Equine Law Blog

My Leased Horse Appears Neglected – Now What?

Equine leases can generate several kinds of legal disputes, many of which have been addressed elsewhere in this blog. One dispute involves this scenario: The lessee (a “lessee” is the party that is allowed to use the horse owned by the “lessor” for a certain period of time under certain terms and conditions) is accused of neglecting the leased horse, and the lessor wants the horse returned as a result.

These disputes can be more complicated than they seem. For example, the lessor and lessee might disagree over the central issue of whether the horse was abused or neglected. Also, sometimes, the lessor might demand to have the horse inspected by a veterinarian, but the lessee might refuse to allow this to occur. If the lessor tries to haul away the horse, the lessee might accuse the lessor of trespassing, or even theft. Legal expenses can be significant to resolve these disputes. Read More ›

Categories: Contracts

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Equine Law Changes in Connecticut

Equine Law changes afoot in Connecticut! The Connecticut legislature just curbed its Supreme Court in a law that trumps Vendrella v. Astriab (the "vicious and dangerous" case) and determines that domesticated horses are not vicious or dangerous.

• Read the bill's text here.

Categories: Insurance, Liability

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Julie Fershtman Scores Another Equine Law Victory

Julie Fershtman, a shareholder at Foster Swift, secured summary judgment in favor of her client, an equine boarding and riding stable, on April 2, 2014.

The plaintiff accompanied his granddaughter to her riding lesson at a private stable and watched her ride from the observation room. When the lesson ended, he entered the barn aisle to ask the riding instructor questions about saddles. The plaintiff claimed that while standing in the barn aisle, with his back to the aisle, an unknown person led a horse too close behind him that brushed against his back, causing him to lose his balance and fall down. He claimed that he sustained significant injuries as a result. Read More ›

Categories: Boarding, Liability

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Equestrian Safety Helmets

Equine activities can deliver a deadly impact to your head if you get kicked or fall. Safety helmets are designed to cushion and re-distribute the force of certain blows to the head. Depending on the impact you sustain, your safety helmet might allow you to walk away unharmed from an accident that would have killed you or required costly long-term care had you not worn a helmet. Read More ›

Categories: Regulatory

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Is a Horse Really "Abandoned"?

When a horse facility takes in a horse for care and keeping, but the horse's owner fails to pay boarding fees and is nowhere to be found, is the horse "abandoned"? Surprisingly, many stables simply draw their own conclusions and then take drastic action, such as give away horses, lease them out, use them in lessons, or sell them off. Is that legal? Probably not. Read More ›

Categories: Boarding

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Liability Releases and Equine Activity Liability Acts: Utah's Highest Court Addresses How One Affects the Other

Since the equine activity liability acts were enacted, a question has arisen as to whether a person can legally sign away claims under them. According to the majority of courts across the country addressing the issue, the answer is "yes." Read More ›

Categories: Liability

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Recent Court Case is a Reminder for Owners of Insured Horses

The importance of complying with an insurance policy’s notice requirements has become especially newsworthy thanks to Julie Fershtman’s courtroom victory last year in an equine insurance coverage lawsuit in an Illinois federal court. In that case, a horse owner sued the company challenging its denial of benefits under an equine insurance policy. Read More ›

Categories: Contracts, Insurance

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Upcoming Webinar You Won't Want to Miss

Julie Fershtman is the speaker for tomorrow's webinar through the Certified Horsemanship Association entitled: "Risk Management – What You Need to Know about Liability, Contracts and Releases."

Categories: Contracts, Liability

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Does An Equine Activity Liability Act Apply? Take Our Test

State equine activity liability laws generally, but not always, apply to equine activity "participants" who are “engaged in an equine activity” at the time of injury. Over the years, cases have addressed whether people injured on the grounds of an equine activity qualify as “participants.” Let’s take a look at two noteworthy cases addressing the issue and find out whether you agree with the courts. Read More ›

Categories: Liability

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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Is It Horse-Friendly Property? Know The Answer Before You Buy

A caller years ago, had a difficult legal problem. He recently bought a home and surrounding land, converted a back yard work shop into a horse stall, set up new pasture fencing and moved in his horse. His life-long dream of owning a horse property within his budget, he thought, had just been realized.

Within weeks, however, his dream seemed to shatter when he received a notice from the municipality that his horse and fencing had to go. What he had not known, until that point, is that his municipality’s zoning ordinances included set-back restrictions for fencing. The ordinance required that his fence lines be within a substantial distance from his property line. Unfortunately for him, his lot was very narrow and compliance with the ordinance would make his horse pasture the size of a dog run. Read More ›

Categories: Zoning & Land Use

Posted by: Julie I. Fershtman

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