Yvonne C. Ocrant, Attorney at Law

Equine Law and Litigation Ms. Ocrant assists individual horse owners, trainers, breeders, riding, boarding, and training facilities, veterinarians, and other equine industry clients litigate and resolve claims for personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, and a variety of other legal issues. She also drafts contracts for horse purchases, sales, leases, and commission arrangements, and creates equine liability releases for boarding and training facilities, trainers, transporters, and other individuals and entities sponsoring or participating in equine activities. She has also enforced equine lien rights for individuals and equine boarding facilities in various Illinois and Florida jurisdictions. She provides equine law consultations to major equine insurance providers and conducts structured mediations on behalf of insurance companies, individuals, corporations, associations, partnerships, and other equine industry entities in need of expedited and cost efficient dispute resolutions. In furtherance of her equine law practice, Ms. Ocrant annually attends and presents at the National Equine Law Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, the leading seminar for equine professionals.

Ms. Ocrant provides pro bono legal services for the Hooved Animal Humane Society (HAHS) in Woodstock, Illinois and Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society (HARPS) in Barrington Hills, Illinois, and is an active member of the Board of Directors for the Horseman's Council of Illinois (HCI). Ms. Ocrant is a member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association (IDCTA) and currently trains for dressage and eventing in Illinois and Florida and competes in United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and United States Eventing Association (USEA) sanctioned events.

Ms. Ocrant provided excellent information to Equestrian Professional's members with her presentation, "How To Structure Equine Syndicates, Partnerships and Private Sponsorships."  This seminar addressed different options and legal considerations for structuring these type of entities.

Professional Publications

Ms. Ocrant is the author of "HEADS UP!" a monthly column on various equine law related issues published in the Scribe, a monthly magazine sponsored by the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association.

• "Equestrian Helmet Laws: Are You In or Out," June, 2010
• "Can My Liability Protection Under the Equine Act Differ From State to State," September, 2009
• "The Debate on Equine Dentistry: Should the vet be a dentist or the dentist be a vet?," May 2009
• "Liability Under the Animal Control Act: Was the Horse Provoked and Does it Matter?," February 2009
• "What Happens When . . . My Horse Gets Loose and Causes Damages or Injuries to Other People or Property?," June 2007
• "Home is Where Your Horse Is - But is Homeowner's Insurance Enough?," April 2007
• "Write Before Your Ride: A Few Useful Tips on Horse Trailering Agreements," Dec. 2006
• "Understanding Barn Liability for Injury to Boarded Horses -The Three B's," Nov. 2006
• "Litigate or Mediate? How Should You Resolve Your Equine Related Dispute?," Feb. 2006
• "Trainer? Coach?: Who are you and why should you care? Understanding the Trainer Responsibility Rule," Sept., 2005
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• "Release and Indemnification Agreements for Minors: A Major Concern," June 2005
• "How Can My Care Live On?-Answers to Your Questions about the New Illinois Pet Trust Law," Feb. 2005
• "It's a Small World After All: Equine Issues Across State Lines," Dec. 2004
• "Take it Outside-Resolving Equine Legal Disputes out of Court," July 2004
• "To Lien or Not to Lien: Recovery for Unpaid Equine Related Services," March 2004
• "Is Your Horse Attractive in Illinois?," Jan. 2004
• "How to Own Your Own," Nov. 2003
• "Fearful Forms: The Dangers of Unedited Liability Releases," Oct. 2003
• "Insure Against Insurance Mistakes," Sept. 2003
• "How the Law Becomes the Law, and the Implications of Kush v. Wentworth," July 2003
• "Get it Insured," June 2003
• "An Introduction to the Illinois Equine Activity Liability Act," April 2003

Ms. Ocrant is also the author of "LEGAL BITS", a monthly column responding to equine law related questions and issues in From the Horse's Mouth, a monthly magazine located at www.horsemouth.com.

Professional Presentations

• NARHA 2011 Illinois State Meeting, Equine Law 101: Reducing Liability Risk in Equine Activities, BraveHearts at the Bergmann Center, Poplar Grove, IL, January 22, 2011
• United States Eventing Association Annual Convention, Smart Business Practices for the Eventing Professionals, Scottsdale, AZ, December 9, 2010
• Equine Law & Estate Planning Seminar, Barrington Hills, IL, August 19, 2010
• Illinois Horse Fair Equine Law Seminar, Springfield, IL, March 6, 2010
• Southern Illinois University Equine Science Department, Equine Law 101, February 19, 2010
• Chicagoland Equestrian Lifestyle Expo Equine Law 101, Arlington Hts, IL, Nov. 22-23, 2008
• Francis Field Equine Law 101, New Lenox, IL, November 9, 2008
• Trail Riders of DuPage Equine Law 101, Wheaton, IL, March 4, 2008
• Sunflower Farms LLC Equine Law Seminar, Bristol, WI, October 5, 2007
• Illinois Horse Fair Equine Law Seminar, Springfield, IL, March 3, 2007
• Purina Mills Horse Owners' Workshop & Equine Law Seminar, W. Chicago, March 23, 2005
• Purina Mills Horse Owners' Workshop & Equine Law Seminar, Poplar Grove, Feb. 15, 2005
• Naperville Saddle Club's Equine Law Seminar, Naperville, IL, January 29, 2005
• Will County Trail Riders' Assn's Equine Law Seminar, New Lenox, IL, January 20, 2005
• Purina Mills Horse Nutrition and Equine Law Workshop, West Chicago, IL, March 30, 2004
• Buckeye Horse Nutrition and Equine Law Workshop, Crystal Lake, IL, March 2, 2004
• Purina Mills Horse Owners' Workshop, Attractive Nuisance Doctrine and Equine Liens in
Illinois, Woodstock, IL, February 3, 2004
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Yvonne Ocrant can be reached at [email protected] or 312-704-3080.