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
- Drawing up horse sale 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 9 April 2026
I had the pleasure of working with Lauren Kilbride at Rothera Bray, and I’m so grateful for her support. She was brilliant throughout—her advice was always clear, practical, and incredibly helpful. What really stood out was how approachable and reassuring she was. She was always quick to respond and took the time to make everything feel straightforward and manageable. I genuinely felt in safe hands and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
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Posted 9 April 2026
Nelissa made the whole process of setting up our estate after we have gone so easy and dare I say, her style made the experience an enjoyable one for such a morbid topic. She has a brilliant way of explaining the complex in a very simple pictorial representation making it it easy to decide the next course of action for our family. Extremely efficient and diligent - she was a pleasure to work with.
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Posted 8 April 2026
I dealt with Ellie Robinson as my solicitor and she was fantastic, easy to talk to and helped me understand everything as a first time buyer.
Jake Ashton
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Posted 8 April 2026
Ellie Robinson helped us remortgage recently and was a pleasure to work with! She was very knowledgeable and communicative and I will be working with her again in future!
Eliot Morris
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Posted 8 April 2026
Very happy with the excellent service I received from Rothera bray and in particular Will who was very helpful explaining everything in a clear and concise manner. Will is very approachable and clearly very knowledgeable and a credit to his business.
Sarah Newman
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Posted 7 April 2026
Absolute total professionalism throughout. Very thorough and very helpful. Always there to answer questions promptly and held my hand through a very emotional time. The move was quick and easy thanks to Ellie Robinson and her team at Derby, I can’t thank her enough.
Ruth Haywood
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Posted 4 April 2026
I was recommended to Rothera Bray Solicitors and Sara Odedra has been incredible from start to end. Sara has kept us up to date at every stage, has been quick to get back to us via email or phone call and explained anything that we weren't sure of. I would recommend Sara and Julian Ryan again and again - they are an asset to the team and have made this process easy! Thank you!
Carina
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Posted 2 April 2026
A very easy team to deal with. We were kept informed throughout the process which gave us total confidence during the successful sale of our property.
Bob C
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Posted 1 April 2026
Ellie Robinson was fantastic as our remortgage solicitor. Great communication and sorted everything for us! Would recommend to everyone!!
Evie
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Posted 31 March 2026
I recently worked with Will in relation to a settlement agreement and found him to be professional, knowledgeable and very supportive throughout the process. He explained everything clearly, took the time to answer my questions, and ensured I fully understood my options at each stage. I particularly valued his balanced approach — setting out the legal position while also supporting my preference for a more amicable and practical resolution. His guidance helped me feel confident in my decisions and ultimately achieve a fair outcome. I would not hesitate to recommend Will to anyone seeking clear and professional legal advice.
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Posted 31 March 2026
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ellie, our solicitor, ( and Grace) who have been absolutely wonderful in handling a particularly complicated situation involving my late mother’s assets. Ellie has shown exceptional professionalism, patience, and understanding throughout the entire process. At times, I know I may have been a little impatient myself, but she remained calm, supportive, and consistently reassuring, which made a very difficult time much easier to manage, with no hidden costs. I am truly grateful for all her hard work and dedication, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to others. She is a real credit to your team.
Claire Betts
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Posted 30 March 2026
Had fantastic service from Will recently. He was very professional, friendly and efficient. Highly recommended.
Pete Lambert