Horse Boarding Contract Template

Horse Boarding Contract 

This Horse Boarding Contract (the "Agreement”) is made and entered into on is entered into on (the "Effective Date") by and between:

 with an address of  (the "Owner"); and

 with an address of  (the "Stable") (each referred to individually as a "Party" and together as the "Parties").

1. Term

This Agreement begins on  and continues until as selected:

 Until  unless earlier terminated according to the Termination Section.

 On a month-to-month basis, renewing automatically unless terminated according to the Termination Section.

2. Fees and Location

The Owner agrees to pay the following fees as provided below:

Monthly Board Fee: $ per horse, due on the 1st day of each month.

Late Fee: $; the fee applies to payments more than  days late.

Returned Payment Fee: $.

Security Deposit, if any: $ , applied to unpaid charges or refunded, with an itemized statement of deductions, within  days after horse removal.

Board shall be prorated for any partial month at the start or end of this Agreement. The Stable may adjust monthly rates with 30 days’ written notice. Fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated. Payments may be applied to costs, late fees, and then the oldest outstanding balance.

The Horse shall be boarded at the address below (the "Premises"):





3. Description of Horse

(i) Horse Name: 

Age:  Sex:  Color/Markings: 

Breed: 

Registration/Tattoo Number: 

Insurance Carrier / Policy #: 

Behavior Notes:



 

(ii) Horse Name: 

Age:  Sex:  Color/Markings: 

Breed: 

Registration/Tattoo Number: 

Insurance Carrier / Policy Number: 

Behavior Notes:



 

Current photographs of each Horse may be attached as Exhibit  to document condition upon intake.

4. Ownership of Horse

 Owner is full owner.  Owner is part owner.  Owner is lessee under valid lease.

Record Owner (if different): .

The Owner represents and warrants that: they are the full or part owner of the Horse, or a lessee under a valid lease, with the full authority to enter into this Agreement; the Horse is free from liens, claims, or other encumbrances; they are authorized to bind any other owners or interest holders. The Owner shall promptly notify the Stable in writing of any change in ownership, lease status, or lien affecting any Horse under this Agreement.

5. Horse Condition and Dangerous Behavior

(i) Health. The Owner represents that each Horse is healthy, current on required vaccinations and de-worming, and has a negative Coggins test within the preceding 12 months. The Owner must promptly disclose any known vices, behavioral issues, chronic conditions, or medication sensitivities and update the Stable if these change. The Stable may, in its reasonable discretion, quarantine any Horse for suspected illness, enforce reasonable biosecurity protocols, or use humane restraints or separation if a Horse is unsafe or destructive, all at the Owner’s expense.

(ii) Dangerous Behavior. If any Horse becomes dangerous, destructive, or a threat to itself or others—including persistent kicking, biting, charging, or property damage, the Stable may, using humane methods, confine or restrain the Horse at the Owner’s expense. If the Stable determines that the Horse is unsafe or unfit for boarding, it shall give the Owner written notice describing the behavior or condition. The Owner shall have 10 days after receiving the notice to correct the issue or remove the Horse. If the Horse remains unsafe or unfit after that period, the Owner shall remove it upon the Stable’s written demand. Board fees shall continue to accrue until the Horse is removed. The Owner shall be responsible for any damage or injury caused by the Horse. The Stable may apply the security deposit toward any related damages or unpaid fees and shall refund any remaining balance to the Owner.

6. Standard of Care and Stable Services

(i) Included Services. The Stable shall use reasonable care in providing boarding services consistent with generally accepted practices in the equine industry. Services include, at a minimum, daily grain feeding, hay, and fresh water appropriate for each Horse’s condition and needs; stall cleaning at least once daily; turnout and exercise consistent with the Stable’s schedule and available facilities; and access to pasture or paddock when conditions safely permit. Turnout, exercise, or pasture access may be modified, reduced, or withheld in the Stable’s reasonable judgment due to weather, safety, or facility conditions. The Stable shall maintain fences, gates, stalls, and watering systems in safe working condition. The Owner is responsible for supplying appropriate blankets, sheets, and fly covers in good condition, and the Stable will apply and remove them as reasonably needed.

