Miniature Horse looses challenge to be neighborhood pet

For the latest in miniature horse headlines visit: http://www.guidehorse.com/law_n_news.htm

Courts have been mixed in their rulings about designating miniature horses as livestock vs. companion animal pets.  In the latest news, Rhonda Applegate of Nevada Iowa lost her challenge for a zoning variance for her miniature horse Putt-Putt.

Appearing with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America on March 9, 2004, Ms. Applegate stated that "all ordinances need exceptions", and that "This is a common sense issue".

Whereas most successful challenges involve complying with the existing law, hiring an attorney and forthrightly challenging the designation, Applegate did not get legal representation, and Applegate chose to deliberately violate the ordinance.

Upon loosing her challenge, Applegate vowed to attend the local council meeting and start a petition to remove the mayor of Nevada, stating "Do not mess with my family".  Ms. Applegate has now retained an Attorney and is challenging the rejection of her zoning variance request.

This is an excellent example of why courts are divided about the status of miniature horses in residential areas.  In other miniature horse zoning cases, those with legal representation and well-reasoned arguments often will their challenges.  Here is a link to a good example of a successful challenge:

http://www.guidehorse.com/law_mini_ri.htm