Beach Donkeys

The Donkey Sanctuary believes that there are over 900 donkeys working on UK beaches each year and aims to ensure these donkeys are cared for and fit to carry out the work expected of them.

Local councils are responsible for regulating beach donkeys and many work in co-operation with The Donkey Sanctuary to provide an identification scheme for the animals. The Sanctuary also helps and supports beach donkey operators and council representatives through the provision of high quality, professional advice, training and support on donkey welfare.

Annual Re-Licensing of Beach Donkeys

Each year at the start of the holiday season, the event of relicensing takes place, whereby beach donkey operators must obtain a licence from their council for each donkey working on the beach. This is a legal requirement under the Riding Establishments Act 1964 & 1970.

To obtain this licence, the operators have to pay a fee, produce a certificate of insurance for third party liability and, most importantly, provide veterinary certificates proving that each donkey is fit to work.

In addition to this system, The Donkey Sanctuary's Welfare Officers regularly check beach donkeys in the UK.

Code of Practice

A Code of Practice has been written by The Donkey Sanctuary and has been endorsed by the British Equine Veterinary Association. The Code of Practice is aimed at all local authorities with beach donkeys under their jurisdiction, to standardise levels of care and welfare throughout the UK. The code includes recommendations such as:

• Donkeys should work no more than six days a week, with one full day of rest.
• Donkeys should have an hour's break when working for long periods.
• A maximum weight limit for riders should not exceed eight stone or 51 kg.

Identification Scheme

Almost 60% of the councils in the UK, with donkeys under their jurisdiction, have included The Donkey Sanctuary's Identification Scheme in their annual relicensing system.

This ID scheme was established in 1991 when the Sanctuary recognised there was a weakness in the relicensing system. This allowed some donkeys, which had never been seen by a veterinary surgeon, to be worked on the beaches.

Identification of each donkey at the time of relicensing is provided by a painless hoof brand marking an ID number or by micro-chipping the donkey. This ID is only given once the donkey has been passed fit to work by the veterinary surgeon and looked over by a Sanctuary Welfare Officer.

A combination of the annual relicensing system and this ID scheme;

• Ensures and promotes fit and healthy working beach donkeys.
• Enables easy identification.
• Builds excellent working relationships between The Donkey Sanctuary, the beach donkey operators and the councils.
• Re-assures the public of the high standard of donkey care given by the operators and the commitment of the local councils toward the welfare of donkeys and the safety of the riders.
• Often attracts positive media coverage.

Off Season

At the end of the holiday season, some operators have the task of finding temporary winter accommodation for their donkeys and The Donkey Sanctuary is always happy to provide advice, training and support on donkey welfare to fosterer's.

Tel: 01395 578222