USEF is not involved in the sale of horses. They have a little page of suggestions for people who are buying a horse, but no rules. Horse sales are beyond their reach.
Kentucky has a law against double agency too.
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Youâre correct, however IMHO, USEF, should be regulating it. Once the IRS really begins getting involved in taxing and monitoring horse sales, these professionals doing nefarious sales (and letâs be honest thereâs a large majority of them at the top of the sport stealing from undisclosed âcommissionsâ), theyâre all screwed. Personally with the tariffs and all other fallout of the economy, I think the equine industry is in trouble. Imported horses from the EU just increased 20%.
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It would be impossible for USEF regulate horse sales.
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While they may be unable to âregulateâ there should be more accountability and standardization of contracts via the USEF. Things need to change in order for this sport to have any future in so many different respects from horse welfare to nefarious horse sales, and itâs about time USEF wakes up.
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They can barely regulate their existing rules (shamateurs anyone?)
While I agree those with legal actions against them should be sanctioned accordingly in some way, I donât foresee USEF having a place in sales regulation.
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I agree w you both. That said, so many horses are sold that have nothing to do w USEF. Those guys unrelated to USEF cheat, too.
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Yeah very sad. And I agree with you as well.
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I thought they added double agency to violations which, if found guilty in court of law, were grounds for suspension
Honestly, until I hear the other side I donât think Iâll comment. Doesnât sound good but who knows? 
Being a civil defense lawyer, and a fan of the Jake Evans I and my family took lessons from in Washington a few years ago, I would suggest that no one speculate at all based solely on allegations. We do not know the story, this manâs reputation is at stake and maybe his livelihood, so letâs let the Court figure this out. Gossip and speculation need to be avoided.
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And to put a finer point on it, please donât speculate or judge before you know all the facts. And please donât defame people (like Jake) just because he is currently vulnerable. He is a young man who has had a number of challenges in his life. Be kind. If he has does bad things, it will come to light. But donât pre-judge or gossip.
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To be honest I donât think this sort of stuff hurts a trainers reputation anymore. We have trainers out there beating and killing horses and still have a barn full of clients. Shady business dealings come with the territory in the horse world and I donât think most bat an eye.
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Ooooh, house guests! Classic COTH is BACK!
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There have been plenty of witnesses to his riding âskillsâ in Ocala and other places. I wouldnât send him a horse if he was the last trainer standing.
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@LSBC I donât actually disagree with you on transparency in the industry having benefits, in this case my comment stems from some knowledge of the motivations of the particular people behind this making its way to the TikTok creator. And despite clients defending the vet in the comments, the vet got completely dragged through the mud when he isnât even a defendant in the case, and people are just taking allegations as fact. The facts will come out, whatever they truly are, and the chips will fall where they may, but it seems like the allegations always get a lot more attention than the defense or the outcome, probably in part because of how long court cases take.
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There are definitely two camps on this - while I have certainly heard your view expressed, I also know people who have had horses with him after he opened his own business who were around to see and were very happy with the riding and care, and he is by all accounts an excellent teacher. Heâs young, mid-20âs, and if the former is the way he operates rather than the latter, I would imagine the marketplace will bear that out, time will tell.
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People still use Paul Valliere, Andy Kocher and other bad eggs. Just because they and Jake have customers doesnât change my opinion of them.
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