As the owner of a boarding or training barn, you’re likely going to hire people to give you a hand to help train customers, whether that’s a full or part-time trainer. Before you make a hire, you’ll also need…
Read More Hiring Trainers for Your Farm: Employee or Independent Contractor?
Whether at home, on the road, in the air, or at a show, our horses require care to prevent injury and maintain peak condition. The administrative aspects of horse care are often overlooked because the paperwork creates more hassle…
In Europe, a new directive (EU Directive 2019/771) has been passed by the European Parliament that aims to protect the consumer in the purchase of goods, presumably including horses. While this directive has a good purpose, treating horses like…
Read More How Consumer Purchase Protection Laws Impact Horse Sales
In the hunter and jumper rings, catch riding is common occurrence. A green or mischievous horse or pony matched with a timid or novice rider can present notable challenges, especially on horse show day. A catch ride with a…
Boarders come and boarders go, but sometimes they leave with unpaid bills. What happens when a barn owner has a boarder that leaves with a large unpaid balance? Unfortunately, most barn owners do not have security deposits to cover…
Read More I’m a Barn Owner with Unpaid Boarding Bills: Now What?
Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are signed documents that are typically utilized in businesses to protect an organization’s confidentiality. This practice of having employees sign NDAs has been steadily growing in the equestrian industry. There are, however, limitations to the information…
While the 2020 show season is anything but typical, many of us are still planning to ship our horses to year-end finals and championships or are preparing to send our horses on a long-distance haul to warmer climates for…
Read More The Long Haul: Tips to Ensure Your Horse Ships Safely
The topic of buying a horse unseen comes up from time to time in our practice and it can be tempting, especially with travel to Europe largely halted amid COVID. The simple answer is that you should see and…
Q: I’m shopping for my first horse. I’ve been warned about sellers who misrepresent their sale horses—what types of situations should I be wary of during my search? A: I’m glad that you’re being cautious during this process, because…
Read More Shady Deals: How to Spot the Warning Signs When Horse Shopping
Q: I recently began offering boarding services at my barn, and I would like to have a local instructor/trainer come and teach lessons to my boarders. I only have a few boarders, so she will likely only be teaching…
Question: I board my horse at a local stable, and unfortunately, he damaged his stall door overnight. We don’t know exactly what happened, but thankfully he wasn’t injured. However, the door will need to be replaced. It will probably…
Read More My Horse Damaged Property at the Boarding Barn—Am I Responsible for Paying for It?
Q: When our barn’s lesson program starts back up again after the quarantine, should I let my horse be used in my trainer’s lessons in order to help offset my monthly board costs? He would be perfect for the…
Read More Q&A: Should I Let My Horse be Used in a Lesson Program to Offset Board Costs?
Question: I suddenly find myself with time for all the paperwork I’ve been putting off. (Thanks, COVID-19). What documents should I be focusing on to make the most of my downtime? Armand Leone: Great question! While we are all…
Read More 3 Things You Can Do to Be Productive When You’re Stuck at Home
Question: What’s the best way to ensure a safe future for a horse you’ve sold? Armand Leone: It’s an all too common scenario. Breeders and owners lose track of a horse after they sell them, and years later they…
Q: We are planning to rent a golf cart during an upcoming horse show in Florida. Can my 14-year-old daughter drive the cart, even though she doesn’t have a driver’s license yet? There is a US Equestrian Federation rule…
Read More Q&A: Can a Minor Drive a Golf Cart at a Horse Show?
Q: I work as a groom, but I also compete myself in the amateur jumpers. I occasionally longe horses for other clients, but I was just told that this revoke’s my amateur status as longeing is considered training! Is…
Read More Q&A: Does Longeing Someone Else’s Horse Put Your Amateur Status at Risk?
Q: My neighbors set off fireworks in their backyard (directly over my barn and pastures!) for two nights in a row. The first night, my horses were in their stalls, and I found them sweating and worked up. The…
Q: I just received notice that someone filed a U.S. Equestrian protest questioning my amateur status after they learned that I regularly hack horses for my trainer and help out around the barn in order to offset the cost…
Read More Q&A: Does Working for Your Horse’s Board Make You a Professional?
Q: Several big-name trainers have been in legal disputes over sales commissions in the past. How do I know if the person brokering my horse’s sale is taking me for a ride, and what can I do to protect…
Read More Q&A: How Do I Legally Protect Myself from Commission Fraud
Q: I’m selling my horse. A prospective buyer who rides with a trainer I trust wants to take him on a two-week trial basis. What documentation should I put in place first before he leaves our property? A: Great…
Read More Q&A: How Do I Legally Protect My Sale Horse Before He Goes Out on Trial?
Q: I own and operate a boarding stable at which I’ve always allowed boarders to happily bring their children along, however, I’ve never allowed them to bring their dogs. But I’m now getting an increasing number of requests to…
Looking back over “horse deals gone bad” in both my personal and professional career representing horse owners and trainers, the most difficult disputes to resolve are those when the price of the horse and the cost of litigation are…
Question: I have the opportunity to host a top international show jumper for a clinic at my barn, and I’d love to make the clinic available to any outside riders or auditors interested in participating. I’ve never hosted a…
Q: I am preparing to lease out my 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding for the first time, and, while I know and trust the lessee, I’ve heard horror stories of leased horses coming back entirely unsound or unusable. Is there…
Q: I have a nice four-stall barn and outdoor ring at home where I’ve kept my two horses for years. Now, I’d love to make a little extra income by boarding an additional horse or two. Legally, is there…
Read More I Want To Board Horses at Home, What Legalities Should I Know?
