Equine Injury, Fatality & Incident Investigations
Whether the victim walks on two legs or four, our pursuit of the truth remains the same.
At Laura Pettler & Associates Death Investigations, we understand that not every equine injury, fatality, or incident is as straightforward as it may appear.
Horses are valuable athletes, business assets, companions, breeding stock, and family members. When a serious injury, unexpected death, accident, insurance dispute, boarding conflict, transportation incident, training injury, or horse-related human fatality occurs, owners are often left with unanswered questions.
Our role is to help identify facts, reconstruct events, evaluate evidence, and provide an independent assessment of what may have occurred.
What We Investigate
We assist horse owners, attorneys, insurers, organizations, and equine professionals with matters involving:
Equine fatalities
Unexpected or unexplained horse deaths
Suspected neglect or abuse cases
Transportation accidents
Boarding facility incidents
Training and riding accidents
Competition-related injuries
Equine insurance disputes
Liability and negligence claims
Horse-related human fatalities
Horse-related serious injuries
Witness statement analysis
Timeline reconstruction
Incident reconstruction and event analysis
Every case begins with the same question: What can be proven?
Our Approach
Unlike traditional equine consultants, our methodology is rooted in forensic investigation.
Using principles developed through decades of death investigation and criminal case analysis, we examine:
Medical and veterinary records
Photographs and video evidence
Witness statements
Timelines and chronology
Environmental factors
Facility conditions
Human factors and decision-making
Documentation and records
Physical evidence when available
Our goal is not to advocate for one side or another. Our goal is to follow the evidence wherever it leads.
Why Choose Laura Pettler & Associates?
Dr. Laura Pettler is an internationally recognized forensic criminologist, criminal investigator, author, educator, and inventor of multiple investigative methodologies used to analyze complex events, suspicious deaths, and disputed circumstances.
As both an investigator and lifelong equestrian, Dr. Pettler brings a unique combination of forensic expertise and practical horse experience to every case.
This dual perspective allows us to examine incidents through both an investigative and equine lens—often identifying questions, inconsistencies, or overlooked factors that may not be immediately apparent.
Common Reasons Clients Contact Us
Clients often reach out when:
The explanation provided doesn't make sense.
Witness accounts conflict.
Important questions remain unanswered.
Liability is being disputed.
Insurance claims are challenged.
An attorney requires an independent review.
A family seeks answers following a horse-related human death.
A horse owner wants an objective assessment of what happened.
Consulting Services
Our services may include:
Case review and consultation
Independent incident assessment
Chronology development
Evidence review
Witness statement evaluation
Equine-related death and injury investigations
Attorney support and litigation consulting
Expert analysis and reporting
Each matter is evaluated individually to determine whether our services are appropriate for the circumstances presented.
Request a Consultation
If you are facing unanswered questions surrounding an equine injury, fatality, accident, or horse-related human death, we invite you to contact us for a confidential consultation.
Truth matters.
And sometimes the most important questions begin in the barn.