrived this time, had actually been uneventful, without any problems raised. On this celebration, as in the past, the veterinary inspector signed a form to verify that all files needed by the council were total.
“But they keep asking for more and more,” Victoria said. “For example, you have to submit lists of procedures. For mucking out, I said I muck out fully, then skip out throughout the day when they’re in. They said they wanted more detail. I said ‘So you want 1) open door, 2) get horse out, and she said ‘Yes please’. So I had to put open door, remove horse, lift solids, scrape shavings back – literally a 10-point list of how to muck out’. It’s laughable, but to the point I could nearly cry.”
Victoria said the officers discovered fault with her feeding strategy, regardless of the truth she has spreadsheets specifying that she feeds each horse 2.5% of its bodyweight based on British Horse Society standards, which this is divided into 90% bulk and 10% focuses. She informed H&H they likewise discovered fault with treatments consisting of the procedure to be followed in case of a fire.
“They don’t know one end of a horse from the other,” Victoria said. “One asked me if I did my own clipping, and why it looked like the horse was wearing thigh-length boots. I said it was a hunter clip.”
Victoria said the inspectors informed her files she had actually formerly sent were lost; she used to reveal them the products on her laptop computer however was informed to email.
“One of the officers said ‘All the pretty ones have been getting away with murder’ with the previous [male] inspector. You can’t say that to people in this day and age.”
Victoria’s licence ended on 28 February and she has actually been in touch with the council throughout. But she said replies are taking a long period of time to show up, and when they do, they are not useful.
“I do also teach people on their own horses but if this was my entire business, I’d be snookered,” she said. “I’ve sent two horses to be sold as a result of this but I’m getting nothing back from the council really, they’re being obstructive.”
Victoria has actually spoken with a lawyer, who prepared to get in touch with the council, and is checking out her insurance coverage, which covers licensing conflicts. She has actually likewise called her regional district councillor and has actually been recommended to take the matter up with the city government ombudsman.
“But it’s all time lost,” she said. “These inspectors need to be regional, not for each council, and they need to be people who know what they’re talking about.”
A representative for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council informed H&H: “A renewal application for a licence to hire horses from Victoria Baker BHSI Coaching has actually been gotten and is being processed by the council.
“We have actually been dealing with Ms Baker over a variety of weeks to collect the essential info to process the application and give a licence.
“We are following animal welfare legislation and Defra statutory guidance for local authorities and hope to have the required documents to complete the process soon.”
The council said it had actually composed to Victoria in reply to points she has actually raised.
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