
Equine lawyers don’t sue horses—but what, exactly, do they do? And why does it matter? Horses and the Law brings you an in-depth look at the important legal issues affecting horse owners and exhibitors today, including liability, sales and bloodstock agents, contracts and other business concerns, taxes, the animal rights vs. animal welfare debate, and legislation. If you agree with something, or even if you don’t, feel free to comment. Just keep it tasteful. And remember that Horses and the Law does not—and cannot—address your specific legal problems, and is not a source of legal advice. For that, you should contact your own attorney.

Read This Before You Buy Your First Horse
Buying a horse is a lot like buying a used car. Both take a lot of research, plus some experience and smart buying strategies, to make a purchase you’ll be happy with. Use this guide and tips, developed by equine legal experts, to get prepared for your first horse.
I Bought a Horse with a Behavior Problem – Now What?
As an attorney for Equine Legal Solutions, I frequently help unhappy horse buyers decide whether they have a viable legal case against the seller, and if they do, whether I am the right attorney to represent them. Here is what I look for during the initial...
Secret Profit-Taking: The Truth about Horse Sale Commissions
That's the Way the Industry Works Ð But Is It Legal? Undisclosed profit-taking by trainers facilitating horse sales and purchases is a widespread practice touching every discipline in our industry. Many clients adopt a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to under the...
Warning: You Might Need to Post Signs at Your Horse Facility
Many states, including Oregon, require that horse facilities have posted signs outlining the state's equine activity statute. Photo: Michelle Anderson In the equine context, warning signs can serve several important functions, including preventing injury or death,...
Unattended Children at Boarding Stables
At Equine Legal Solutions, our boarding stable clients often ask about parents dropping off their children and leaving them for hours at a time. As one of our clients remarked with some frustration, "I'm running a boarding stable, not a daycare!" What is the risk of...
Evaluating the Enforceability of a Liability Release
At Equine Legal Solutions, we receive a lot of calls about injuries to horses and people. The callers usually want to know whether they have any liability in connection with the injury. Sometimes (but not often enough!), the caller has a liability release. As part of...