Equine Law

Equine Law

Horses attract a variety of legal issues surrounding their upkeep and care, their work as school horses or competition horses and their purchase and sale. Our Equine Unit is a multi-disciplinary team that acts for a range of rural farmers, individual horse owners, and sporting governing bodies. The members of our Equine Unit have a personal interest in horses and riding which helps us to understand equine-related issues and needs. 

Our non-contentious work includes contracts for sale and purchase, agreements for livery and grazing, advice on your obligations as an owner or keeper of horses, advice on obligations under various government regulations such as Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), drafting competition rules for various associations, and sponsorship agreements.

Our dispute resolution and regulatory work includes dealing with disputes over the purchase and sale of horses, veterinary negligence, appearing on behalf of sporting bodies and individuals before sports’ regulatory bodies, and sports tribunals.

  • Agreements
    Advising on and drafting formal agreements for livery, grazing, farming, and the purchase and sale of horses.
  • Dispute Resolution
    Advice relating to disputes over purchasing, selling, leasing and owning horses, livery and grazing agreements, and liabilities under the Animal Act 1971.
  • Equine Sports
    Advice relating to regulatory matters and dispute resolution for governing bodies, clubs and individual riders or horse owners
  • Personal Injury
    Advising on your liabilities or entitlements in respect of riding accidents.
  • Other Equine issues
    Advising in respect of your obligations as a horse owner or keeper, such as transport and welfare.
For more information or advice on equine law, please contact Laura Wheeler.