J Swan, I am wondering why you are so vehement in your attack on the posters here when they have been issuing OPINIONS.
You cannot sue for opinions. As many have said, they have been commenting on the actual wording of this woman’s own website copy. I find it interesting that she has removed much of the “offending” wording AFTER these posts.
I don’t think anyone here truly is meaning harm to her or her business. But, it is a fact that she has misrepresented breeds and offered to alter Coggins certificates. This is questionable business practice. As a practical matter, she may (and you may) decry the effect of these BB postings, but if it is truly causing her problems then she should stop and ask herself why.
It is also very possible that whoever this woman is did not write this website copy HERSELF. I bring up this possibility because many businesses will have “professional copywriters” do their websites. Or perhaps family or friends wrote it… picture someone who is possibly an MBA businessperson who was given various things to say and put it in MBAspeak not understanding how horse people operate? Perhaps she did not oversee the job properly and it was written badly in some areas. I only offer this as a possibility to give SOME kind of benefit of the doubt as things like this do happen to business owners.
Regardless of whether or not “in real life” she is a reputable and honest businesswoman, I cannot imagine that you as an experienced horsewoman yourself would read the copy and rules and remarks made on her website and NOT see that something is a bit wrong there? I ask you, J Swan, do YOU agree with her “policies” as originally stated on that site?
Personally, I think that if she (and you) feel that she’s been truly harmed by the comments here at the COTH BB that perhaps a PROPER dialog and communication between the parties is more called for than some attempt at legal action. I am not familar with YOUR state laws specifically, but in general she really has to cause for action at this point. She can write letters and raise a stink, but what does that solve?
One thing also: you yourself have not truly answered what YOU think of her website policies (as originally posted before things were removed)? Since you apparently know her, can you tell me what is GOOD about her horse sales business and what you AGREE with in her business practices? It again may all come down to what is acceptable to some is not acceptable to others. Voicing disagreement or criticism is NOT an actionable legal cause. She is quite free to voice HER disagreement with COTH BB, as you have done. I respect your right to disagree with this thread, and I repeat, I honestly would like your specific opinions as to why you think she’s in the right?
Overall, let’s let cooler heads prevail here. You are championing her cause and others here are questioning her techniques and policies. If it is merely a case of poor verbal/written communications on her website, then she’s only “guilty” of not seeing how her “style” may be offensive, confusing and/or misleading vis a vis the reality of her practices. And, if that’s the case, we should know that before vilifying the woman. If it’s not, and her comments, policies and practices are as it seemed, then she needs to review why others who see in print what she “does” are not happy with it all.
Again, J Swan, I am not trying to pick any fights with you personally… I do not live there and so am not privvy to the local business climate or who is who. I truly want to understand what YOU understand as the reality there in this matter. Remember that adjudication often works much better than going to trial. Thanks for listening. 
