Horse ownership disputes are frequently dealt with by the civil courts, how do you prove a horse or pony belongs to you?
Firstly your horse's passport is not proof of ownership, in the UK there is no proof of ownership document so it is wise to keep as much documentary evidence as possible eg:
- Purchase receipt
- Microchip registration papers
- Freezemark papers
- Certificates of insurance including outdated ones
- Old bills such as vet bills, feed bills, tack bills, farrier's bills etc
- Photographs of the yourself with your horse
All of the above can be produced in a civil Court as evidence of proof of ownership.
Also regularly update the ownership status of your horse on the National Equine Database - NED where you can also display a picture, verify competition records and add additional information.
Ownership disputes may result as a result of loaning your horse so before loaning your horse take the following precautions:
- Have a loan agreement draw up by solicitors.
- Be careful about any exchange of money, a fraudster may claim that the money exchanged was for the purchase of the horse. To prevent the possibility of this happening anything that the person loaning the horse is paying for eg. transport, purchase of tack, should be mentioned in the loan agreement.
- Maintain your horse's insurance, naming the person taking the horse on loan on the policy.
If your horse goes missing or is stolen you should take the following action:
- Report it to the Police
- Register the horse as stolen or missing on loan on the National Equine Database NED
- Seek legal advice
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance on your rights and responsibilities and is not legal advice. If you need more details on your rights or legal advice about what action to take, please contact an adviser or solicitor.
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