Horses are not like other pets in that you cannot expect that everyone knows how to care for them after you pass away.
If you have pets, it is always a good idea to make plans for who will take care of them in case something happens to you. However, that might not be equally important for all pets.
If you leave someone your dog in your estate plan without telling them beforehand or providing for how they should care for the animal, there is still an excellent chance they will know what to do. Most people know how to care for dogs and other household pets.
Horses are different as The Horse points out in “Estate Planning Tips for Horse Owners.”
Most people have little idea of how to take care of a horse. Most people also do not have the means or the space to take care of them, especially if the horse is a rescue animal that requires special care. Accordingly, if you own horses, you need to have an estate plan that details what will happen to your horses. There are several options and the best one to choose might depend on the type of horse you have.
A racing animal, for example, will need to be handled differently than a ranch horse.
Whatever type of horse you have, the basics you need to think about are the same. Should the horse be sold or do you want someone you know to inherit the horse and take care of it? Then, you either need to think about where the horse will be sold or how to provide the person you are giving the horse to the means to take care of it.
A qualified estate planning attorney can assist you in creating a plan to carry out your wishes.
Reference: The Horse (July 12, 2016) “Estate Planning Tips for Horse Owners.”