Statutes and Equine Law l

Actual Equine Law Cases

Much of what is equine law today has evolved from court decisions throughout the history of the United States at the local and state level. Federal regulations pertain most to public lands as managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Court Cases and Equine Law

Dec 18, 2020
Equine Appraisal: The Value of our Horses
HG Experts
You may be asking, “How do I find a qualified equine appraiser?” Even though equine appraisers are not as common as other occupations in the horse world, such as trainers, veterinarians, etc., the horse owner can find a qualified appraiser either through local organizations, horse magazines, equine internet sites, word of mouth, or by contacting the American Society of Equine Appraisers. If you have livestock other than horses, the American Society of Agricultural Appraisers is a good place to find a qualified appraiser. More info...

Dec 18, 2020
Damage Caused by Boarded Horses -- Who Pays for It?
Julie Fershtman
Broken pasture fences, broken gates, stall dividers kicked through, wash rack hoses and nozzles broken, stall walls bitten through, stall doors broken off of their hinges.

For many boarding stables, breaks and damages to the property like these are to be expected. The question is, who should pay for them? How should a boarding contract address this issue?

Certainly, boarding stable owners and managers have their own preferences about the cost of repairs. This article discusses options for boarding contracts involving repair costs for damage to the property caused by boarded horses. More info...

Dec 18, 2020
Equine Law and Horse Sense
Julie Fershtman

Dec 9, 2020
What You Wish You Considered for Your Equine Lease
Foster Swift
Equine lease transactions have become increasingly popular. Surprisingly, some people continue to lease horses merely on a handshake or use very short lease agreements, only to encounter costly problems later. Over the years, several people who have contacted us with equine lease disputes wished their contract had been more detailed. Detailed contracts can help avoid disputes, which can save very substantial amounts of money.

Recognizing that equine lease transactions differ, here are a few items to consider: More info...

Dec 2, 2020
Legal Resources for Your Business
Solid Sources of Advice
You will find this directory of legal resources and government regulations to be indispensable. You can research much of what you want to know without having to pay legal fees. You can also download legal forms to use in your business. More info...

Oct 23, 2020
Avoiding Horse Boarding Disputes
By Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law
Disputes sometimes occur between boarding stables and horse owners. Occasionally, they become lawsuits. From the standpoint of a lawyer who has served boarding and training stables as well as horse owners in these disputes for decades, here are two common disputes and ways that each party can protect themselves. More info...

Oct 5, 2020
Surprise! You are an Equine Professional
How does the law define your activities?
You have a full-time job, or you're a student. But you also have a horse in the barn. Wouldn't it be nice to make money from the horse? What if you offered riding lessons on the weekends or did some "moonlighting" as an instructor to generate extra cash? You may think your part-time business activities are a mere hobby, but the law might say quite the opposite.
When you accept money in exchange for providing a service, such as giving riding lessons, the law may regard you as a "professional." For example, of the 47 states with an equine activity liability law (as of October 2015), several of them define "equine professional" to include people who receive “compensation” for giving riding lessons. More info...

Sep 20, 2020
Legal Aspects of Boarding at a Friend's Barn
Foster Swift
Cindy and Sam have been long-time friends and once rode together. Now, as Sam recovers from a serious illness, his barn has been empty. He once enjoyed looking out at the horses in his pasture. He approached Cindy with an offer to stable her horses on his property for free, as long as she takes care of her horses at her own expense.
People sometimes enter into arrangements like this, but what are the legalities? What can Cindy and Sam do to protect themselves? More info...