Equine Divorce
Equine Divorce Attorney
Allyson Hughes, Esq.
Equine divorce in Florida presents unique valuation challenges that most family attorneys are simply not equipped to handle.
Allyson Hughes is a former Morgan Horse champion who rides, trains, and owns horses. She does not need to be educated on what your horses are worth or what your operation represents. That changes everything about how this case gets handled.
Equine assets are among the most technically mishandled in Florida divorce litigation. Bloodstock, breeding operations, competition horses, and boarding facilities require valuation expertise that most family attorneys do not have and cannot credibly acquire mid-case. We have handled every dimension of equine dissolution — horse farms, breeding operations, competition horses, hobby horse owners, and parents whose children compete at the regional and national level — with the precision, discretion, and technical depth these matters require.
Under Florida Statute 61.075, equine assets often present a hybrid of marital and non-marital interests. Our firm specializes in the technical differentiation between premarital value, passive market appreciation and marital appreciation resulting from the “marital labor” of either spouse. We navigate the high-stakes calculations required when marital funds—such as boarding fees, veterinary expenses, or training costs—are used to enhance a pre-marital horse’s value. By coordinating with specialized appraisers, we ensure that the appropriate value is assigned for active enhancement (e.g., USEF/FEI performance gains) while protecting the non-marital core value of the asset.
Q: Is the horse marital or non-marital? Or a combination of each?
A: Under Florida Statute § 61.075, the determination begins with timing. Assets acquired after the date of marriage and existing as of the date of the petition for dissolution carry a presumption of marital status. Was the horse acquired prior to the marriage? If yes, it is presumed non-marital. If acquired during the marriage, the source of funds controls — was it purchased with marital funds, non-marital funds, or a third-party source such as a gift or inheritance? A horse purchased with non-marital funds during the marriage may retain non-marital character, unless it was titled jointly or in the name of the other spouse.
Many equine assets present as hybrids — a non-marital horse whose value increased during the marriage through the expenditure of marital funds or the personal efforts of either spouse. That is where the complexity begins.
Q: How is a horse valued in a Florida dissolution of marriage action?
A: Horses are valued at Fair Market Value — the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither under compulsion, both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.
Where a non-marital horse appreciated in value during the marriage, Florida law requires a distinction between passive market appreciation and active appreciation resulting from marital labor or marital funds. Pursuant to § 61.075(6)(a)1.b, any enhancement in value resulting from elite training fees, competition costs, veterinary care, or the personal efforts of either spouse is subject to equitable distribution. The non-marital core value is protected. The marital contribution to appreciation is not.
Certified equine appraisals are required to document show records, breeding rights, and comparable sales. We coordinate with specialized appraisers and respected forensic accountants to ensure the appropriate value is assigned — protecting your original investment while accurately accounting for marital contributions.
Litigation and alternatives
Not every equine divorce in Florida requires a courtroom. We will carefully review all available options with you, including mediation and collaborative law, which can preserve relationships and protect privacy in ways that litigation cannot — particularly important in the tight-knit equestrian community where reputation matters. If litigation is unavoidable, we have the skill, the credentials, and the firsthand equestrian knowledge to forcefully and precisely present your case to the court. Our firm serves equestrian clients throughout Florida, including the Ocala and World Equestrian Center communities..