(ii) Additional Services. The monthly board fee covers only the basic care described in this Section. Any other services (including, without limitation, lay-up care, medicating, extra blanketing, trailer loading, or emergency haul-out) are additional at the Stable’s posted rates, which the Stable may update with 30 days’ written notice. Stable makes no guarantee of continuous turnout or pasture access, which depends on facility and weather conditions.

7. Veterinary Care and Emergencies

(i) The Owner shall keep each Horse current on vaccinations, de-worming, and Coggins testing throughout the term of this Agreement and shall provide proof to the Stable upon request.

(ii) Veterinarian and Emergency Contact

Veterinarian/Clinic Name:  Phone: 

Emergency Contact:  Phone: 

The Owner authorizes the emergency contact named above to make veterinary and related emergency decisions on the Owner’s behalf if the Owner cannot be reached.

(iii) Emergencies. If the listed veterinarian is unavailable, the Stable may, using reasonable discretion consistent with animal-welfare standards, obtain qualified veterinary or emergency care at the Owner’s expense, including relocation, confinement, transport, or evacuation in the event of fire, flood, severe weather, utility failure, structural hazard, or disease outbreak. Humane euthanasia may be authorized only upon a licensed veterinarian’s written or verbal recommendation that it is necessary to prevent undue suffering and after reasonable efforts to reach the Owner or emergency contact have failed. The Owner is responsible for all resulting and final-care costs, even if reimbursement from insurance or other sources is delayed. The Stable shall provide written notice of any emergency treatment or relocation within 5 days after the event. The Owner acknowledges and confirms consent to the emergency-care and euthanasia authority described in this Section by initialing here: 

8. Farrier Care, Grooming Services, and Owner Equipment

The Owner is responsible for arranging farrier and grooming services and shall keep each Horse on a regular schedule. If the Owner fails to do so after reasonable notice, the Stable may obtain such services at the Owner’s expense. The Owner shall provide and maintain all tack, blankets, and other personal equipment in safe condition. The Stable is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to the Owner’s equipment or supplies stored on the Premises, except to the extent caused by the Stable’s negligence or willful misconduct.

9. Stable Rules and Access

(i) Rules. The Owner agrees to follow the Stable’s rules and regulations, which are incorporated by reference into this Agreement as posted at the facility or provided in writing to the Owner, and any later updates delivered in accordance with this Agreement. The Stable may update the rules from time to time by written notice, provided that any new or revised rules are reasonable, relate to safety or facility management, and take effect no earlier than 10 days after written notice. The Owner is responsible for compliance by guests, invitees, family members, trainers, and service providers. The Stable may require trainers or other third-party providers to sign acknowledgments of the rules and provide certificates of insurance naming the Stable as an additional insured before using the facility.

(ii) Access. Stable hours are  to ; access outside these hours requires prior approval.

10. Termination

Either Party may terminate this Agreement (i) for any reason with at least 30 days’ written notice delivered in accordance with the Notices Section, or (ii) immediately if the other Party commits a material breach that is not cured within 10 days after written notice. Upon termination, the Owner shall, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the termination date, remove the Horse and all personal property from the Premises and pay all sums due. Board charges shall continue to accrue until the Horse are removed. If the Owner fails to remove any Horse by the termination date, the Stable may continue charging daily board at the regular rate and pursue all remedies allowed by law. If the Stable terminates due to facility closure or an emergency beyond its control, it shall provide as much notice as reasonably possible under the circumstances.

