A spate of recent legal cases has prompted a lawyer to explain why having written terms agreed is essential for all parties involved in livery services. H&H finds out more...
The importance of written livery contracts to all parties has been highlighted by a series of recent legal cases.
Barrister Simon Bell, of Kent-based Knights Solicitors, told H&H his practice had been involved in a number of disputes, in the most recent of which the livery provider had tried to keep possession of his client’s horses.
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"}
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H&H news editor
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.