Jim Ritchie of Tryon Equine Law has been invited to speak at the Annual HORSE Life Conference. The Conference is hosted by the SC Horse Council and the CHAs Region 7 at the NOSOCA Pines Ranch in Liberty Hill, SC. More information on the conference can be found here ..read more

Thank you to the Annual National Conference on Equine Law for inviting Jim Ritchie to speak at their 2023 Conference in Lexington, KY. Jim presented on "How to Effectively Engage Legislators on Equine Law Public Policy ..read more

Jim Ritchie has been invited to present during the 37th Annual National Conference on Equine Law. The conference will take place in Lexington, Kentucky. Jim will present on “How to Effectively Engage Legislators on Equine Public Policy". The Conference will be May 3-4, 2023 and is presented by the University of Kentucky College of Law. Tryon Equine Law is honored to speak at this national conference. Stay tuned for more information ..read more

The below article was published in the April 2023 issue of the Hunt Country Quarterly Magazine. “Horse people are good people.”  I heard that often growing up with horses.  It was reassuring and gave us the sense that folks in the equestrian community could handle matters informally. Today, the horse world is dramatically different. There is far more potential liability and money at stake. Recent studies at NC State and the University of South Carolina indicate that the equine sector of the Carolinas’ economy generates over 47,000 jobs and has an annual economic impact of over $4,000 ..read more

This article was originally written for publication in the Aiken Horse Magazine. This month we turn our attention from contracts and liability issues to public policy and an opportunity for the South Carolina equestrian community to chart a bold course for the future of equestrian sport and our equine industry.  Last spring, in response to requests from equine industry advocates, the South Carolina General Assembly established the “Equine Industry Support Measures Study Committee.” The committee is made up of representatives from the house and senate, including Representative Bill Hixon o ..read more

This article was originally written for publication in the Aiken Horse Magazine. It’s crisp Saturday morning and you are standing in front of your training barn looking out over the pastures, arenas and horses.  You have built a nice business through determination and a lot of hard work.  It feels good.  A nice-looking SUV is heading up the drive, your new student is arriving for her first lesson.  When it rolls to a stop, a bright-eyed child jumps out – new boots and helmet already on.  Her mom, also new to riding, follows her toward the barn and all of you go into th ..read more

This article was originally written for publication in the Aiken Horse Magazine. Equestrian competitions and events are hitting stride this summer and means more travel for horses and riders.  Finding a good location for short-term stall rentals can be daunting and unpredictable.  Due to challenges of using stalls at show venues and the lack of high-quality temporary rentals, many private farm owners and commercial barns are getting involved with stall rentals for short-term stays.  While this trend is not new, it is becoming increasingly popular in our region.  The growth ..read more

This article was originally written for publication in the Aiken Horse Magazine. Last year when Authentic crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs to win the 146th Run for the Roses, he set a new Kentucky Derby record.  No, he did not post the fastest time or overcome the longest odds. His record was in ownership.  Authentic’s victory meant that more than 4,500 people could now brag “I am an owner of a Kentucky Derby winner!” While increasingly popular due to high profile horses like Authentic, co-ownership though syndication is not a new phenomenon.  It has been used in thoro ..read more

Ritchie and Associates is excited to take part in the SC Bar Association’s Live Webcast on Tuesday, February 23. The SC Bar CLE Division and the SC Bar Animal Law Committee have teamed up to sponsor our very first full day animal law seminar! Course Planner Kelsey Gilmore-Futeral has brought together an outstanding state and national faculty of gifted and experienced speakers who will provide you with practical and insightful analysis on some of the most interesting and current topics in animal law today. This powerful program offers in-depth discussions of topics of interest to domestic pract ..read more

This article is the second of a two-part series on the legal aspects of buying and selling horses that was published in the October/November 2020 Issue of the Aiken Horse Magazine. Very early on a cold Christmas morning when I was eight years old, I awoke excitedly and yelled to my little sister “get up!” We both bounded down the stairs to see what treasures we might find under the tree. Hanging on a low branch was a soot smudged card that read: “Jimmy, go look in the field. Love, Santa.” I grabbed my boots, ran out the back door and tore off for the barn. There in the snowy pasture was my fir ..read more