Equestrian

Template: Livery Agreement

Read what Net lawman says about this template:

"This document is suitable for any livery business. It protects the yard owner as strongly as possible, without being objectionable to the client.

It is written as a business tool that you can use for every client. It confirms your terms and their instructions. It compels a client to tell you basic facts about the horse and to disclose any vice. In a word, it enables you to plan and manage more efficiently.

Disclaimers also include cover for situation when you are asked to ride a client’s horse on your land or anywhere else.

You can also use the contract to explain how the yard works and to set down your practical rules and expectations.

The British Horse Society (BHS) publishes what they call "an example of a livery contract which could be used as a basis upon which to draw up an agreement". To be fair to the BHS, they do not suggest that it is a good version for you to use as is. We say unequivocally that it is unsuitable for you for two good reasons.

First, the legalistic wording adds unnecessary complexity to the document without any benefit. It makes it harder for your clients to be happy signing.

Second, and more importantly, the BHS contract is sponsored by the British Equine Vets Association, the ILPH and the RSPCA. The entire document is slanted towards care of the horse and legal protection of the horse owner and not the yard owner.

These welfare organisations are trying to nudge yard owners into doing things properly. We have no problem with that agenda. The ILPH is based just up the road from Net Lawman and we admire their work greatly. But the aim of the ILPH is to protect horses, whereas the aim of Net Lawman is to protect our clients and customers. We think that it is devious and disingenuous to give the equestrian world a draft livery agreement which is actually quite unsuitable for yard owners.

The BHS does provide very useful "guidelines for a livery contract" which is effectively a memory jogger for matters to include. We have included those points so far as it is in your interest to do so but we have not included matters which we believe might restrict you excessively."

Template: DIY Livery Yard Agreement

Read what Net lawman says about this template:

"This is an agreement for yard owners who provide a loose box and basic facilities to enable an owner-client to look after his or her horse.

It provides a broad framework covering every aspect of your prospective requirements for your contract with your owners. By using this agreement, we are sure you will spend far less time wrestling with client issues, great and small.

This template can be edited for any yard, to suit the exact way you do business. Although it is drawn to protect your interest as strongly as possible, we have considered what your clients will think when you send it to them. Your owners will not worry that they have to see a solicitor before they sign. However, as you read it, you may decide to soften some of the strictest suggestions we have made.

You can also use the agreement to explain how the yard works and to set out your practical rules and expectations. Yard procedures are given at the end of the document, and you can edit these to your exact requirements.

The British Horse Society publishes an example livery agreement. To be fair to the BHS, they do not suggest that it is a perfect version. However, we believe that it is unsuitable as a contract for two reasons.

Firstly, the wording is legalistic. This makes the document much more difficult to consider for a client, without adding any strength.

Secondly, the BHS livery agreement is sponsored by the British Equine Vets Association, the ILPH and the RSPCA. Unfortunately, the entire document is slanted towards care of the horse and legal protection of the horse owner and not the yard owner.

These welfare organisations are trying to nudge yard owners into doing things properly. We have no problem with that agenda. The ILPH is based just up the road from Net Lawman and we admire their work greatly. But the aim of the ILPH is to protect horses whereas our aim is to protect our clients and customers. We think that it is devious and disingenuous to give the equestrian world a draft agreement which is actually quite unsuitable for yard owners.

The BHS does provide very useful "guidelines for a livery contract" which is effectively a memory jogger for matters to include. We have included those points so far as it is in your interest to do so but we have not included matters which we believe might restrict you excessively, particularly when the services that you offer in a DIY arrangement are fewer than for full livery."

Template: Equestrian Facilities Licence: stables; arena or other buildings

Read what Net lawman says about this template:

"Use this document to record the terms under which you give permission to someone else to use your equestrian facilities. Those might be short term use of stables, an arena, show jumps, gallops or cross country course. Permission might be for a one-off or for repeat use.

A licence agreement (such as this one) is a document that grants permission to someone to do something under certain terms.

The reason to use a written document, rather than a more simple verbal agreement is that neither party can later dispute what was agreed. This is particularly important when granting permission to use equestrian facilities because it helps protect you from claims by the other party if there is an accident, whilst also giving you a stronger case in a claim for damage to your property if that occurs.

You can use this agreement for any type of facility including:

• stables
• an arena or a school
• aquacisers and other training and recovery systems
• show jumps
• gallops
• a cross country course

Permission can be granted on a one off basis or for multiple visits."

Template: Horse Training Agreement

Read what Net lawman says about this template:

"Many horsemen simply agree to a training deal casually under the proposition that the owner will turn up from time to time for lessons on her ever-improving horse. It is easily done. But that leaves you open to numerous potential problems. Without the terms of training written down, it is likely that at some point you will disagree with your client about exactly what level of service you are providing and what they should reasonably expect from you.

This agreement is your route to happier clients, an easier life and less worry about what might go wrong. It protects you in a number of ways:

By confirming the condition of the horse and whether it has any vices or problems, you will protect yourself from claims that the condition of the horse has deteriorated in your care. Failure to bring on a horse as quickly as the owner expects is also a common point of dispute.

The agreement sets out the obligations of the horse owner too. Information she provides must be true and full. And if she just forgets to tell you that her horse will destroy your lorry, you have a neat provision that she will be paying the repair bill.

The agreement also covers many aspects of what is included in your deal. If both sides know exactly what are the expectations and requirements of the other, the arrangement will be a success.

Disclaimers also include cover for situation when you are asked to ride a client’s horse on your land or anywhere else."

Template: Stallion Service Agreement

Read what Net lawman says about this template:

"This is an agreement for use primarily by any stallion owner as his standard terms, setting out clearly the mare information and warranties he needs, and terms for reservation, attendance, payment, certification, live foal guarantee. It is suitable for the owner of any pony, sport horse or special breed stallion. Although drawn primarily to protect a stallion owner, this agreement sets out matters important to the mare owner as well. It is likely to be acceptable to both parties without much editing.

This agreement has a number of features that should help prevent common disputes.

Live foal guarantee provision

This agreement sets out terms for free return (repeat service in case of failure to become pregnant), which protect both owners. It specifies by what date the mare must be not be in foal to qualify for a free return. It also includes provision that a vet will check the mare's fertility if she does not become pregnant after the first season.

Provision for reservation

By providing for a reservation fee, the stallion owner can schedule visits from mares. An even flow of customers will help farm and stallion management.

Costs are clearly detailed in a separate schedule

Often mare owners can be concerned about value for money, particularly if the service fee is large or if a foal is not born. A stallion owner should set out fee information clearly, differentiating between the service fee and care costs, such as livery and veterinary charges. If the mare does not become pregnant, or if a live foal is not born, the mare owner is more likely to understand how costs have been incurred. This agreement uses a schedule of costs to set out different fees clearly.

Mare owner warranties

If you have a good stallion, you will want to be sure that mares are likely to produce good offspring, particularly for the first few years, so that the results of early offspring can be used to advertise the stallion at a higher fee later on. As far as a legal agreement can, this document includes warranties that the mare is fit and healthy."

Detailed guidance notes are provided with each template. Net Lawman offers a money back guarantee if the document is not what you need, as well as a legal review option if you want some professional assistance when you are drawing up your documents.

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