Horse loan agreement

About this horse loan agreement

The British Horse Society (BHS) strongly advocates using a loan agreement regardless of whether you are the owner or the borrower. As well as forming a legal contract and protecting both sides in law, using an agreement like this one has several additional benefits over an informal or verbal one.

Firstly, it can be used for planning. The structure of the agreement forces both sides to think about what is important to them (such as the level of care the horse or pony will receive).

Secondly, it acts as a record of what was agreed, so it can help prevent misunderstandings once the loan is in force and before problems spiral out of control. Using a formal written document may seem unnecessary between friends, but it is in the interests of both parties, the long-term friendship and the horse.

The BHS produce a free horse loan agreement. We do not think it covers all the practical issues. The draftsman of the Net Lawman version has owned and ridden horses for 40 years. He has taken into account many more options based on the practical experiences of himself and others. The result is a document that leaves your interests better protected. Our version is easy to complete and very comprehensive.

The law relating to horse loan agreements

You are largely free to draw the deal you want with the other party. There is very little that can't be included in your contract for any legal reason. So, if you want to specify details like diet, you can do so, or you can keep the terms broad. We suggest including as much additional detail about points that matter to you. Bear in mind that you have to be realistic about whether the other side will be able to perform the contract and keep to their side of the deal.

When to use this agreement

This document could be used to loan:

• A horse or pony to be ridden for a specific purpose such as training, competition experience, or conditioning
• A brood mare to take a foal
• A horse or pony to be ridden for recreation

It is suitable for any breed or type of horse or pony, from a racehorse to a Shetland pony.

Use the agreement to guide a discussion as to what the deal will be before you agree outright to the loan. By rising the points that the agreement covers you'll be able to assess whether the other party is someone with whom you would like to do business and what their concerns may be.

Features and contents

• Expands on the BHS horse loan agreement
• Suitable whether the loan is paid or free
• Provides a record of what was agreed and prevents misunderstandings

The contents include:

• Responsibilities of rider for care and maintenance including the condition of the animal, tack and supplies
• Risk and insurance: sets out which party is responsible
• Warranties relating to the condition and the history of the horse
• Conditions of the loan that rider shall compete (optional)
• Special provisions for brood mares (optional)
• Supply to buyer of documents and record of achievement