Equine Law  

Our Equine Law Services 

 

Our breadth of expertise allows us to provide pragmatic, clear, commercial advice backed by our personal understanding of the equestrian community, to clients both in the UK and internationally. We are a full-service firm, advising both on commercial & corporate matters and disputes & regulatory issues.

 

Areas of work include:  

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• Co-ownership and syndicate agreements for bloodstock and sport horses.

• Sponsorship and brand ambassador agreements.

• Event organiser agreements.

• Business structure and commercial agreements.

• Professional rider agreements.

• Regulatory and Governance (including compliance with the UK Code for Sports Governance).

• Stud agreements.

• Auction terms.

• Employment contracts and related issues.

• Yard agreements, including livery and training agreements.

• Sale, lease and loan agreements.

• Manufacturing, supply and “white labelling” agreements.

• Consultancy agreements.

• Advertising and promotion.

• Disputes over sales and ownership arrangements.

• Professional negligence claims.

• Selection Appeals

Who Do We Advise? 

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We work with all participants in the equestrian industry, from young professionals starting their businesses to established brands, and governing bodies to start-up companies offering all types of services to the equestrian market. With extensive experience of operating within businesses at a senior level, we are also well-placed to advise companies, owners and professionals on strategic matters, with discretion being paramount at all times. 

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We also offer advice and support in relation to any disputes or disagreements our clients may encounter, from mis-sales to dissolving ownership arrangements, defending and bringing professional negligence claims, and all other commercial contentious matters from inception to representation in court.

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Why Choose Our Team? 

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We have an in-depth understanding of the global market for competition horses with legal knowledge, skills and experience gained in respected top-tier law firms and the in-house legal departments of large PLCs. Both Jodie Seddon and Hannah Bradley have developed extensive equine law advisory practices in recent years, with Jodie focussing on corporate and commercial matters (gaining Chambers rankings in 2022 and 2023); whereas Hannah advises on all types of disputes, operating as The Equine Law Firm.

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In July 2024 we joined forces to combine our market-leading knowledge and ensure that all clients benefit from a full-service law firm. Together with the support of Laura Hillier, we aim to ensure that top-class, pragmatic legal advice is readily accessible to all equestrian industry participants, to support their endeavours and protect their interests. 

We count amongst our clients leading owners, riders, trainers, studs, national governing bodies, corporates, events, global brands and start-up organisations.

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We provide comment to the equine press on legal issues and contribute to a number of industry publications including Horse and Hound and Equestrian Trade News. We deliver educational content to industry leaders such as The National Stud, the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA), the Performance Mentoring Programme and the Wesko programme. Hannah is also a member of the British Horseracing Authority's Independent Judicial Panel and the British Equestrian Federation's Judicial Panel.

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During 2024, 5% of all fees generated by our Equine Law team will be donated to Spinal Research.   All riders are aware of the danger of spinal cord injuries, but few appreciate how close we are to function-restoring therapeutics being widely available. Supporting charities is a cornerstone of Aria Grace Law CIC, and we hope that by joining forces with Spinal Research we can help them to achieve their vision of beating paralysis.

What Recent Work Have We Completed? 

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Commercial and Corporate

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• Advising on high-value equestrian athlete sale and purchase contracts ahead of the cut-off for registration for the Paris Olympics 2024.

• Advising on co-ownership, syndicate and club supporter agreements for elite athletes and racing supporters. 

• Advising brands on their sponsorship arrangements with riders and events. 

• Advising Olympic riders on sponsorship and brand ambassador agreements.

• Advising on both the drafting and application of auction terms and conditions. 

• Advising on high-value bespoke lease arrangements. 

• Advising on standard terms of business for content creators (including protecting IP rights). 

• Advising on the application of the UK Code of Sports Governance, and ways to satisfy its criteria.

• Advising on terms of business for online bookings for businesses operating online and in person.

• Advising on the terms of a collaboration between an advertising platform and an industry publication. 

• Advising on polo player and professional rider agreements and associated arrangements. 

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Contentious

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• Securing substantial damages for the owner of two valuable show horses electrocuted and killed by a bowing electrical cable.

• Acting for the owner of a talented show jumper valued at approximately £1 million which suffered career-ending injuries following treatment by a farrier. Secured a substantial payment for the horse’s owner.

• Acting for the owner of a GB team dressage horse which drowned in a slurry pit whilst having embryos taken at an embryo transfer facility. Secured a substantial payment for the horse’s owner. 

• Acting for the purchaser of a valuable broodmare which transpired to have a male karyotype and therefore being genetically male. Secured a substantial payment for the buyer.

• Acting for a party to a lease agreement allowing the taking of an embryo from a world-class mare, who had been denied that embryo. Secured the party the option of a foal on the ground out of the mare or an embryo for implantation.

• Securing the immediate release of a prospective Paris 2024 team horse which had been wrongfully detained by its former rider, on behalf of its owner. 

• Securing a substantial out-of-court payment on behalf of the purchaser of a dressage horse in relation to a radiographic abnormality not detected by a vet conducting a pre-purchase examination.

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What Our Clients Say

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“Jodie has been absolutely brilliant in creating contracts for us to use in the equestrian industry. Her equestrian knowledge was key to be able to make contracts that we can use on multiple levels of our company which are quick, easy to understand and simply outlines responsibilities and deliverables. She went above and beyond to understand our business and talk us through the whole process and the contracts have upped our game in a major way as well as helping us feel more secure in our own business.” Equisportif

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“Jodie provides prompt, well considered and commercially sound advice, informed by both her equestrian knowledge and business acumen.” Chris Spratling, The Pure Feed Company

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“Finding someone with Jodie's level of experience, working at the top end of the legal sector in the city of London, who is also an experienced equestrian, is a rare and extremely valuable find. The work that has been delivered so far has been above and beyond, and as the company grows, I look forward to relying on Jodie's previous experiences to ensure we achieve the ambitious milestones we've set.” – Andrew Amy, Whickr