Whether you realize it or not, and most likely you don’t, administrative bodies of one type or another affect nearly every aspect of your horse activity. On the public side, for example, state departments of transportation license your farm truck and trailer, local zoning boards dictate whether you can keep horses on your property, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes safety standards for employees on your farm and in other workplaces, the Food and Drug Administration approves medications and treatments for your animals, state licensing boards determine who can provide veterinary care, and the Environmental Protection Agency might have something to say about your manure disposal practice.

On the private side, the governing body for your discipline drafts rules for competitions, and breed registries maintain extensive breeding and ownership records. The list goes on.

Although administrative bodies are pervasive, they also tend to be invisible, unless you run afoul of their rules, or at least appear to do so. When this happens, your livelihood and your reputation might be put at risk, and the proper response is essential. It’s always important to be familiar with the rules that control your activity; it is essential to know the rules and your options when a violation is alleged