A client recently came to me after leasing an Appendix Quarter Horse for her daughter and asked me to draft a “lease-to-buy” equine agreement. She was not in a position financially to buy the horse outright and she had some hesitation about the “inflexibility” component of horse ownership – i.e. knowing that it sometimes can…
Insurance
Protection for the Stable Owner When a Boarder has a Recurrent Riding Guest
What should a stable consider in protecting itself when a boarder has a guest that frequently rides their horse – often more frequently than the boarder? There is no boarding agreement executed with this person because they are not the party paying for the horse and its upkeep. In light of this atypical relationship, how…
5 Steps to Build a Better Emergency Contact Sheet for Your Stable
Consider the scenario when a horse boarded with your barn begins to colic and the owner is traveling the globe with limited, if any, access to phone and email. With no owner to speak to, questions posed to the barn owner become – what vet to use? Is the horse a surgical candidate? Is there…
5 Common Legal Mistakes to Avoid When Establishing, Operating Your Equine Business
While we must plan for success in owning and operating an equine business, everyone knows that horses can often bring the unexpected. To avoid unforeseen legal pitfalls, equine business owners must take care to avoid these common legal mistakes. 1. Failure to Use Contracts The importance of using contracts in connection with your equine…
Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Exploring Equine Liability Laws
In May 2006, a father and his two-year-old child patronized Glendale Farms. After purchasing plants (the Connecticut business was twofold – selling flowers, vegetable plants and also providing horse boarding services), father and child proceeded to the nearby paddock, which contained several horses. The father was petting “Scuppy,” the horse, as his two-year old watched….