A Horse Bill of Sale, or equine bill of sale, documents the sale or transfer of a horse between a seller and a buyer. When buying a horse or pony, a bill of sale for a horse shows that ownership of the equine has been officially transferred to a new person.
Once signed, this document is a legally binding agreement that protects both the buyer and seller if either party changes their minds or disputes arise.
What is a Horse Bill of Sale?
A horse bill of sale is a legal document that memorializes the sale of a horse between two parties — a seller and a buyer. In exchange for a certain amount of money, the seller agrees to transfer ownership of a horse to the buyer. A horse bill of sale serves as an official record that a horse was sold on a certain date for a certain price.
Horse Bill of Sale Requirements
A simple Horse Bill of Sale is proof that purchase occurred and includes the following details:
- Seller: the person who currently owns the horse being sold
- Buyer: the person buying the horse or becoming the new owner
- Description of Horse: the horse’s date of birth, coat color (bay/chestnut/gray), sex, breed, registration number, markings or tattoos
- Sire: details about the horse’s father, including his registration number
- Dam: details about the horse’s mother, including her registration number
- Price: state the sale price and how the horse will be paid, whether in full or in installments, plus when the registration papers will transfer hands
- Warranties: whether the horse is sold “as is” or if there are guarantees
- Date: when the horse was sold by the Seller to the Purchaser
Why Do You Need a Bill of Sale For a Horse?
You should use a horse bill of sale anytime you plan to buy, sell, or transfer ownership of a horse. Without a bill of sale, there is no way to prove the ownership of the horse has been transferred legally.
In some states like California, Florida, and Kentucky, a bill of sale is legally required whenever a horse is sold, purchased, or transferred.
You can also use a completed horse bill of sale to protect yourself, whether you’re the buyer or the seller.
As the seller, a horse bill of sale protects you if there are any problems with the horse after the sale, and the buyer attempts to get their money back. With a horse bill of sale, the horse is sold “as-is”, so if the buyer discovers any issues after the sale is complete, the seller no longer has responsibility.
As the buyer, a horse bill of sale will protect you if the seller attempts to reclaim the equine since the bill of sale legally proves that you are the true owner of the horse.
What Should a Horse Bill of Sale Include?
A simple horse bill of sale should generally answer the following basics:
- Who is buying and selling the horse
- What the purchase price of the horse is for future tax purposes
- Where the horse was registered and its registration number
- When the horse is being purchased
- How the horse is sold with warranties and conditions or simply “as is”
A horse bill of sale may also address these additional considerations:
- Breeding Rights: whether rights to breed the horse are being transferred
- Commission: whether the buyer and/or seller will pay an agent, trainer, or third party a fixed amount or percentage of the purchase price for help with brokering the deal
- Deposit: whether and under what conditions the seller must refund the deposit if the buyer rejects the horse after confirming the horse’s health with a veterinarian
- Registration Papers: confirm when the official registration papers should be transferred to the buyer and make sure the horse description and registered owner matches
- Veterinarian’s Examination: whether the buyer can get a pre-purchase veterinary exam with a blood sample from a local vet, especially if the horse is sold “as is”
Free Horse Bill of Sale Template
Below is a printable horse bill of sale template you can use for your own needs. It is available to download in PDF and Word format.
Horse Bill of Sale
