Summer working hours, travel and holidays

As we ride into the busier seasons of the year, we start to see more competitions, clinics and increased yard demands.

It is important for equestrian employers and employees to stay compliant with the UK Employment Laws.

Working Hours and breaks

Workers should not exceed an average of 48 hours per week unless they have agreed to opt of out of this limit in writing. Employers must actively monitor workers’ hours to ensure compliance, particularly where working patterns are irregular (as is often the case in equestrian work).

Staff are entitled to;

• A 20-minute uninterrupted rest break when working more than six hours in a day;
• 11 consecutive hours rest between each working days; and
• At least one full day off per week (or two every fortnight).

In equestrian environments, early starts and late finishes are often unavoidable due to the nature of animal care and competition schedules. However, employers must still ensure that these patterns do not compromise staff wellbeing.

Adequate rest periods are essential not only for legal compliance but also for maintaining safety, staff performance and morale.

Travel time

Travel is a significant component of equestrian work, particularly when transporting horses to competitions, training venues or veterinary appointments.

Key facts to remember:

• Travel for work purposes may count as working time, especially where the worker is required to drive, supervise horses, or perform other duties during the journey.
• Overnight stays and long-distance competitions should be carefully planned to avoid breaching break and reset requirements.
• Employers should consider rotating staff for long trips, permitting regular breaks for longer days, and allowing recovery time after late finishes.
• Where late finishes occur due to travel, employers should allow for longer rest periods or delayed starts the following day.

Managing Holiday during the busier seasons

Workers are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid annual leave. We appreciate, however, that the busier months – typically spring and summer – often coincide with competitions and the event season.

During these times, employers may limit when annual leave can be taken or refuse specific requests for valid business reasons.

You must ensure, however, that employees take their full annual leave entitlement throughout the year.

To manage this effectively, employers should;

• Set clear dates where leave is restricted;
• Use a fair rota system to distribute annual leave;
• Encourage staff to request annual leave in advance to assist with planning; and
• Maintain transparency to avoid misunderstanding or dissatisfaction.  

If you have any concerns about employment laws and what they mean for your business, please reach out to the Equestrian Employers Association team or the Employment Law team at HCR Wright Hassall who can provide assistance.