Equine
Offering legal solutions for every aspect of equine related transactions, GRSM’s equine business law team guides horse industry professionals, proprietors, and enthusiasts in all 50 states. GRSM’s nationally integrated, one-stop counsel for litigation and transactions provides clients with a decisive advantage when involved in various aspects of the equine industry. Our firm offers skilled legal counsel in the specialized field of equine law, representing horse owners, breeders, trainers, stables, and equestrian professionals.
- Horse purchase and sale agreements
- Lease agreements (including free-lease and lease-to-own)
- Breeding contracts (live cover, embryo transfer, frozen semen, etc.)
- Boarding and training agreements
- Syndicate and ownership partnership agreements
- Competition and prize money agreements
- Horse transport and shipping contracts
- Rider and spectator injury claims
- Horse-related injuries (bites, kicks, falls)
- Premises liability at barns, shows, and private facilities
- Equine Activity Liability Acts – protections for professionals and sponsors
- Waivers and assumption of risk forms
- Care, custody & control (CCC) liability for trainers or stables
- Breach of contract (sale disputes, nonpayment, fraud)
- Ownership disputes and lien enforcement
- Veterinary malpractice claims
- Insurance claim disputes (e.g., mortality or loss-of-use coverage)
- Negligence or misrepresentation in horse transactions
- Show rule violations or USEF disciplinary issues
- Hobby vs. business classification (26 U.S. Code § 183 “hobby loss” rule)
- Depreciation and capital gains/losses on horses and facilities
- Sales tax compliance (especially in multi-state transactions)
- Forming equine-related business entities (LLCs, S corps)
- Partnership and joint venture structuring
- Agricultural exemptions and 1031 exchanges for land and livestock which can include horses
- Purchase or lease of equestrian properties
- Zoning and permitting for stables or riding arenas
- Conservation easements and water rights
- Right-of-way and land access issues
- Environmental compliance and manure management, grazing practices
- Bureau of Land Management related to public land use and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act
- Mortality and major medical policies
- Loss-of-use and fertility coverage
- Trainer and boarding stable liability insurance
- Insurance disputes and claims litigation
- Risk management strategy consulting
- Import/export of horses (quarantine, shipping, customs)
- FEI registration, equine passports, and international ownership rules
- Sales across state lines and governing law issues
- Cross-border tax and insurance complications
- USEF, AQHA, FEI, and other governing body rules
- Anti-doping, medication, and testing disputes
- Animal welfare and cruelty law compliance
- Trainer licensure and liability standards
- Planning for horse care after death (e.g., equine trust)
- Valuation of horses for estate or probate purposes
- Gifting or transferring equine assets
- Succession planning for family horse businesses
- Trademark and copyright protections
- Corporate and equine association licensing and sponsorships
- Social and television media management
- Equine-related invention patents and trade secrets counseling