Equidara Journal

Guides on buying, law and insurance, news from the sport and dates for your diary. Every article names its sources.

Categories

• Buying & Selling (11)
• Law & Safety (10)
• Insurance (1)
• Sport & Results (17)
• Events (1)
• Feeding & Care (2)
• Health & Therapies (7)
• Forgotten remedies (3)
• Animal welfare (3)
• Innovations (1)
• breeds (5)
• Transport (4)
• Quotes & Sayings (5)

Latest articles

• Competing in Germany: Entries, Licenses, and Timetables
  Sport & Results · 7 October 2026
  From making your entry to post-competition care: Here's how to prepare for a competition in Germany according to FN rules, meet entry deadlines, and plan your arrival and warm-up.
• Commission on Horse Purchases: When it Arises, Who Pays It, and When It's Forfeited
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  A commission isn't simply earned because someone offered assistance. It requires a brokerage agreement, a clear link between the activity and the successful sale, and a contract that is actually concluded. If you're working for both parties, you must disclose this, or your claim to the commission is at risk.
• What is my horse worth? How to arrive at a justifiable price
  Buying & Selling · 6 October 2026
  A horse's value isn't determined by what you've invested. It's shaped by training, health, character, documentation, and demand. Learn how to evaluate these points individually, back them up with comparable listings, and create a price range that buyers will take seriously.
• Selling Your Horse: The Order That Saves Time and Trouble
  Buying & Selling · 6 October 2026
  Ten steps from decision to handover. Following them in this sequence will help you craft better ads, receive more suitable inquiries, and avoid being caught without essential documents during viewings.
• Rescinding a Horse Purchase: Deadlines, Burden of Proof, and How the Reversal Process Works
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  Rescinding a contract requires a defect that was already present at the time of handover. This is almost always preceded by a deadline for the seller to remedy the defect, followed by a reversal process where the buyer doesn't just return the horse. Learn what applies when, and which mistakes can cost you your claim.
• Resale Clauses and Right of First Refusal: What Truly Binds in Your Horse Purchase Agreement
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  The clause 'the horse may not be resold' appears in many contracts, yet it doesn't prevent a single sale. Discover why this is the case, what a right of first refusal truly offers, when a right of repurchase is a better fit, and which clauses genuinely hold up.
• Selling a Horse on Installments: What Retention of Title Achieves and Where Its Gaps Lie
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  The horse moves to its new home, but the payments trickle in over months. While retention of title keeps ownership with you until the final installment, it doesn't protect against every resale. Plus, there's the question of liability, as the keeper and owner are not always the same.
• Buying a Horse Abroad: Essential Questions to Ask Before Your Deposit
  Buying & Selling · 6 October 2026
  Within the EU, the paperwork is straightforward: an equine passport, health certificate, and TRACES. But the questions you ask *before* that are far more critical. Clarifying who is selling you the horse, which legal jurisdiction applies, who arranges the pre-purchase exam, and the payment schedule will determine your legal standing should a dispute arise.
• Germany Wins the Longines League of Nations in a Jump-Off in Barcelona
  Sport & Results · 6 October 2026
  Richard Vogel and Cloudio secure the title for Germany in the 2026 Longines League of Nations Final. Brazil takes second place, with Belgium finishing third.
• Buying a Quarter Horse: Breed, AQHA, and Essential Documents
  breeds · 6 October 2026
  The American Quarter Horse is bred for pleasure riding, competition, and racing. Here, you'll learn what makes this breed special and which documents are crucial for purchase and breeding.
• Warranty in Horse Sales: Private, Commercial, and When You're Considered a Professional Seller
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  Between private individuals, warranties can be excluded, but not when selling to a consumer. The grey area lies in determining when someone is considered a professional seller, a decision not made by a form, but by the overall circumstances.
• Your Horse Purchase Agreement: What to Include and Where Templates Fall Short
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  Even a verbal agreement is legally binding when buying a horse. But putting it in writing is crucial for proving what was agreed upon later. We'll cover the eight essential points for every horse purchase agreement, explain why a warranty disclaimer isn't a catch-all, and when it's smart to consult an attorney.
• Electric Car as a Towing Vehicle for Your Horse Trailer: Technology, Range, and Charging
  Innovations · 6 October 2026
  Modern electric cars are capable of towing heavy horse trailers. Whether one is right for your hauling needs depends on the vehicle's towing limits, its range with a trailer, and available charging options on your route.
