Equine Activity Legislation
Passage of equine activity liability acts gained momentum in the 1990’s. 48 STATES HAVE SOME FORM OF EQUINE ACTIVITY LAW limiting the liability of equine activity sponsors for accidents resulting from risks inherent to the sport. The Current List: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
HISA Bans Veterinarian From Racing For Violating Anti-Doping Rules
A racetrack veterinarian has been banned from racing after the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) pursued cases against him and 13 trainers in connection with what HISA called a “conspiracy” to “evade HISA rules designed to protect and enhance the health and safety of horses and riders.”
Drug-Compounding Company Executive Faces Criminal Charges Related To “Kickback” Deals With Equine Veterinarians
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is pursuing criminal charges against the executive of a drug-compounding company over what it alleges to be an unlawful conspiracy between them and a number of equine veterinarians. Specifically, the indictment accuses the executive “with participating in a conspiracy to distribute an adulterated or misbranded equine drug with intent to defraud and mislead in violation of [federal law]”
USEF Board Approves Organizational Position Statements Related To Horse Welfare
The USEF Board recently approved position statements for the organization on Equine Overuse and on Equine Safety and Welfare. The Equine Safety and Welfare statement emphasizes US Equestrian’s commitment to ensuring horses are fit to compete, maintaining optimal conditions for equine welfare, increasing uniformity, integrity and clarity through oversight, providing lifetime care for horses, and sharing information that enhances safety for every horse, every day.
FEI Tribunal Issues Consent Awards In Equine Anti-Doping Cases
The FEI Tribunal has issued a Consent Award in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance. In this case, the horse Hadar du Vallois (FEI ID 108TS04/KSA), ridden by Abdullah H N H Al Deehani (10042945/KUW), tested positive for the Banned Substance Nandrolone, following samples taken at the CEI1*100 - Al Ula (KSA) 8 – 9 November 2024.
USEF Announces Mid-Year Rule Changes To Go Into Effect July 1
In keeping with its ongoing commitment to equine welfare, US Equestrian advanced a number of rule changes and modifications at its mid-year meeting June 16 and 17 in Lexington, Ky. Directors heard updates on the organization’s strategic plan, the path to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as well as its vision of continual enhancements to the welfare and integrity of equine sport.
USEF Disciplines Members For Rule Violations
The United States Equestrian Federation (“USEF”) recently published more than a dozen notices of disciplinary actions taken against members for a variety of rule violations. In three horse welfare/sportsmanship cases, one member was suspended for a month for overworking a horse at a competition, a second member was suspended for a month for overusing a whip on a horse, and then tying it up as punishment, and a third member was censured for kicking her horse in its front leg.
USEF Imposes Seven Month Suspension In Case Of “Intentional Doping”
The United States Equestrian Federation (“USEF”) recently imposed a seven month suspension on a trainer in what it called a case of “intentional doping,” after a horse the trainer exhibited tested positive for the presence of two sedating medications (and their metabolites) known as acepromazine and detomidine.
USEF Expels Member Who Left Colicking Horse Tied In Stall
USEF expelled a trainer whose conduct the Hearing Committee found “contributed to the unintentional death” of a show horse in her care, custody, and control.
Veterinarian Expelled For Malpractice and Animal Cruelty
The United States Equestrian Federation (“USEF”) has expelled a member for violating the USEF Code of Conduct after a Texas court found her guilty of felony animal cruelty to a mare to whom the veterinarian was providing post-surgical care. According to the Hearing Committee’s decision, the member’s license to practice veterinary medicine was revoked as the result of an incident in which the veterinarian was alleged to have used a “hotshot” or handheld cattle prod to repeatedly shock the mare in an effort to get her to stand. As a result of the criminal charges on which she was convicted, the veterinarian will serve a term of probation, but not any jail time.
Trainer Sues After Being Disciplined For Verbal Altercation With Steward
The Supreme Court of New Mexico has ruled that a trainer, who was disciplined after a verbal altercation with a steward, may have no legal recourse against the New Mexico Racing Commission (“NMRC”). According to the Court, the trainer held a license issued by the NMRC and wanted to hire an assistant trainer whose license had been revoked. The trainer intervened on his prospective employee’s behalf, but when his efforts proved unfruitful he got into a heated argument with one of the NMRC racing stewards. As a result, the NMRC initiated an administrative disciplinary action against the trainer, found that he had violated a rule of racing governing integrity and decorum, and fined him $500.
Arabian Horse Breeders Fail To Prove Profit Motive
The United States Tax Court recently sustained the IRS’s disallowance of loss deductions a Louisiana couple claimed were attributable to their Arabian horse activities. The IRS had audited the couple for the years 2004-2009 and determined that they were not engaged in their Arabian horse activity with the requisite profit motive to be entitled to the business loss deductions they claimed. The IRS determined deficiencies in the couple’s federal income tax payments totaling around $100,000.