11. Right of Lien

Failure to pay or comply with this Agreement constitutes default. Upon default, the Stable may enforce its lien rights under applicable law, including retaining possession of the Horse until all undisputed amounts due (board, care, late fees, and permitted costs, including attorneys’ fees, to the extent permitted by law) are paid. The Stable shall give the Owner at least 10 days’ written notice of default and an opportunity to cure before enforcing its lien rights, unless immediate seizure or action is required by applicable law for animal welfare or safety reasons. Enforcement shall be conducted in accordance with the  agister’s or stable-keeper’s lien statute, including all notice and sale procedures required by law. After any sale, the Stable shall apply proceeds first to the costs of sale and outstanding amounts, and remit any remaining balance to the Owner’s last known address together with an itemized accounting. These rights are in addition to any other rights or remedies at law or in equity. If the Owner fails to remove Horse when required, the Stable may, at the Owner’s expense and risk, board the Horse with a third-party facility pending resolution or lien enforcement, without waiving any rights. If the Owner fails to respond in writing, pay all amounts due, and remove the Horse within  days after the termination date, such failure may be treated as evidence of abandonment under applicable law.

12. Risk of Loss

The Owner acknowledges that boarding, handling, and riding horses involve inherent risks. The Stable shall use reasonable care in providing boarding services, but the Owner assumes the risk of loss, injury, illness, or death of the Horse while boarded on the Premises, except to the extent caused by the Stable’s failure to exercise reasonable care, gross negligence, or willful misconduct. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Owner releases and agrees to hold harmless the Stable, its owners, employees, and agents from claims arising from the inherent risks of equine activities and ordinary boarding risks. For avoidance of doubt, nothing releases claims to the extent caused by a Party’s failure to exercise reasonable care, gross negligence, or willful misconduct. This allocation applies to claims by Parties and their employees, contractors, guests, invitees, trainers, and family members, and to incidents involving other horses/third-party animals.

13. Equine Activity Liability Act

This Agreement complies with all applicable Equine Activity Liability Acts or similar statutes in the State of . The Stable shall post and maintain any required statutory warning signs on the Premises, and the Owner acknowledges that such statutory warnings apply to all equine activities under this Agreement to the maximum extent permitted by law.

14. Insurance

The Owner is strongly encouraged to maintain mortality and major-medical insurance on each Horse, and personal liability insurance covering injury or property damage caused by the Horse. If such insurance is maintained, the Owner shall provide proof of coverage to the Stable upon request. The Stable carries its own general liability coverage but does not insure the Owner’s Horse or personal property. Proof of any such insurance shall be provided to the Stable upon request.

15. Indemnification

Each Party shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other Party, and its owners, employees, agents, contractors, and invitees, from and against any third-party claims, damages, losses, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent caused by that Party, its employees, agents, contractors, guests, or invitees, through negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of this Agreement. The indemnified Party shall provide prompt written notice of any such claim and shall cooperate as reasonably required. Nothing in this Section requires either Party to indemnify the other for the other’s own negligence or misconduct.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by law, neither Party shall be liable to the other for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement. This limitation does not limit liability for a Party’s failure to exercise reasonable care, gross negligence, or willful misconduct, or direct costs of boarding and care expressly provided for under this Agreement. Stable’s total liability shall not exceed the total board fees paid in the 12 months preceding the event.

17. Force Majeure

Neither Party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing obligations under this Agreement, other than payment obligations, if such failure or delay is caused by an event beyond that Party’s reasonable control, including fire, flood, storm, explosion, natural disasters, war, epidemic, pandemic, governmental order, labor dispute, utility failure or acts of God. Upon such an event, affected obligations are suspended for the duration of the event without refund or liability. If performance remains impossible for more than 30 days, either Party may terminate this Agreement by written notice.

18. Assignment

Neither Party may assign this Agreement without the other Party’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Stable may use subcontractors for routine tasks, such as feeding or stall cleaning, provided that all subcontractors comply with Stable policies and the Stable remains fully responsible for their acts and omissions.

19. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

(i) Governing Law and Mediation. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of  without regard to conflict-of-law rules or principles that would result in the application of any other jurisdiction’s laws. The Parties shall first attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute through direct discussion. If unresolved after 30 days, either Party may file in the state or small-claims court located in , , which shall be the exclusive venue. Either Party may seek temporary or injunctive relief to protect persons, property, or animals, and the prevailing Party may recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as permitted by law.

