Florida unveils sale law changes

Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has released its proposed changes to state law governing horse sales and opened a 21-day public comment period on the new regulations.

Representatives of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, and Thoroughbred owner and buyer Earle I. Mack developed the proposal.

The proposed regulations ban undisclosed dual agency and include mandatory disclosure for some veterinary procedures, such as internal blistering and shockwave therapy, within one week of a sale; call for sellers to disclose accurate veterinary information about a horse when a buyer asks for it; allow sales companies to require specific veterinary documentation for those sellers who voluntarily participate in an auction's veterinary information repository; and call on auction companies to correct sale results within 90 days to show as unsold any horses previously incorrectly listed as sold.