Equestrian

Equestrian Lawyer warning of legal disputes rising during lockdown

A Dorset-based equine lawyer who has been riding since the age of five has warned of a rising number of disputes as horse sales boom in lockdown. Ellen Shipton is a solicitor in the dispute resolution and equine law teams at Dorset law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors, and explained that mis-selling appears to be increasing whether through genuine misunderstandings or deliberate targeting of buyers. Now she has urged anyone buying, selling or involved in the loan of a horse to ensure agreements are in writing. Ellen said: “Horse sales have been booming during lockdown with higher prices and a greater number of transactions. Sadly, it appears that the number of cases of horses being missold and people being deliberately targeted for misselling is increasing. “Horses aren’t like toasters where you have a warranty and can take them back. I’ve heard of some horror stories where horses have been purchased but certain behavioural characteristics or physical issues weren’t apparent or were covered up during the sale. “There can also be issues when horses are on loan between two parties, whether that relates to length of agreements, costs and stabling or even actual ownership. “The best advice in any transaction or agreement of these kinds is to get it in writing. Covering everything off in a legal document will help prevent issues further down the line and protect everyone involved.” Ellen has a number of riding qualifications and has owned her own thoroughbred for 17 years. Ellis Jones Solicitors’ Equine Law team specialises in a range of matters, including buying and selling horses, loan, livery and grazing agreements, professional negligence and animal welfare. According to latest figures, in the British Equestrian Trade Association’s National Equestrian Survey 2019, the equestrian sector is worth £4.7bn annually. Some 27 million people in Great Britain have an interest in the equestrian industry, with the number of horse riders rising from 1.3m in 2015 to 1.8m in 2019. An investigation by Horse and Hound magazine in December 2020 revealed a trend towards increased horse sales and prices during the year.

Ellen Shipton

£10k lotto cash to help health workers

A charity in Sturminster Marshall is celebrating after receiving £10,000 from the National Lottery to help frontline health workers to recover from the horrors of the pandemic. Social enterprise Horserenity

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Bedrap, Bedmax, white shavings, wood pellets, chopped wheat, hay and straw. Ring Val - 07889 064294 CIC will use the cash to deliver a bespoke programme, ‘Healing with Horses’, that has been designed to help NHS key workers to recover from the horrors of the pandemic. Horserenity was founded by Sarah Vivian after she realised how much mental wellbeing could be affected by allowing people to explore their thoughts and feelings, while partnering with the presence and soul of a horse. Horserenity runs equine facilitated learning sessions, attended by local children, young people and adults where they work alongside the horses in both a practical and therapeutic way. Sarah said: “Horses live in the moment, and will listen to a heartbeat from four feet away, they read from the inside out and work in a non-judgemental way to bring calm and understanding.” Clients and learners might spend time grooming, joining with the herd at liberty, working with energy in the round pen, drawing, reflecting, leading a horse through life’s ‘obstacles’, or learning about the physiology of the horse. The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see a new programme launched to help health workers to recover from working on the frontline of covid-19. Sarah added: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to reach out to the amazing NHS staff, who have worked so tirelessly through the pandemic and witnessed so much anxiety and sorrow. It’s so important that they are given the opportunity to breathe and recover from the stress and relentlessness of the pandemic, so that they can return to work feeling that they have had some time to let go and heal themselves. “