20. Notices and Contact Information

All notices must be in writing and delivered by hand, courier with delivery confirmation, certified mail, or email to the addresses below or as updated in writing. A notice is deemed received when delivered by hand or courier, confirmed by postal tracking, or, for email, when sent without an automated failure notice. Phone numbers are provided for convenience only and are not valid for notices under this Agreement.

To the Owner:  

Address:  

Email:  Phone: 

To the Stable: 

Address: 

Email:  Phone: 

21. Exhibits

All exhibits, schedules, appendices, addenda, policies, or other supporting documents attached to, listed below, or specifically referenced in a Section are deemed incorporated into and form part of this Agreement ("Exhibits"). Each Exhibit is binding only if signed or initialed by both Parties, unless the Parties have expressly agreed in a separate written communication that signatures or initials are not required for that specific Exhibit. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between this Agreement and any Exhibit, this Agreement shall govern unless the Exhibit (a) expressly identifies the Section it overrides, or (b) supplements or clarifies a specific Section on the same subject matter without contradicting it. The inclusion or listing of an Exhibit does not make it binding unless duly executed in accordance with this Section.





22. Definitions

All capitalized terms used throughout this Agreement refer to the meanings given in this Section or in any Exhibit that defines, clarifies, or replaces those terms.

(i) “Stable” means the individual(s) or entity(ies) operating the boarding facility, together with its owners, employees, contractors, and agents acting within the scope of their duties.

(ii) “Owner” means any individual or entity who, as a registered owner, part-owner, or lessee under a valid lease, has the legal right to board the Horse under this Agreement. All such persons are collectively referred to as the “Owner” and are each jointly and severally responsible for the Owner’s obligations under this Agreement.

(iii) Terms relating to the Premises shall be interpreted consistently with the details specified in the Fees and Location Section (2) or any Exhibit that expressly replaces or supplements that Section, subject to the terms of the Exhibits Section. (iv) “Horse” means each equine identified in the Horse Description Section (3) or any Exhibit that expressly replaces or supplements that Section. Any other undefined, altered, or inconsistent term in this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the interpretive and continuity provisions of the Miscellaneous Section.

23. Miscellaneous

(i) Interpretation. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. Singular terms include the plural and vice versa, and words of any gender include all genders. References to persons include entities, and references to a Party include its successors and permitted assigns. References to Sections or Exhibits are to those within this Agreement unless expressly stated otherwise. The term “days” means calendar days unless the context clearly requires otherwise or a different period is expressly stated.

(ii) Fallback Definitions.To preserve enforceability, if any defined term such as “Owner,” “Stable,” “Premises,” or “Exhibit” is changed, replaced, renumbered, or omitted in any draft or executed version of this Agreement or its Exhibits, those terms shall be interpreted consistently with their plain meaning and context to maintain each Party’s rights and obligations as originally intended. References to specific Exhibits (e.g., Exhibit A, B, or C) include any equivalent or successor exhibit, schedule, or attachment that addresses the same subject matter for interpretive purposes only.

(iii) Entire Agreement and Amendments. This Agreement, including all Exhibits, is the complete and exclusive statement of the Parties’ understanding and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, oral or written. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Parties.

(iv) Authority and Execution. Each Party represents and warrants that the individual signing this Agreement has full authority to bind that Party. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each deemed an original, together forming one binding instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart by email or electronic signature constitutes valid and binding execution on the date of transmission.

(v) Independent Relationship. Nothing in this Agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, fiduciary, or employment relationship between the Parties.

(vi) Further Assurances. Each Party shall execute and deliver any additional documents or actions reasonably necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

(vii) Construction. This Agreement shall not be construed against either the Owner or the Stable as the drafter.

(viii) Severability and Waiver. If any provision of this Agreement is found invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Failure to enforce any provision does not waive it, and a past waiver does not create a future waiver.

(ix) Survival. The provisions of this Agreement, together with any incorporated Exhibits addressing indemnification, limitation of liability, lien and payment obligations, dispute resolution, governing law, or any other obligations that by their nature should survive, shall remain in full force and effect after the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

(x) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely between the Owner and the Stable. Nothing in it creates rights for any third party.