• Long-Distance Horse Transport: Watering, Travel Duration, and Rest Periods under EU Law
  Transport · 6 October 2026
  Eight hours is the basic limit. Longer journeys are subject to specific conditions. Find out about the watering intervals and rest periods for unregistered domestic equids, and the special rules for foals, rail, and sea transport.
• Buying a Horse Online: What Your Contract Must Include When No One Has Test Ridden
  Buying & Selling · 6 October 2026
  A right of withdrawal is almost never applicable when buying a horse. If you're buying or selling without an in-person viewing, your contract is your safeguard. Four key points truly mitigate the risk: defining the intended use, a pre-purchase examination with a clear deadline, staggered payments, and an honest video.
• Buying a Lusitano: PSL or Cruzado, Studbook & Prices
  breeds · 6 October 2026
  Puro Sangue Lusitano, Lusitano, Cruzado – these terms often cause confusion. Learn what they mean, which papers are important, and what prices to expect.
• Doma Vaquera: Equipment, Disciplines, and Competitions of Spanish Working Equitation
  Sport & Results · 6 October 2026
  Spanish Cultural Heritage and Competitive Sport: Doma Vaquera combines cattle work with demanding equestrian maneuvers. Discover the equipment, disciplines, and competitions involved.
• The "HOYS Fairy" Sends Good Luck Charms to Nearly 200 Competitors
  Sport & Results · 6 October 2026
  For ten years, Morean Hamilton from Ayrshire has been sending small browbands and cards to riders who have qualified for the Horse of the Year Show.
• Hoof Care Through the Seasons: What Dry and Wet Hooves Need
  Feeding & Care · 6 October 2026
  Too dry and the horn crumbles; too wet and it softens. Here's how to keep your horse's hooves balanced throughout the year: with proper management, mucking out, regular checks, and scheduled appointments.
• PPID in the Senior Horse: Recognizing Signs, the ACTH Test, and Daily Care
  Health & Therapies · 6 October 2026
  PPID (Equine Cushing's Disease) primarily affects horses over 15 years old. Learn how to recognize the signs, how your vet uses the ACTH test for diagnosis, and what you can do in daily life to help.
• Abi Lyle Finishes Second in Her Eventing Debut
  Sport & Results · 6 October 2026
  Olympic dressage rider Abi Lyle secured second place with Nice Try II in the GoBE80 class at Little Gatcombe. Four time penalties on the cross-country course cost the pair the win.
• Equine Passport: Who Issues It for Sport Horses, Breeding Stock, and Leisure Horses
  Animal welfare · 6 October 2026
  Every horse kept in the EU requires registration and an equine passport. The issuing authority depends on whether your horse is registered as a breeding animal or a sport horse. This also includes transponders and entry into the database.
• Buying a Haflinger: Studbook, Character, and Uses
  breeds · 6 October 2026
  The Haflinger is bred for versatile use in riding and driving. Here, you'll learn what the breeding principles stipulate regarding lineage, temperament, size, and areas of use.
• Consigning Your Horse for Sale: Who Sells, Who's Liable, Who Gets Paid
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  A sales barn takes care of schooling, presenting, and negotiating the sale of your horse. However, the crucial question often omitted from many agreements is whose name the sale is made in. This determines who is liable to the buyer and which rules apply.
• Bilingual Horse Sale Agreement: Choice of Law, Jurisdiction, and the CISG Trap
  Law & Safety · 6 October 2026
  When selling a horse across borders, three key clauses determine the outcome of any future dispute: which law applies, which court has jurisdiction, and which language version is authoritative. Plus, there's one rule that's almost always overlooked.
• Crafting Your Horse Ad: Structure, Honest Descriptions, and Phrases to Avoid
  Buying & Selling · 6 October 2026
  Potential buyers decide in mere seconds whether to read on. You won't capture their attention with superlatives, but with immediately visible key data and verifiable qualities. Here's a five-block structure, complete with a copy-and-paste template.
• Visiting an Equestrian Fair: Exhibitors, Demonstrations, and Preparation
  Events · 6 October 2026
  An equestrian fair can combine shopping, expert knowledge, and captivating demonstrations. Discover what's on offer and how to plan your visit according to your interests.
• Linseed and Linseed Mash for Horses: How to Properly Prepare This Traditional Home Remedy
  Forgotten remedies · 6 October 2026
  Linseed mash is a time-honored home remedy for digestion and skin health. Here, you'll find preparation instructions from the University of Zurich, the daily dosage for your horse, and important considerations.
