Michigan Court of Appeals Issues Ruling That Passengers in Horse-Drawn Carriages Are Subject to the Equine Activity Liability Act

Julie I. Fershtman — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:01 -0400

A recurring issue since the passage of the nation’s 48 state Equine Activity Liability Acts (EALAs) has been whether these laws apply to horse-drawn carriage activities. Although EALAs differ across the country, most of them state that a “participant” in an “equine activity” has limited or no recourse against equine professionals, equine activity sponsors, or others if damage results from an “inherent risk” of equine activity. But does a passenger in a carriage or sleigh qualify as a “participant”? Yes, according to courts in the majority of states that have ...

Julie Fershtman Presents at the 2025 National Conference on Equine Law on Products Liability

Julie I. Fershtman — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:00:02 -0500

Julie Fershtman is speaking at the National Conference on Equine Law in Lexington, Kentucky on May 1, 2025. Her topic is Products Liability in the Equine Industry.

Equine Law Blog | Foster Swift

Michigan Court of Appeals Issues Ruling That Passengers in Horse-Drawn Carriages Are Subject to the Equine Activity Liability Act

Julie Fershtman Presents at the 2025 National Conference on Equine Law on Products Liability