Free Horse Bill of Sale

Table of Contents

1. What is a Horse Bill of Sale?
2. Horse Bill of Sale Template [PDF]
3. When a Horse Bill of Sale is Needed
4. Consequences of Not Having a Horse Bill of Sale
5. Common Situations to Use a Horse Bill of Sale
6. What to Include in a Horse Bill of Sale

1. What is a Horse Bill of Sale?

A Horse Bill of Sale documents the sale or transfer of a horse between two parties — a Seller and a Purchaser. When buying a horse or pony, a Bill of Sale shows that ownership of the equine has been officially transferred to a new person. Once signed, this document is a binding agreement in case either parties change their minds or disputes arise.

A bill of sale is generally used to transfer ownership of personal property that is tangible and easy to move like a motorized vehicle, water vessel, or any personal items. There are also specific bills of sale that are customized for selling specific things, such as:

• Firearm bill of sale
• Boat bill of sale
• Car bill of sale

A simple Horse Bill of Sale is proof that a purchase occurred and includes the following elements:

• Seller: the person who currently owns the horse being sold
• Purchaser: 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 instalments, 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

As a reference, people often call this document by other names:

• Bill of Sale for Horse
• Equine Bill of Sale
• Equine Contract of Sale
• Equine Purchase Agreement
• Equine Sales Agreement
• Horse Bill of Sale Agreement
• Horse Purchase and Sale Agreement
• Horse Purchase Contract
• Horse Sale Agreement
• Horse Sale Contract

2. Horse Bill of Sale Template [PDF]

The sample horse bill of sale below details an agreement between the seller, ‘William B Briggs’ and the purchaser, ‘Veronica R Wright.’ William B Briggs agrees to sell Bucky, a chestnut gelding, to Veronica R Wright for $6,000.

3. When a Horse Bill of Sale is Needed

A Horse Bill of Sale provides written proof of the following:

• the Seller owns the horse and has the right to sell the horse
• whether an agent is acting on behalf of either the Purchaser and/or Seller
• a transaction actually occurred, especially if the horse is gifted or traded
• the Seller intended to transfer ownership of the horse to the Purchaser
• details of the horse transferred (i.e. year, model, make, serial number, unique markings)
• the horse was sold “as is” or is guaranteed to be fit for competition

4. Consequences of Not Having an Equine Bill of Sale

A Horse Bill of Sale could save you time and money. For example, if the newly purchased horse turns out to be a lame or have medical problems, this document may be helpful in a future lawsuit about a fraudulent sale. Actor Tom Selleck, better known in his role in Magnum, P.I., successfully won more than $187,000 after being sold Zorro, a lame horse supposedly fit for competition back in 2009.

Here are some of the consequences a Horse Bill of Sale could prevent:

What happens if I do not have the proper documentation?

In some states like California, Florida, and Kentucky, a Bill of Sale is legally required whenever a horse is sold, purchased, or transferred.

5. Common Situations to Use a Horse Bill of Sale

Here are just a few people who could commonly benefit from a simple Horse Bill of Sale:

Possible Sellers and Purchasers:

• Individuals
  • Family members
  • Friends
  • Online horse selling platforms
• Organizations
  • Horse Dealers
  • Businesses
  • Auctions

6. What to Include in a Horse Bill of Sale

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”

What else should be included?

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 Purchaser 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 Purchaser 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 Purchaser and make sure the horse description and registered owner matches
• Veterinarian’s Examination: whether the Purchaser can get a pre-purchase veterinary exam with a blood sample from a local vet, especially if the horse is sold “as is”