• Eventing: MIM Clips to Become More Affordable
  Sport & Results · 6 October 2026
  More clips for the same package price. MIMsafe is also working on reusable clips and exploring solutions for smaller cross-country obstacles.
• Buying a Horse at Online Auction: Process, Deposit, Bidding and Fees
  Buying & Selling · 4 October 2026
  Want to buy a horse at an online auction? We walk you through the entire process – from registration and the deposit to bidding, the final hammer and all the fees involved.
• Equine Mites: A Look at Sulfur Powder, Washes, and Lime Sulfur
  Forgotten remedies · 4 October 2026
  Flowers of sulfur, daily washing, lime sulfur: Many stables still rely on old remedies for mites on horses' legs. Learn how these traditional methods are used and what modern veterinary medicine offers today.
• The Pre-Purchase Exam: Why X-ray Grades Are a Thing of the Past (Since 2018)
  Buying & Selling · 4 October 2026
  "What class is the horse?" is the most common question when buying a horse, and since 2018, it's the wrong one. The X-ray guidelines have abolished these classes. Here's what you'll find in the report instead, who pays for the exam, and what should be included in the purchase contract.
• Selling Photos & Videos: Showcasing Your Horse Without Hiding Anything
  Buying & Selling · 4 October 2026
  What buyers expect to see, why midday sun is the most common pitfall, how perspective can distort a horse's conformation, and what your video needs to show to be taken seriously.
• Monthly Horse Costs: Board, Feed, Farrier, and Other Expenses
  Buying & Selling · 4 October 2026
  Boarding fees, feed, and hoof care can be estimated within certain cost ranges. On top of that, you'll need to factor in vet bills, insurance, and potential extra services. Here's how to differentiate between monthly costs and per-appointment expenses.
• Offering a Sport Horse Internationally: The Information Buyers Abroad Need
  Sport & Results · 4 October 2026
  German competition classes mean little outside German-speaking countries. If you state jump heights in metres, write results so they can be checked and supply the right video material, your horse will be found and taken seriously abroad.
• Trial Ride Accidents: Understanding Owner Liability and Why Insurance is a Separate Matter
  Insurance · 4 October 2026
  Under German law, a horse owner can be held liable even without personal fault. While a rider's contributory negligence might reduce this liability, whether an insurance policy will cover the damages is a different matter entirely. Here's what this means for you, whether you're test-riding a horse or you're the owner.
• Circus Lessons with Your Horse: Common Mistakes in the Bow and Spanish Walk
  Sport & Results · 4 October 2026
  What to pay attention to when teaching the Bow and Spanish Walk, why warming up is essential, and how to handle breaks and unsolicited tricks.
• Selling a Horse Outside the EU: Tests, Quarantine, and Where to Get Binding Information
  Transport · 4 October 2026
  Within the EU, a passport, health certificate, and TRACES are sufficient. However, once your horse leaves the Union, the destination country dictates the rules, and these can change. We'll cover which examinations are frequently required, how quarantine works, and where to obtain truly binding information.
• Cross-Border Horse Transport: Paperwork, Haulers, and Liability in Case of Damage
  Transport · 4 October 2026
  Transporting a horse across an internal EU border requires an equine passport, an animal health certificate, and a TRACES entry. Equally important is your choice of hauler, as legal liability only covers a fraction of a valuable horse's worth.
• Auction or Private Sale: Which Suits Which Horse
  Buying & Selling · 4 October 2026
  An auction promises pace and competition; a private sale gives you control over price and buyer. Which route pays off depends less on the horse than you might think, and more on time, nerves and your willingness to accept a fixed date.
• Scams Targeting Horse Sellers: How to Protect Yourself
  Law & Safety · 4 October 2026
  Almost all scams boil down to one thing: getting you to hand something over – be it a refund, your horse, or your personal data – before any legitimate payment has actually landed in your account. Learn how to spot red flags in suspicious inquiries early and the golden rules to keep yourself safe.
• Selling Your Foal: Timing, Preparation, and What Buyers Really Look For
  Buying & Selling · 4 October 2026
  Weanling, yearling, or just before breaking? Each stage has its own buyer demographic and associated costs. Plus: what potential buyers look for in a young horse, how to prepare your foal, and why paperwork is even more crucial here.
• Sharn Wordley Claims Maiden World Cup Victory with Sole Clear Round in Puebla
  Sport & Results · 4 October 2026
  Sharn Wordley and Brin d’or de Haute Melen Z have triumphed in the World Cup show jumping event in Puebla, Mexico. He was the only rider to go clear, eliminating the need for a jump-off.
