Equine Law Blog

What is Equine Law?

There really is no set definition.  Basically, it can be defined as the practice of law that involves all types of horses, horse-related activities, horse businesses, horse organizations, and horse facilities.  Many attorneys with equine law practices serve horse owners or professionals by, for example, preparing or reviewing equine-related contracts.  Others handle disputes and litigation arising from an equine transaction.  Some attorneys work exclusively on tax or immigration issues unique to the equine industry.

For those who seek high-caliber legal counsel for their equine-related legal matters, sometimes it can be beneficial to retain a lawyer with extensive Equine Law experience.  Lawyers with this expertise stand a better chance of being familiar with the equine-related issues for which you seek legal assistance.  Or, they have the ability to refer to other lawyers having the right expertise.

Since equine matters sometimes arise on an emergency basis, Equine Law practitioners can be well situated to help with prompt decision-making.  For example:

• A boarding stable client might have a boarded horse, on which state law usually gives the stable a lien, but the owner may be trying to haul it away;
• A trainer could be faced with a sick horse whose owner cannot be reached to consent to necessary surgery; or
• An equine professional may wonder what specific measures are necessary in order to comply with an equine liability law in his state or in other states where he does business.

Often, an experienced Equine Law practitioner will know the applicable law and can quickly provide prompt assistance in these and other demanding situations.

Like many lawyers having special expertise, Equine Law practitioners sometimes charge  a somewhat higher hourly rate than a general practitioner.  But the lawyers' expertise still can translate into cost savings.  That is, lawyers who lack the expertise require time to research the law and learn basic horse-related terminology.  Clients typically pay lawyers to learn.  By comparison, the experienced Equine Law practitioner may have worked on similar matters in the past.  He or she is often able to spot the issues quickly and take less time to get the job done.

Categories: Contracts, Insurance, Liability, Sales/Disputes