Equine law involves the law as it relates to all aspects of horses and horse-related activities.
We are able to assist horse owners, businesses, professionals, insurers, associations, clinicians, event sponsors, national and international competitors, and facilities with several things including:
- Draft, review, or negotiate equine-related contracts (such as purchase and sales agreements, leases, stallion service contracts, liability waivers/releases, facility use agreements, stallion management agreements, training agreements, and boarding contracts)
- Set up corporations, partnerships, syndications, or Limited Liability Companies
- Assist with tax planning and resolving tax disputes, including "hobby loss disputes" with the government
- Help plan and document real estate purchases or transactions
- Handle or resolve equine ownership disputes
- Handle or resolve zoning and land use disputes
- Handle or resolve disputes involving breaches of professional duties such as sales agents, trainers, stables and others
- Advise equine industry clubs and associations regarding management, rules, bylaws, disputes and regulations
- Help avoid liability through risk management consulting
- Draft or review equine insurance policy language and provide counsel in evaluation and litigation of coverage disputes
- Represent people, associations or businesses when disputes or lawsuits arise out of any of the matters described above
Recent Blog Posts
- Damage Caused by Boarded Horses -- Who Pays for It?
- New Year's Resolutions for the Equine Industry
- New York is 48th State to Enact an Equine Liability Law
- Dog Bite Liability – What Horse Owners and Stables Should Know
- Fine Tune Your Equine Lease to Avoid Legal Battles
- Should You Buy a Horse Sight Unseen?
- Equine Contracts and Genetic Conditions: Horse Owners Beware
- What is an “Inherent Risk” With Horses?
- Half Lease - Whole Problem
- I’m Not a Boarding Stable, BUT …
Publications & Alerts
- When the Hoof Meets the Road, January 2019 Agricultural Law News, January 23, 2019
- Can You Repossess a Horse When the Buyer Fails to Pay?, Miniature Horse News, October 19, 2015
- What You Didn't Know About Liability Insurance, Equine Chronicle, October 19, 2015
- Liability Insurance for Small Equine Businesses, Equine Chronicle, April 3, 2015
- Julie Fershtman on Mentoring, The Mentor, January 27, 2015
- Liability Releases for Agritourism Activities – Myths and Realities, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, January 27, 2015
News
- Nationally Recognized Agricultural and Equine Law Authority to Speak in Six States, January 21, 2019
- Fershtman Earns Highest Honor from State Bar of Michigan, Lansing Regional Chamber, September 25, 2018
- WLAM to Present Fershtman with the 2018 Jean King Leadership Award, April 10, 2018
- Crain's Detroit Names Julie Fershtman in 2017 Notable Women Lawyers, Crain's Detroit, December 14, 2017
- Fershtman to Receive Animal Law Award, American Bar Association, August 1, 2017
- Julie Fershtman Selected for Two Additional Michigan Super Lawyers Honors, September 8, 2015
- Foster Swift Attorney Julie Fershtman Selected for Michigan's State Bar 21st Century Task Force, July 17, 2015
Events
- Equine Activity Liability Acts and the Courts—What You Need to Know, Emmett J. Vaughan Agribusiness Conference-Des Moines, IA, September 25, 2019
- Livestock Mortality Insurance—Battleground Areas for Legal Disputes and Options To Avoid Disputes, Emmett J. Vaughan Agribusiness Conference-Des Moines, IA, September 25, 2019
- Livestock Mortality Insurance—Battleground Areas for Legal Disputes and Options To Avoid Disputes, Emmett J. Vaughan Agribusiness Conference-Richmond, VA, June 19, 2019
- Equine Activity Liability Act Update, National Conference on Equine Law— Lexington, KY, May 1, 2019
- Legal Issues in Hosting an Equine Clinic on your Farm, National Conference on Equine Law—Lexington, KY, May 1, 2019
- Livestock Mortality Insurance—Battleground Areas for Legal Disputes and Options To Avoid Disputes, Emmett J. Vaughan Agribusiness Conference-Sacramento, CA, April 17, 2019
- Equine Activity Liability Acts and the Courts—What You Need to Know, Emmett J. Vaughan Agribusiness Conference-Richmond, VA, April 16, 2019