Demystifying Equine Law

What is Equine Law?

From the Kentucky Derby to private riding lessons, equine law is the product of a million dollar industry in the United States. It is a specialized segment of the law that surrounds all legal issues regarding horses. This can include things from purchasing horses, veterinary issues, business practices, and more. Because of its specificity, if you are looking for legal help in a matter surrounding a horse, we recommend you seek out the help of an equine law specialist like The Animal Law Firm.

In equine law there are two main categories a lawyer will be helpful with. There is a transactional side which involves contracts and legal agreements that the expertise of an equine lawyer can help shape. There is also a litigation side of equine law (keep in mind litigation doesn’t necessarily mean court) coming into play when issues with transactional aspects of equine law don’t work out. Litigation with the help of a skilled equine lawyer may help resolve issues before court comes into play.

All that being said, why does Equine Law even matter?

The horse industry in the United States is often out of sight, out of mind. However, it actually has huge economic impact: in the U.S it provides millions of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue. These huge numbers as well as the nature of the equine industry mean that there is huge legal overlap in the industry. This complexity and specificity of this industry requires a honed legal specialist to understand and deal with equine law in an effective and helpful manner.

So, what issues might call for the services of an equine lawyer?

General Equine Issues

When it comes to horses there are any number of legal issues that may arise and feel daunting. Ranging from ownership, breeding, training, and boarding, an equine lawyer can help you decipher legal paperwork and mediate higher tension scenarios.

Equine Breeding disputes

As a huge part of the equine industry, breeding can feel high stakes as the amount of money that is involved is typically high. If you want to protect your investment and interests when it comes to horse breeding, equine lawyers can help remove stress by providing a degree of skilled separation.

Equine Transactions

While horse sales used to be able to function off of a handshake and the honor code, things have gotten progressively more complicated legally. To protect a buyers interests as the official owner of the horse, and equine lawyer can help you decipher complicated paperwork and contracts. This extra blanket of security will ensure that the person buying the horse is the legal and binding owner of the horse.

Equine Real Estate

While a lot of people may not think about it on the day to day, housing and boarding is a huge aspect of the equine industry. Whether you are looking to buy property to start a ranch, or simply need a place for your horse to stay, equine lawyers can help protect your best interests when it comes to purchasing or seeking out property.

Equine Immigration

Finally, if you are interested in receiving or sending horses from overseas, the legal waters can get murky quickly. To prevent any confusion and resulting legal issues, the consultation of an equine lawyer can help make a typically drawn out process short and sweet.

The Animal Law Firm will gladly evaluate your equine matters and protect your rights. You may feel you can handle your legal matters on your own, and while this is sometimes possible, equine law is often misunderstood or neglected by courts. For this reason, we offer our guidance and experience so we can work toward the most efficient outcome. For more information about equine law or how we can help, contact our team.