The Equine Expert LLC

The Equine Expert LLC is an expert witness firm, and our expertise spans dozens of disciplines and specializations in the equine industry by first-class horsemen and women, professional and top amateurs, with hands-on knowledge of the horse world. With a collaborative firm culture and a reputation for unparalleled professionalism and integrity, our hand-picked team of equestrian experts support plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of areas such as business, insurance, liability, equine death, sales, valuations, fraud, estates, taxes and medical mal-practice.

The Equine Expert LLC is a multi-discipline equine expert witness and consulting firm that offers expert equestrians for legal support services in court cases and legal matters. We are an actual consulting firm, not a pay for search firm, that deals specifically in equine cases. Our consultants offer a wide variety of expertise in most all disciplines in the horse industry to cover liability, accident reconstruction, business, standards in the industry, valuations, training, showing, sale, equipment, rental stables, breeding, equine behavior, neglect and most all equine areas needing support in legal matters.

The firm was started by Bridget Brandon who has been a leading expert witness in the equine industry since 2000. Bridget recognized the need to put together a firm with top equine experts in their chosen discipline. Not all breeds and discipline are alike and it's important to work with an expert who understands the breed and discipline involved in the case. Members of the firm are ready to assist both Plaintiffs and Defendants in a variety of services needed in support of a legal case such as case review, deposition questions, attorney education, opposing opinion review, suggestions for discovery and assistance with locating very specific type experts.

Services

The Equine Expert LLC specializes in educating the attorney in case specific horse terminology, working on liability cases, personal injury, accident reconstruction, equine behavior, medical Mal-practice, high dollar valuations, testifying in court, consulting, assisting in mediations, reviewing opinions, writing questions for depositions, case analysis, finding critical evidence, analyzing crucial facts and creating relevant witness questions. We provide the legal community with a wide range of analysis, education and support for all equine related proceedings throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. The Equine Expert LLC services clients from any locality and any state needing expertise in the area of horses with a specialty in Sport, Performance horses, Breeding, Equine Behavior, Liability and Valuations.

The Equine Expert reviews and assess all pertinent documents, interrogatories, depositions and expert reports. We investigate and target non-compliance issues with respect to generally accepted appraisal and equine practices the attorney may not be familiar with. Gathering information that produces credible evidence is not a simple task when it is horse related. Analysis of the evidence is extremely important. We have the knowledge and know how to research and collect data and evidence that is essential to your case. This information is crucial in educating the attorney in the significance of the data. In the event that crucial evidence exists, we'll find it, analyze it and educate on its significance.

Litigation Support Services

Ms. Brandon has been qualified in state and federal court as an equine expert. She participated in mediation which settled in a successful resolution for her client. She is very experienced in horse behavior, liability cases, personal injury, accident reconstruction, fraud, standards in the industry, valuation of high dollar horses in equine death cases, has worked on several medical Mal-practice cases, and has performed several loss of future income valuations. If the attorney is not familiar with horses, Ms. Brandon is highly qualified in preparing the attorney for an equine case and works as both a consulting expert and testifying expert. Ms. Bridget Brandon is an experienced Senior Certified Equine Appraiser #03121 through the American Society of Equine Appraisers and is USPAP certified (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraiser Practices). She is available for appraisal, expert witness, and consulting litigation support for all aspects of the equine industry. She works for both Defendant and Plaintiff and her case load runs between the two at approximately 50%.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Horse Business, Horse Accident Reconstruction, Equine Behavior, Horse Care, Custody and Control, Horse Behavior, Equine Physiology, Horse Breeding, Horse Industry Standards, Equine Personal Injury, Degrees of Negligence and Accident Prevention, Equine Standards in the Industry, Stable Management, Professional and Client Protocol in the Equine Industry, Riding Instruction (Professional and Student), Riding Camp Standards and Protocol, Trail Riding and Rental Horses, Therapeutic Riding Programs, Horse Showing and Training, Equine Behavior and Analysis, Valuation up to Olympic Level Horses, Safety Procedures and Protocol, Boarding and Rental Stables, Breeding and Breeding Programs, Show, Pleasure and Trail Horses, Specific Horse and Equipment Analysis, Buying and Selling Standards, Fraud Analysis, Horse and Equipment Appraisals, Trail Riding Accidents, Valuations of International Level Show Horses, Valuations of Deceased Horses, Veterinarian Medical Mal-Practice, Fox Hunting Accidents and Protocol, Equine Business and Breeding Standards and Protocol, IRS Valuations, Valuations of Rare Equine Species.

