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32 Horses Seized from Fairy Tail Equines
Connecticut officials seized 32 horses from Fairy Tail Equines which breeds Gypsy Vanner horses. It stems from the neglect of Villa Vanners stallion Romeo....
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A Taxing Question: Your Horse Hobby and Business Deductions
Before taking those horse hobby expenses as deductions, you may want to consider the following factors, (since the Internal Revenue Service does) to determine whether your deductions will withstand scrutiny later....
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Sex Offender Horse Trainer Accused of Violating Probation after Teaching Riding Lessons to Children
Convicted sex offender Robert L. Johnson, of Missouri, is in trouble after being caught teaching children horseback riding lessons. The owner of Johnsons Performance Horses, located in Miller, is charged with violating his p...
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Arrest in Brutal Attack of White Birch Farm Owner
State police arrested the son-in-law of Connecticut stable owner Lisa Rader on Thursday. Authorities say Matthew Frick had a role in the savage beating sustained by Rader at her White Birch Farm last September....
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Connecticut Stable Owner Brutally Attacked
A criminal investigation is underway after a Connecticut farm owner was assaulted at her White Birch Farm....
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Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Exploring Equine Liability Laws
While it varies by state, generally, a landowner owes a third party "the duty of using ordinary care to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn . . . of any hidden dangers."...
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Connecticut House Votes for “The Horses”
In response to a recent court ruling, Connecticut’s House of Representatives passed a bill declaring horses are not inherently dangerous....
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Connecticut Supreme Court Ruling: Horses Inclined to be Vicious
The court upheld an Appellate ruling 6-0 that horses belong to "a species naturally inclined to do mischief or be vicious."...
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CT Equine Dentist Arraigned on Animal Cruelty, Related Charges
Connecticut equine dentist Shelley Lavigne was arraigned after she allegedly administered sedation to clients' horses, which she is not licensed to do, and one of the horses had a seizure....
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CT Horse Dead from Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Connecticut agriculture officials say the first horse diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis this year has been euthanized. The miniature horse, located in Griswold, began showing signs of the infection on September 8....
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Starbuck Sentenced for Attempting to Hide Cash
Connecticut horse trainer Juliana Starbuck was sentenced today by a US District Judge to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine. The Starbuck Equestrian owner attempted to remove more than $1.3 million in cash to prevent it...
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Starbuck Equestrian Co-Owner Guilty
Horse trainer Juliana Starbuck has pleaded guilty to removing evidence during a Federal Investigation. The Grand Prix rider and co-owner of Starbuck Equestrian in Connecticut waived her right to indictment and made the plea ...
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JULIANA COLE WEBER
Stepping Stone Farm owner Juliana Cole Weber of Connecticut pleaded guilty to Federal tax charges. She will forfeit $1 Million and must pay back taxes, penalties, and interest. She will also serve prison time....
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT vs. APPOLLONIO VITTORIO (aka PAUL VITTORIO).
Pee Wee Horse Farm advertised online as "the best of the west, here at home" and offers boarding, lessons, and horse sales. The owner of the boarding stable, Paul Vittorio, of Connecticut is being charged with six counts of ...
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. SHELLEY LAVIGNE
Connecticut equine dental practitioner, Shelley Lavigne, is facing criminal charges after she allegedly administered sedation to clients' horses, which she is not licensed to do, and one of the horses had a seizure....
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. AMY RADER-FRICK
Amy Rader-Frick owns White Birch Farm in Portland, Connecticut. It is a horse boarding, riding, and training facility geared at the Quarter Horse industry. A judge recently sentenced Rader-Frick's husband in a murder-for-hir...
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. THOMAS L. OLAJOS
Thomas Olajos and his wife, Melanie Olajos, of Fairy Tail Equines, are charged with dozens of counts of animal cruelty for the maltreatment of their horses....
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. MELANIE S. OLAJOS
Officials seized more than 100 animals including 32 horses, some Gypsy Vanners, from horse breeders Melanie Olajos and her husband. The Fairy Tail Equines owners are facing animal cruelty charges....
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Connecticut Riding Instructor Charged with Child Sex Abuse
Accused of sexually abusing horseback riding student A Connecticut horseback riding instructor from Valley View Stables is charged with sexually assaulting a former riding student. Michael Sobieniak, 41, of Brooklyn, is cha...
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Horse Trainer May be Headed back to Prison
“All I did was slap her on the ass. When can I move on from this?”
A statement attributed to a registered sex offender and horse trainer Robert L. Johnson. It was given in testimony by his probation officer in court yes...
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Horse Trainer’s Husband Sentenced in Murder-For-Hire Plot
A judge sentenced the husband of Connecticut horse trainer Amy Rader Frick to 25-years in prison last week after he hired a hit on his mother-in-law....
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Convicted Sex Offender, Trainer Robert Johnson Sentenced for Third Probation Violation
A Connecticut judge sentenced convicted sex offender Robert L. Johnson to 25 months in prison Tuesday for a third probation violation....
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT v. MICHAEL SOBIENIAK
Connecticut horseback riding instructor Michael Sobieniak from Valley View Stables is charged with sexually assaulting former horseback riding students in two cases brought at different times....
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JESSICA REARDON v. WINDSWEPT FARM, LLC, ET AL.
The Connecticut Supreme Court rules on a case after a horseback riding student is injured and claims the riding instructor was negligent. Find out if the farm providing services is covered by its liability waiver and how to ...
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DOW-WESTBROOK, INC. v. CANDLEWOOD EQUINE PRACTICE, LLC.
The plaintiff filed suit, alleging that the defendant was negligent in turning out the plaintiff's horse with another horse and that the defendant failed to supervise properly and to provide professional care for the horse....
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WILLIAM R. DODDS, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.
This horse breeder was denied more than a million dollars in tax deductions over time for not showing enough "profit motive" and he's an accountant. Find out what he did wrong, so you don't make the same mistakes in your sma...
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SARAH P. THAYER v. COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE
Dr. Sarah Thayer posted losses of over $450,000 over three years. Her plan to lease Charleston 26 to Cesar Parra for the Pan Am games also failed. Will the tax board find Dr. Thayer on the hook because it is deemed a hobby -...
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ONCE AGAIN FARM, LLC v. THOMAS OLAJOS, MELANIE OLAJOS.
Thomas and Melanie Olajos of Fairy Tail Equines are being sued by their former landlord after they failed to make the payments on the horse farm they leased for their equine business. The pair is also facing animal cruelty c...
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HENRY J. METZ AND CHRISTIE M. METZ, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.
Henry and Christie Metz owned an Arabian farm known as Silver Maple Farm. Between 2004 and 2009 - the years at issue - it lost millions of dollars. Now the IRS looks at if the Metzes tried to turn a profit as a business or i...
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Connecticut Judge Awards Department of Ag 32 Seized Horses
A Connecticut judge awarded 32 horses and dozens of small animals to the state's Department of Agriculture on Tuesday. The equines were seized from the Olajos' East Hampton breeding farm Fairy Tail Equines in early February....
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Fairy Tail Equines’ Owners Charged with Animal Cruelty
After the facade surrounding Fairy Tails Equines, a Connecticut Gypsy Vanner breeding operation crumbled, the owners are each charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty. Authorities arrested Melanie Olajos, and her husband, T...
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