• EU Animal Transport Regulation: Travel Times and Controls for Slaughter Horses
  Animal welfare · 30 September 2026
  In Germany, strict transport regulations apply to slaughter horses. Find out what travel times are permitted, which authorities conduct checks, and what documents you need to carry with you.
• Asian Games Dressage to Feature Grand Prix for the First Time in Tokyo
  Sport & Results · 30 September 2026
  From 25 to 27 September 2026, 45 combinations from 16 nations will compete. For the first time, Grand Prix will be ridden at Asian Games dressage.
• Flowers of sulfur for horses: the body's clean-up crew
  Forgotten remedies · 30 September 2026
  Part 1 of the “Forgotten remedies” series: what flowers of sulfur is, how it is used internally and externally, what amount has worked in my practice and which parts are scientifically proven.
• Words of Comfort and Farewell for Your Beloved Horse
  Quotes & Sayings · 30 September 2026
  When your equine companion departs: heartfelt words for farewells, comfort, and condolence cards. Fresh, personal sentiments for the most difficult time.
• Working Equitation: Events, Horses, and Getting Started Explained
  Sport & Results · 30 September 2026
  Working Equitation combines dressage, trail, and cattle work into a versatile competition sport. All information on the four phases, suitable horses, and how to get started for riders.
• HOYS 2026: Laura Collett and Edwin Prosser to Judge Supreme Championships
  Sport & Results · 30 September 2026
  The Olympic gold medallist and experienced breeding judge will select the top horses and ponies at the Horse of the Year Show on October 11, 2026.
• France Triumphs on Home Turf in Lignières, Securing Ticket to Boekelo
  Sport & Results · 30 September 2026
  France secured victory at the final qualifier of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in Lignières on September 27, 2026, finishing with an impressive 106.70 penalty points. This means ten nations are now set to compete in the highly anticipated final in Boekelo.
• Heartfelt Sayings About the Love for Horses
  Quotes & Sayings · 30 September 2026
  Honest words about the joy and connection horses bring – perfect for gifts, sharing with fellow equestrians, or simply to cherish. Use them for cards, stable plaques, or just to warm your heart.
• Buying an Andalusian (PRE): ANCCE Studbook, Difference from Lusitano, Prices
  breeds · 30 September 2026
  A PRE is more than an Andalusian: the ANCCE studbook, the split from the Lusitano, and what to look for when buying.
• British Team for the LLN Final 2026
  Sport & Results · 30 September 2026
  Great Britain heads to Barcelona as defending champions for the Longines League of Nations Final. Di Lampard nominates Scott Brash, Tim Gredley, Jessica Mendoza, Jack Whitaker, and Jodie Hall McAteer.
• Loading Your Horse: Avoiding Stress and Training Safely
  Transport · 30 September 2026
  Loading training works best in short, calm steps. Preparation, the right equipment, and knowing your horse's limits are key.
• Equine Gastric Ulcers: Signs, Causes, and Definitive Diagnosis
  Health & Therapies · 27 September 2026
  Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) affects many horses, often without clear symptoms. Learn about the role of feeding and stress, and why only gastroscopy provides a definitive diagnosis.
• How to Identify Good Hay: Smell, Color, Dust, Mold, and Hay Analysis
  Feeding & Care · 27 September 2026
  You can identify good hay by its color, smell, and texture – but only a lab analysis can confirm whether it's truly healthy for your horse. Here's how to check quality step by step.
• Life After the Finish Line: Retraining, Rehoming, and Sanctuary Projects for Ex-Racehorses
  Animal welfare · 27 September 2026
  Thoroughbreds often retire from racing at a young age, requiring expert retraining before they can transition into new careers as riding horses. We take a closer look at the dedicated retraining programs, rehoming efforts, and sanctuary projects that give these incredible athletes a second chance at life.
• Short Horse Quotes for Instagram and Captions
  Quotes & Sayings · 27 September 2026
  Short sayings for captions, stable notice boards, and cards. Beautiful, witty, or in English – for every mood.
• Buying a Friesian: KFPS Studbook, Predicates, Health, Prices
  breeds · 27 September 2026
  When buying a Friesian, paperwork, predicates, and a careful look at breed-specific health issues are key. Here's how to check the studbook, chip, and findings.
• Former Racehorse Communion Qualifies for HOYS
  Sport & Results · 24 September 2026
  Communion triumphs at the BSHA Championships in the Racehorse to Riding Horse class. Owner Donna Bamonte celebrates her second HOYS qualifier from her yard.