Source:  Various

Yesterday, the judge issued a ruling in the case of the partnership dispute over eventing horse H.J. Hampton, known to his many fans as "Henny."  

The dispute between Peter Atkins, trainer, and Linda R. Martin, original owner, moved from a question of ownership details to a legal dispute when Martin removed Henny from Atkins' stable, without informing Atkins, following the World Equestrian Games.  Atkins had to go to court to find out where Henny was located.

Martin had originally purchased Henny in 2006 as a hunter prospect for her niece.  That plan did not work out and Atkins, an eventing rider, who first saw the horse at a clinic in 2007, took the horse on as a resale project.  

After working with the horse for some time, Atkins competed Henny at Advanced level.  It became apparent that the horse had talent and could be competitive at the 4* level.  Atkins began his popular "Run, Henny, Run" campaign to assist in managing expenses of competition at that level.  The pair gained wide support through Atkins' use of a helmet cam in documenting their efforts.

The legal dispute developed out of the two parties' different understanding of their relationship to the horse.  Martin maintained that she had given Atkins a "free lease agreement" by which Atkins would ride, train, and compete the horse, then return Henny to Martin as sole owner.  Atkins argued that he had not agreed to that arrangement, that no professional rider would, and that instead there was a partnership which would allow him to recoup his financial investment when the horse was sold.  

Following two separate days of testimony in the case, the judge ruled that there had been no 'free lease agreement,' but that there had been a partnership.

While Atkins was riding and competing the horse, he had entered Henny, and obtained official documents on him, as sole owner.  The judge ruled that this had not been done with any intent to misrepresent ownership, rather, Atkins was able to show that Martin had refused to take actions which would have allowed her to be included on the documents.

After Martin removed Henny, and refused to divulge his whereabouts or return him, the judge ruled that she had dissolved the partnership.  These actions had rendered the partnership unworkable.

In order to end the partnership, the judge has ordered that Henny must be sold at auction.  Discussion of a large syndicate to aid Atkins to purchase the horse has begun on internet boards.

The entire judgement, along with analysis, is available at Eventingnation.com.