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…
Contracts
Equine Jobs: Independent Contractor or Employee? Classification Matters.
There is often much confusion on whether an employee is considered an “independent contractor” or an “employee” in the eyes of the law. It is a hot topic given that classification matters because it may materially impact insurance, tax, and liability issues. From a liability perspective, business owners may prefer to classify employees as “independent…
Dogs at the Barn
Question: Should you have a “no dogs” policy at your barn? Answer: It depends. Many horse-lovers are also often dog-lovers and therefore, enjoy the experience of bringing their dogs out to the barn when they come out to ride. It affords dogs the opportunity to be in the fresh air and around the horses…
Buying a Horse? 8 Pre-Purchase Exam Tips
Pre-purchase exams are an important component of any horse sale. PPEs identify current problems and potential future problems that the horse may have. Some problems may affect a sale, some may not. You wouldn’t buy a used car without assessing various dings and dents and how they might impact a car’s driving performance for you,…
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…