horses.jpgI’m continuing on the lemon law for animals theme.  When you buy a car, there are auto lemon laws in all states offering varying degrees of protection. When you buy a dog, at least some states offer lemon law protections.  But what happens if you buy a lemon horse? Don’t laugh.  It turns out , Palm Beach Post Reports, that Florida lawmakers recently decided horse buyers need a “lemon law,” too.The proposed law mandates the disclosure of relevant medical conditions, defects and surgeries; the conduct or alterations that could affect the performance of a horse; and the need for a written bill of sale or similar documentation.  Florida Department of Agriculture is working on the final rules for the new law.

So far as I can tell, Florida is unique in codifying lemon law-like provisions for horses. But even without the lemon law, animal buyers have protections under warranty laws that apply to all goods (yes, unfortunately, animals are classified as goods under contract law).  Plus, if a consumer buys a defective animal, it may be possible to argue that the animal is a ‘consumer good’ protected by the Federal Magnuson Moss Act, which provides for attorney’s fees for successful litigants.

If you decide to trade your 200-horsepower ride for a one-horse carriage, think twice, then head to Florida to make your purchase.