Wardrum v. Commissioner

1990 T.C. Memo. 121, 59 T.C.M. 59, 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 121
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMarch 8, 1990
DocketDocket No. 7656-88
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1990 T.C. Memo. 121 (Wardrum v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wardrum v. Commissioner, 1990 T.C. Memo. 121, 59 T.C.M. 59, 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 121 (tax 1990).

Opinion

VIRGINIA L. WARDRUM, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Wardrum v. Commissioner
Docket No. 7656-88
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1990-121; 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 121; 59 T.C.M. (CCH) 59; T.C.M. (RIA) 90121;
March 8, 1990
Virginia L. Wardrum, pro se.
Michael A. Urbanos, for the respondent.

DINAN

*179 MEMORANDUM OPINION

DINAN, Special Trial Judge: This case was heard pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and Rules 180, 181 and 182. 1

Respondent determined deficiencies of $ 1,634 and $ 1,535 in petitioner's Federal income tax for the taxable years 1984 and 1985, respectively.

The sole issue for decision is whether petitioner engaged in a horse raising/training/competition activity with a profit objective.

This case was submitted to the Court fully stipulated under Rule 122. The stipulations of fact and attached exhibits are incorporated by this reference. Petitioner resided*123 in Topsham, Maine, at the time she filed her petition herein.

During the period beginning 1979 up through the taxable years in issue (1984 and 1985) petitioner and her daughter, Merry Lynch, were involved in raising and training horses and using them in competition. During this period petitioner owned a total of six horses but never more than four at any given time. The following table shows the history of the horses petitioner owned during the period 1979 to 1985: *180

Name of HorseDate AcquiredCostDate SoldSales Price
Zilch *1978$  25.001982$   100.00
Sam ** 1978850.0019862,700.00
Honey Bars1978600.001978600.00
Shauntaga ***1980500.001983900.00
Shadow ****19810  198230.00
Chocolate Chip1981360.001981400.00
Sony *****19820  ----  

*124 From 1979 to 1982 petitioner operated the horse raising and training enterprise at her Lubbock, Texas, residence which was referred to as Cottonwood Stables. Included on the property was a three stall barn with an adjoining tack/feed room, a 20 meter by 60 meter dressage arena, a small jump course and a separate turnout area for each horse. She purchased the property in 1978 after having been divorced.

Petitioner's primary involvement in the activity included building and maintaining facilities, purchasing feed and supplies, transporting horses locally and interstate for competitions, daily horse care, and maintaining ledgers and records of the activity. This involved approximately 15 to 20 hours per week of petitioner's time.

Petitioner consulted outside experts when setting up her horse raising activity.

Petitioner was employed full time independent of her horse raising activity during the period 1979 to 1985 with a salary range of $ 24,655 in 1979 to $ 41,443 in 1985.

Petitioner's daughter, Merry, was responsible for training the horses. This took approximately 20 hours of her time per week in the off season and 40 hours per week during the competition season. Petitioner*125 paid Merry a yearly salary of $ 1,900 and $ 992 for the taxable years 1984 and 1985, respectively, for her services of training the horses. Merry had extensive knowledge and experience on how to train horses. She was under the tutelage of many top trainers. It appears that the reason Merry worked so hard at her horse training was to make it to the Olympic equestrian team. Merry rode the horses in competition. During the period 1979 to 1985, Merry won over 300 ribbons and 30 first place trophies in competition. Merry was 12 years old in 1979.

In 1982, Merry went to preparatory school in Charleston, South Carolina. While there she participated in competitions on the East Coast with her horse Sam. She resided with her father for the year.

During 1983, petitioner changed employers and moved to San Antonio, Texas. When she moved she also moved her horses to a boarding facility which charged a flat rate for a stall or pasture space, hay and grain, and use of the facilities.

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Related

Benz v. Commissioner
63 T.C. 375 (U.S. Tax Court, 1974)
Allen v. Commissioner
72 T.C. 28 (U.S. Tax Court, 1979)
Golanty v. Commissioner
72 T.C. 411 (U.S. Tax Court, 1979)
Dreicer v. Commissioner
78 T.C. No. 44 (U.S. Tax Court, 1982)
Abramson v. Commissioner
86 T.C. No. 23 (U.S. Tax Court, 1986)

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Bluebook (online)
1990 T.C. Memo. 121, 59 T.C.M. 59, 1990 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 121, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wardrum-v-commissioner-tax-1990.