Leone Equestrian Law

USEF Should Immediately Ban Hooked Safety Stirrups – They’re Simply Not Safe

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) needs to protect its children and junior riders by prohibiting rubber band and hooked safety stirrups from being used at recognized competitions. There is a long history of riders getting caught on the hook part of the safety stirrups when dismounting or falling. Riders have had the hook catch their […]

A Simple Catch Ride… Maybe Not – The Plaid Horse

As long as there are ponies, there will be a need for pony catch riders. Tiny children matched with green or mischievous ponies present notable challenge, especially on a horse show day. A catch ride with a more experience pony riders is a useful training tool and remedy in the right situation to resolve a […]

US Equestrian Protests, Charges & Grievances – The Basics You Need to Know

You are competing at a US Equestrian show and see that a competition is not being run properly. One of the judges is not scoring the class correctly, and your horse is improperly penalized. A competitor or exhibitor at a US Equestrian show must know what to do when the rules of competition are broken […]

Horse Care Is More Than A Clean Brush – The Plaid Horse

Whether at home, on the road, in the air or at the show, our horses require care to prevent injury and maintain peak condition. The administrative aspects of horse care are often overlooked because horse owners and professionals feel the paperwork creates more hassle than benefit. Unfortunately, the days of sealing a deal on a […]

How the USEF Can Revive the Sport Through the Affiliates – The Plaid Horse

I recently attended a USHJA Town Hall by Bill Moroney with exhibitors at a top quality hunter jumper show in my area. Information was exchanged about programs and rule changes, but much of the discussion concerned the loss of smaller B and C rated shows and decrease in USEF membership. The increased costs of showing […]

After the Sale: Heartburn or Afterglow? – The Plaid Horse

The excitement of a horse purchase rests on the dreams and hopes of a new horse and rider coming together and embarking on a new adventure. When the fit is right and the horse can perform as intended, a warm afterglow is shared by buyer and seller. When the fit isn’t right or the horse […]

Avoiding Protracted Litigation After the Sale

Most often, the bill of sale marks the completion of the sales transaction, with the buyer getting the horse anticipated and the seller receiving consideration. The thought of litigation is not the foremost of considerations. But the potential for a buyer feeling duped and the seller feeling vulnerable to suit exists and basic measures could […]

Leone Equestrian Law Launches EquestrianCounsel.com

Leone Equestrian Law, founded this fall as a legal services and consultation firm for equestrian professionals, is proud to unveil their website: EquestrianCounsel.com. Providing legal counsel and representation to equestrians ranging from riders and trainers to owners and show managers in the FEI disciplines, Leone Equestrian Law was created by Armand Leone, an experienced member […]

Between Rounds With: Armand Leone – The Chronicle of the Horse

Should We Be Concerned About the Growing Number of Foreign Riders Sponsored by U.S. Owners? The globalization of sport has created an increasing diversity of nationalities playing on national teams across many professional sports. The English football Premier League is one example where English players account for less than one-third of the playing time, and […]

USEF Videotape Review Rule 141.3 Needs Revision

The use of videotape review has become common place in high level sports and is used to resolve decisions on the field of play that affect the outcomes of games. Equestrian sport has also started to use videotape review to verify scoring decisions. Both the Arabian Rules and the Jumper Rules contain videotape review procedures […]