You’ve spent hours preparing. You practiced every night after school or work. You feel confident and focused. You enter the pen and your horse gives you a ride of a lifetime. You eagerly wait for the results only to find out that the judges placed you at the bottom of the pack. You feel totally robbed and defeated. How could the […]
When it comes to young futurity prospects, the opportunity to “go in” on a horse with your trainer can sometimes present itself. The idea is promising. You may be able to purchase the young prospect at a reasonable price and have your trainer put in training hours to bring the horse along in order to sell it […]
Most horse owners are worried about how to prepare and plan for the death of a horse. But have you ever considered that your horse may out live you? What happens then? Surely someone will take care of your horse, right? You may think that family members or friends will simply take care of your […]
In a recent article, we considered horse sales and the types of problems that can arise. However, there is one subtopic of equine sales that we did not explore at that time, but which deserves a bit of attention – the Auction. Horse auctions provide both buyers and sellers with certain advantages to private sales, […]
Whether you are buying or selling a horse, one of the best ways to avoid legal issues is to make sure you have a solid written agreement in place. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with a charming stranger or your Uncle Jim – never, ever should the sale of a horse be done on […]
With the arrival of the spring and summer, horse shows generally kick into high gear. It’s a great time of year for many horse enthusiasts, but it also a season that generates a lot of business for lawyers. Horse shows, while fun and entertaining, can be filled with hidden dangers that lead to an abundance […]
The holiday season offers plenty of opportunity for visiting family and friends, or even going on a winter vacation. For horse owners, though, going out of town for any reason can cause a particular problem. Who will take care of the horses? Who will feed and water them? Who will turn them out into pasture, […]
Some time ago, we visited the subject of horse slaughterhouses in the United States. Since then, there have been some recent developments of which every horse owner should be aware. Granted, the issue of horse slaughter is often hotly contested and emotions run high on both sides of the debate. There are pro’s and con’s […]
Recently, a client of mine who lives in an area damaged by Hurricane Irma found himself in a frightening situation. The fence in his pasture was damaged during the hurricane and one of his horses got out, finding its way onto a public highway. Luckily, a good Samaritan helped to capture and return the horse […]
Jane Doe got a bonus from work and indulged her dream of owning a horse, spending the extra money on a beautiful mare. She soon realized, however, that the monthly expenses and time commitment of horse ownership were more than she could handle. * * * Joe Smith takes good care of his horse, spending […]
Picture this: One day, when you go to bring your two horses in from the pasture, you find a third horse – one you don’t recognize – grazing contentedly alongside yours. What do you do? Or suppose you agree to board a horse for someone, but after a couple of months, that person stops paying […]
Last month, we began a journey along the winding roads of Equine Activity Liability Laws (EALLs) and discovered how those complex paths can often lead to litigation. As mentioned, EALLs, adopted by all but a handful of States, are laws intended to limit the liability of those hosting or sponsoring equine activities for injuries caused […]