Profile

The firm was started by Bridget Brandon who has been a leading expert witness in the equine industry since 2000. In 2020, she recognized the need to put together a firm with top equine experts in their chosen discipline and having the utmost ethics. Bridget has over 30 years in the equine industry showing, breeding, boarding and extensive trail riding and is a Senior Certified Equine Appraiser with USEA and passed the USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices) exam administered through the American Society of Appraiser (ASA). Bridget works and trains with her own horses for trail riding, dressage and jumping. Bridget has shown and bred hunters/jumpers and dressage horses for 25 years, has owned imported horses from Europe, judged hunter/jumper shows and has owned and operated her own boarding and breeding facility. She hosted the German Oldenburg Verband in the DFW area for 5 years from 1998 to 2003. She is very involved in fox hunting, trail riding and is a member of the Pilot Point Posse Association and several trail riding associations. She manages two stallions, TriStarr who excelled in Grand Prix jumping and Dressage and Skips Gold Bar, Jr., her personal trail riding and Posse Mount.

Bridget is a graduate of Southern Methodist University where she currently has a seat on the Alumni Board. She is a life member of the American Society of Equine Appraisers, the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Hunter/Jumper Association, USDF, USEA, AQHA, APHA, along with numerous other organizations. Bridget has her P & C insurance license and sells equine major medical and mortality insurance. She has attended the Conference on Equine Law in Kentucky from 2011 - 2019.

Areas Served

All States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.

The Equine Expert LLC in the Social Networks

LinkedIn

Professional Experience

Senior Certified Equine Appraiser # 03121, American Society of Equine Appraiser
USPAP Certified (Uniform Standards Professional Appraisal Practices)
30 Years Showing, Breeding, importing and Selling Warmbloods and Warmblood crosses for the hunter/jumper, eventing, and dressage disciplines.
Numerous Championships USEF "AA" rated horse shows
Have taken USEF courses in judging and stewardship at horse shows.
Owned and Operated a breeding and boarding facility for 15 years.
Judged local Hunter and Jumper Shows
Texas Property and Casualty Insurance License and sells equine related insurance.
Past board member of North Texas Hunter Jumper Association
Graduate of Southern Methodist University

Licenses

Licenses and Education:

Southern Methodist University – BFA 1984
American Society of Equine Appraisers – Senior Appraiser 2001, 2010
ASA – Applicant, Member American Society of Appraisers 2020
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisers – USPAP Tested & Compliant 2010 & 2020
Property and Casualty Insurance License – Marshall Sterling Field Agent, Equine Insurance 2010
USEF Steward and Judges Clinics – 2006, 2007
CHA Seminars and Annual Conference 2021
University of Kentucky Conference on Equine Law 2011 – 2020, 2022
Introduction To Business Valuation – NACVA Oct. 2022

Legal Experience & Services

Qualified in both State and Federal Courts:
1 Bench Trial
1 Jury Trial
1 Mediation
1 Hearing
16 Depositions
50 + Cases since 2010
Currently 50% Defendant/50% Plaintiff
Practice includes both Consulting and Testifying

Affiliations

United States Equestrian Federation
United States Hunter Jumper Association
Certified Horsemanship Association, 2021 - 2022
Senior Appraiser, American Society of Equine Appraisers , Lifetime Member
Candidate, American Society of Appraisers, 2021 - 2022
United States Dressage Federation
United States Eventing Association
American Quarter Horse Association
Texas Hunter Jumper Club
German Oldenburg Verband
Lake Ray Roberts Equestrian Trails Association (LRRETA)
Pilot Point Sherriff's Posse
North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC)
Equine Trail Sports
Brazo Valley Fox Hunting Club
North Texas Search and Rescue
Equitopia member – Online equestrian training resource program – Live classes, videos, blogs, podcasts and webinars concerning all aspects of equestrian care, training and riding.

Qualifications

Certified through the American Society of Equine Appraisers #03121 since 2000
Candidate, Member American Society of Appraisers
USPAP Certified (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices)
30+ years showing hunters and jumpers on USEF "A" Circuit
Numerous National and Regional Championships in Hunters and Jumpers
Hosted European Sporthorse Inspections
Breeder of Warmbloods

Awards & Honors

Three time zone 7 Champion Adult Jumper
Zone 7 High Amateur Owner Year End Champion
#3 Conformation Hunter in the Country
Numerous winnings and championships in Amateur Owner Hunter and Amateur Owner Jumper Classes and Classics
All foals but one awarded "Premium" through GOV (German Oldenburg Verband and Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society)
Several championships in Sport Horse breed shows.

Seminars & Training

ASEA Training I
ASEA Training II
USPAP Tested through ASA (American Society of Appraisers) Passed and Compliant

Publications

Ms. Brandon or her horses have been featured in the following publications:
Chronicle of Horse: Vol. LXX, NO. 3, page 20, Sinners Prayer
The Plaid Horse: Cover April 2006, Vol 3 Issue II, also page 36, Sinners Prayer
Lone Star Horse Report Vol. 25, Number 5, May 2007 Cover, Journey, foal bred by Ms. Brandon
Lone Star Horse Report Vol. 26, Number 6, June 2008, page 14, Interview of Ms. Brandon
Cover Texas Hoofbeat, April 2005, Kiss This, foal bred by Ms. Brandon

Professional References

References upon request:
Law Firms
Insurance Agencies and Underwriters
Individual Equine Owners