THE owner of a Wirral riding school has been prosecuted for providing paid-for lessons without an appropriate licence.

Karen Shaw, the owner of Larton Riding School based at Frankby Stiles, pleaded guilty at Wirral Magistrates Court in Birkenhead to offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

These offences related to the activity of hiring out horses for riding and instruction without the required licence in place.

Wirral Council’s Environmental Health team had been notified of an accident involving a child falling from a horse during a paid riding lesson at Larton Riding School on July 22 last year.

Officers visited Larton Riding School to investigate and found evidence that horses were being hired out for riding and instruction without the relevant licence in place for the period July 1 - 23 last year and September 14 last year.

The court imposed a fine of £250, awarding the Council £1,000 in costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Larton Riding School has been approached for comment.