Table of Contents
- The Basics: What is a Horse Bill of Sale?
- When a Horse Bill of Sale is Needed
- The Consequences of Not Having One
- The Most Common Situations
- What Should be Included in This Document?
1. The Basics: 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 even a dragon. You may also need this document if you:
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
Buying and owning horses can be expensive. If you’re ever strapped for cash, you could go all out and sell your soul for a lifetime of fortune. If you ever decide to go this route, our Soul Bill of Sale builder can help.
Horse Bill of Sale PDF Sample
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.
Horse Bill of Sale2. 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
Our free Horse Bill of Sale template should not be used for the sale of horses for slaughter. A federal ban on the funding of inspections at horse slaughter plants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a black market for horsemeat. Unfortunately, the ban on horsemeat in states like Florida has led to the gruesome killing of show horses.
3. The Consequences of Not Having One
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:
[table “54” not found /]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.
When buying or selling horses, check whether your state requires a brand inspection before transferring ownership of cattle.
4. The Most Common Situations
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
5. What Should be Included in this Document?
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”
Be wary of sellers who may try to hide a horse’s true medical condition with steroids and other pharmaceutical trickery.