Oliver Nunn secures £174,000 freezing injunction in landmark equine law case

21st March 2025

3PB's property, housing and agricultural specialist Oliver NunnOliver NunnCall: 2011 has successfully obtained a £174,000 freezing injunction in a high-value equine law dispute. Frequently instructed in disputes over horses, after sales, loans and veterinary treatments, Oliver was instructed by specialist equine solicitor Rebecca Stojak who is the Head of the Equine Law Team at Geldards LLP.

Oliver represented an aspiring dressage rider who entered into an agreement to lease a horse at the rate of £30,000 per annum under the assurance that it was fit to be a Young Rider Horse, capable of Grand Prix-level competition and free from medical issues.. The horse was later discovered to suffer from a severe hindlimb condition which severely affected its mobility and performance. As a result, the horse required extensive veterinary care before sadly having to be put down on welfare grounds.

This meant that the owner was in breach of the lease agreement and under its terms was required to take the horse back and refund the first year's loan fee of £30,000. The owner refused and sought the next year's loan fee of a further £30,000. Social media posts suggested that the owner was planning to move to the Caribbean and their primary UK residence was now for sale, so a freezing injunction was sought.

HHJ Coe KC, Designated Civil Judge for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, heard the application and considered submissions from Oliver, based on Les Ambassadeurs Ltd v Yu [2021] EWCA Civ 1310, that the correct test was whether there was a 'real risk' of unjustified dissipation of assets. HHJ Coe KC also noted that it was right to submit that the purpose is to ensure a judgment is not rendered valueless by an unjustifiable disposal of assets.

The court granted a freezing injunction, preventing the owner from dissipating their assets below a value of £174,000, covering an estimated £75,000 damages claim and a £99,000 approved costs budget. The order further restricted them from spending more than £2,000 per month. Legal costs from the Freezing Injunction application were also awarded in the rider's favour.

Oliver and Rebecca’s client said: “We cannot speak highly enough of the quality of the legal advice, level of professionalism and commitment exhibited by Rebecca Stojak of Geldards LLP and Oliver Nunn of 3PB, not only with respect to the Freezing Injunction application, but also throughout the case. Rebecca and Oliver have both consistently gone above and beyond in terms of their level of application and expertise, and with their attention to detail having made a significant difference to the case. Rebecca’s equine experience and legal expertise is second to none, with Oliver combining deep legal knowledge with an ability to explain legal points in a way that is easily understood. We are very grateful to both Rebecca and Oliver for their unwavering support and dedication and would not hesitate to recommend their legal services for any matter, however complex.”

If you wish to contact or instruct Oliver, please contact his clerks Sam Collins or Georgia Coleyshaw on [email protected] or [email protected] or telephone either of them on 0121 289 4333.