Horse boarding agreement

About this horse boarding contract

This document is suitable for any livery business, whether you have just a couple of clients or provide extensive services for a large number of owners, riders and horses.

It covers practical issues such as the need for horse owners to follow yard rules and a process for emergency medical care, while also limiting the liability of your boarding stable business for matters outside your control. It should ensure that clients make full payment on time.

As such, it provides you, the yard owner, with a high level of legal protection, protecting you as strongly as possible, without being objectionable to the client.

By using this agreement, we are sure you will spend far less time wrestling with client issues, great and small.

Written in plain English

The draftsman has many years of experience of riding horses and is aware of the issues that a horse boarding business might face, both from a legal perspective and a practical one.

Like all our templates, this boarding contract is written in plain English. This does not change the legal effect of the contract - it is drawn to protect your interest as strongly as possible - but gives advantages of contracts that use extensive legal terminology and complex structures.

First, editing is easy for you. A flexible structure gives you the opportunity to change it to suit the exact way you work.

Second, your clients will understand it. They will be unlikely to question it when signing up for boarding, and it will be harder for them to claim later that they didn't know the terms.

The law relating to this agreement

The law in this agreement is common law, so you can make the deal that fits both parties best.

Either you can edit the horse boarding contract to be your terms and conditions (and use the same version for all customers) or you could edit this contract for each horse or pony you take.

Of course we take it for granted that you are aware of equine welfare issues, but they do not impact directly on your contract with your owners.

When to use this boarding contract

A good, readable horse boarding contract provides a marker to your efficiency just as much as a tidy stable and contented horses.

Ideally it should be used before the owner's horse or pony arrives at your stables so that there is no time before signing that you can be held liable for the animal.

We advise that you should edit the document to exactly what you want, then print copies out ready to give to potential clients.

Alternative agreements

This agreement is suitable where a full boarding stable service is provided. We have an alternative DIY boarding stable agreement where the owner of the horse or pony is responsible for a much greater proportion of care.

Features and contents

This horse boarding contract is written as a business tool that you can use for every client. It confirms your terms and their instructions.

You can use the boarding stable contract to explain how the stable works and set down your practical rules and expectations.

Because it compels a client to tell you basic facts about the horse and to disclose any vice, it allows you to plan and manage more efficiently. If a vice is not disclosed, you cannot be held responsible for the animal's behaviour.

Disclaimers include cover for situation when you are asked to ride a client’s horse on your land or anywhere else.

The template includes provision for details of services, prices and of course a description of the horse or pony.

• Responsibilities and obligations of parties
• Compliance with stable rules
• Use of additional facilities such as cross-country course
• Fees and expenses
• Care of horse
• Termination
• Insurance
• Schedule of service and prices
• Schedule of stable procedures