Who Needs a Horse Boarding Contract?
One of the most important agreements that a horse boarding barn should have in place before they bring in their first boarder is a Horse Boarding Contract. It is a legal binding document that should be read together with the prospective boarder to alleviate any future misunderstandings.
Below are a few suggestions on what to include in a boarding contract although I strongly suggest that the contract be reviewed by a qualified equine attorney. It may also be a good idea, as you review this document with your boarder, to have both parties initial each page indicating it has been read and understood.
Owner Contact Information
You will want to have all the necessary contact information about the person responsible for payment. This would include name, address, phone number and an emergency contact name and phone number. Some barns are even requesting credit card information on file too as a back up means for payments.
The barn owner must include in the contract what measures will be taken in the event of an emergency. For instance, the barn would first contact the horse owner and then contact the veterinarian (either barn or owners). This must be clearly spelled out in this agreement.
Horse Description Details
Every contract should include detailed information about each horse that will be boarded. This would include, date of birth, breed, color and markings, registration, medical history, known allergies and a copy of any insurance documents. You will require valid documentation of the last negative coggins test, as well as the date of the last tetanus vaccination and any other vaccinations required by law.
Include in this section the name, address and phone of the boarder’s current veterinarian, dentist and farrier. If you require that the boarder use the barn’s current professional services you will need to include it in the agreement and be sure the boarder is made aware.
Monthly Charges
Some barns require that the first and last month board is due upon admittance. If that is the case is must be fully detailed in the agreement including number of days notice required if the boarder plans to leave. It must also be fully explained what the last month’s board will be applied toward should the boarder provide the thirty day notice.
Any additional charges during the month, such as a holding fee or additional feeds, should be well established with boarder and barn owner before work is completed. Many barns have a list of charges over and above the standard board fees which can be included as an attachment in the agreement.
The contract should clearly define exactly what is included in the board and what is considered an additional fee. Generally, board would include things like daily stall cleaning, clean and fill water buckets, feed and taken out to pasture. Each barn must determine what to consider an extra fee as some may include fly spray and blanketing part of the board where others may charge.
Monthly invoiced due date and late charges must also be clearly defined and included in this document.
What is Available for Boarder Use
The barn owner should include in the section of the agreement all of the amenities available for the boarder’s use while at the barn. This can include any assigned area in the tack room, what paddocks are free for use, the scheduling of the arena, lesson schedule, access to farm equipment, location of any medical supplies and fire extinguishers.
The hours of the barn’s operations, security on the premises and emergency phone number of the barn owner and medical contacts should be included here as well.
What are the Rules
Every barn has a set of rules that all boarders must adhere to while at the barn in order to keep everyone safe and secure. These rules should be attached to the contract agreement, read to the potential boarder and displayed in a well congregated area of the barn such as the office or tack room.
There are a couple of other areas that need particular attention and should really be reviewed by a competent equine attorney which are:
Hold Harmless which basically states that the barn is not held responsible for any liability due to loss, disease, death, theft or anything else that they cannot control.
Right of Lien speaks to what if any liens can be placed on the horse should the owner fail repeatedly to pay monthly board.
Default which has to do if either party (barn owner or horse owner) break any rules of the signed contract agreement.
In summary, I would strongly suggest spending the few extra dollars it might cost to pay a knowledgeable equine attorney to write up a Horse Boarding Contract. I have researched a fair amount of information while gathering data for this post and found an amazing amount of valuable information on the Equine Legal Solutions website.
Feel free to comment below and let us know of any other websites that you have found that provide helpful information on Horse Boarding Contracts.
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This is a great horse boarding contract article, Marie, with a super summary of key points to think about if you’re allowing other people to keep horses at your facility. This is something people who are ‘doing friend favors’ should strongly consider doing too. Ditto for training facilities (guilty). So often, people think they’re going to undermine relationships by presenting a contract to sign, but usually the opposite is the case. If everyone’s clear from the onset what the expectations are, you rarely have blow-ups over misunderstandings. More friendships have been lost due to former than a meeting of the minds from the start.