Buying a horse is often an exciting and thrilling opportunity, no matter the age of the potential owner. However, falling in love with an animal and jumping into purchasing one can ultimately come with a plethora of unexpected challenges, consequences, and eventual heartache for the buyer and animal. Therefore, it should be in the best interest of all parties to develop a thorough understanding of the best equine legal solutions in order to ensure smooth transaction. When buying a horse for your homestead, it is importing to understand the legality of such purchases. This includes the “as is ..read more

Anyone who owns or works with horses understands that there are many legal complexities that can be encountered on occasion. When they do come up, an equine lawyer is the way to go. Equine law providers serve all clients who are around horses in any capacity. They provide a number of essential services such as help with disputes, completion and filing of important paperwork such as bills of sale, and advice in matters of liability, compliance, and ownership. Below, you’ll find more detailed information about what equine lawyers offer their clients and why they’re the better choice over a stand ..read more

Owning a horse means a lot of time and money spent. More when there are several. At times it can be necessary to obtain legal assistance for various reasons. For a better understanding of what these specialized attorneys can do, and a rundown for the various reasons to hire an equine-specific attorney rather than a general practitioner, is explained below by a Los Angeles horse lawyer. Equine attorneys are well versed in all aspects of equine-related laws. An experienced equine attorney can advise and advocate on situations such as disputes, purchase agreements, and medical emergencies, to nam ..read more

Is your horse properly insured? Insuring your horse is a smart idea for private horse owners, as it protects you from getting sued if your horse injures another person or causes damage to another’s property.  Your insurance policy will cover the cost of the damages for which you are liable, with $1 million usually as the minimum. For private horse owners, there are several different types of insurance policies you can choose from. Our equine law experts provide a brief overview of the various insurance policies that are available, so you can choose the one that’s right for you. Homeowner ..read more

It’s important to understand that equine law defines a “horse” as property, which can be bought and sold. The general rule in the United States is that horses are “personal property.” Once a horse is defined as property a person’s rights and remedies are limited to those the law recognizes for injury, interference or theft of property. For example, the definition of a horse as property limits a person’s right to seek emotional distress damages. Ownership of horse property is governed by the laws that apply to personalty and chattels. (Black’s Law Dictionary defines chattel to include animate a ..read more

Lawsuits can arise in the equine industry for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, disputes arise when a person or horse is injured due to someone else’s negligence. Disputes can also arise when agreements aren’t properly written and there’s a misunderstanding between the parties involved. To avoid a lawsuit, it’s important that you understand equine law and take the necessary steps to minimize your liability. Here are a few common mistakes made within the horse industry and how you can avoid them. Problem #1: You Bought a Horse without a Written Sales Agreement Historically, horses were sold ..read more

The United States of America’s horse racing regulations are known for being stagnant and patchy. However, July 1, 2022, is set to be the date when the sport sees significant changes in the standardization of regulations and enhanced safety measures according to horse law experts. It’s a much-needed adaptation that enhances the jockeys’, horses’, and owners’ wellbeing and improves the sport itself. From California’s Santa Anita Park to Kentucky’s Churchill Downs, discover how the brand-new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act will put an end to fragmented rules and regulations currently used i ..read more

Much like other sectors within the legal umbrella, equine law can be filled to the brim with complexities that elude the average citizen. Because of this, equine lawyers work diligently to ensure clients are familiar with the given situation and have a wholistic understanding of their liability. Catanese & Wells, as experts that specialize in horse law, handle many different cases that pertain to different facets of the reality of owning, selling, buying, and riding a horse. Here, Catanese & Wells expounds upon a few reasons for litigation. Sale of a Horse Catanese & Wells recogniz ..read more

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to alter life as we know it in America and around the globe. Catanese and Wells is committed to researching the latest information from the federal and state government to put all of the clients we represent in the best situation possible. Recently, our founder, Randy Catanese Esq., was asked to comment on the latest tax deferment news from the Federal government in the American Horse Council Tax Bulletin. The news came in the middle of March as there was an emergency declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act from President Trump. In the wake of the emergency dec ..read more

One of the benefits of growing up in the 1970s was the opportunity to tune into television and watch the officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) patrolling the highways of Los Angeles every week on Chips. The blend of drama and corny comic relief appealed to viewers, and to this day every time a pair of CHP officers cruise together down a Los Angeles freeway, it evokes memories of Ponch and Jon doing the same. While the characters were not real, many of the fact patterns on the show were, including trucks being hijacked by criminals for their cargo (with Ponch and Jon coming to the res ..read more