Equine Law Solicitors
Owning and riding horses is fun and rewarding. But it does have its risks, both from a financial and health perspective.
Whether;
- You’re a professional rider
- Keep a horse as a pet, or
- Run your own equine business
Rothera Bray Equine Lawyers can help with a range of equestrian legal services. From buying or selling a horse, owner disputes and veterinary or farrier negligence.
Rothera Bray are leading specialists in the field of Equine Law and Official Legal Partner to British Dressage and The British Show Pony Society.
Call our Equine Law Team Email our Equine Law TeamWhat is equine law and what does an equine lawyer do?
Equine law involves all types of horse businesses, horse-related activities, organisations, and facilities.
Equine lawyers act for clients who own horses, whether they’re professional riders or hobbyists.
They can assist with equine legal matter, including;
- Disputes over the sale or purchase of horses
- Disputes over ownership
- Horse riding accident claims
- Trainer, farrier, or veterinary negligence
- Horse purchase loan agreements
- Property and boundary agreements for grazing
- Training agreements and contracts
- Events and sponsorships, and
- Passports and welfare
Rothera Bray LLP are Official Legal Partners to British Dressage and The British Show Pony Society
Can you help me with buying or selling a horse?
If you’re buying or selling a horse, it’s best to get legal advice as misunderstandings can and do occur.
It’s vital to have a legally binding contract that will protect your interests in the event of a dispute.
At Rothera Bray we can help you draw up a Sale Agreement. This will cover all details of the sale and protect your interests if a dispute does arise.
If you buy a horse from a trader, then the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies. This states that goods must be of a satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.
I believe my vet/ trainer/ farrier has been negligent. Do I have a claim?
If a professional:
- Harms your horse or
- Fails to carry out their duties with the level of skill and care expected
Then you may be able to make a breach of contract or professional negligence claim to cover losses suffered. This might be a loss of profit or a decline in the value of the horse.
Read on about veterinary claims.
Our equine law solicitors will be able to discuss the matter with you and assess whether you have a claim.
My horse has injured a person, or damaged someone’s property. Am I liable?
Under the Animals Act 1971, you may be liable for damages caused. Even if you have taken all practicable precautions.
- Damage caused by horses to other persons or property often happens where the owner is negligent. This might include;
Failing to warn visitors that the horse has an aggressive nature, or - The owner not securing the horse adequately, resulting in it gaining access to private land or roads.
How do I draw up a syndicate agreement?
Syndicate agreements are complex documents. As such, you should talk to an equine lawyer experienced in writing them.
Syndicate agreements often include;
- Information on financial contributions
- How the horse and shares will be sold
- Details about insurance in case of accident or injury, and
- What would happen to the share of the horse if a syndicate member were to die or become bankrupt
Syndicates can also be formed by different structures. Our specialist equine solicitors have extensive knowledge of equine law. We can help you work out the best structure for your syndicate agreement.
Why use Rothera Bray for equine law?
Rothera Bray are leading specialists in the field of Equine Law and Official Legal Partner to British Dressage and The British Show Pony Society.
We can advise you on:
- Equine Loan Agreements
- Public Liability
- Sale and purchase agreements
- Veterinary, farrier or trainer negligence
- Horse ownership
- Transport of horses/Operator’s Licence
- Riding and horse accident claims
Send us a message
“We strive to make every matter as stress free as possible”
Caroline Bowler
Equine Solicitor
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Posted 26 February 2026
I recently instructed Rothera Bray Solicitors for a totting up/exceptional hardship case and cannot praise them highly enough. Despite some delays and inconsistencies on my part during case preparation, they remained professional, patient, and thorough throughout. The solicitor expertly presented my circumstances to the Magistrates, resulting in a finding of exceptional hardship and no disqualification despite reaching 12 points. This outcome has protected my employment and family responsibilities. Their communication was clear, their advice was sound, and their representation in court was excellent. I'm extremely grateful for their work during what was an incredibly stressful time. Would absolutely recommend to anyone facing similar circumstances.
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Great experience with Ellie from the Derby office. Her communication was great throughout, keeping me informed and explaining everything clearly. She was professional, supportive, and I particularly liked the regular structured updates.
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We recently used Rothera Bray for support with a commercial lease on our new offices and had an excellent experience from start to finish. As a charity, choosing the right solicitor was really important to us, and we approached them based on their strong local reputation. We worked with Marneya, who was fantastic throughout the entire process. He was incredibly responsive, always quick to answer emails and calls, and he went out of his way to ensure all of our questions were fully addressed. There were some unexpected changes and Marneya handled them calmly and efficiently. He liaised directly with the landlord’s solicitor and made sure everything was completed to the highest standard. Most importantly, he took the time to clearly explain every aspect of the lease so we felt confident and fully informed before signing. He was approachable, friendly, and professional at all times. We wouldn’t hesitate to use his services again and highly recommend him to others.
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Posted 23 February 2026
We were very impressed with the excellent service from Ellie & her team! They were prompt, informative & helpful from the very beginning, keeping us advised throughout the process & making our home purchase a pleasure. If we could give them 10 stars, we would! Highly recommended!
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Posted 20 February 2026
Absolutely delighted with Rothera Bray. Their services were quick and smooth. Sally was amazing throughout the whole process. Thankyou so much. Will definitely recommend to others and use Rothera Bray in the future again. Outstanding service! And so quick! Definitely worth the money.
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Posted 20 February 2026
Sallie Poultney handled all of the work on my mother's and father's estate, and some of the other team there were involved where needs - e.g. on trust matters and handling the sale of their house, and it's all been very efficient and expertly handled. I would recommend the team there unequivocally.
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Posted 20 February 2026
Sara and Akeeta looked after our case when we were buying a property. They were both super helpful, polite and fast to respond, and helped chase other people when there was problems in the chain. Would recommend Rothera Bray to anyone, we’d definitely use them again!
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Posted 19 February 2026
Many thanks to the conveyancing team in Beeston for the advice and work with the house sale especially after the change of the buyers solicitor at a very late stage. The proceeds were paid very promptly into my account. Thank you Sandy and the team for all the help.
Chris Bradbury
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Posted 19 February 2026
Big thanks to Ellie for the super professional and friendly way she managed the selling of our house! She held our hand during the entire nerve-wrecking process we had to go through for the past year, sorting all the issues the buyers kept raising in the most absurd way, and she never lost the positive attitude and confidence that things will turn out fine! Ellie made sure we had all our documents in order and on time. If all solicitors were doing their jobs as well as she does, clients would have zero headaches!
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