If you board your horse, you should have a written contract in place—even if you have a good relationship with the stable owner. The primary reason for this is that once you agree on a boarding arrangement for your horse, you have entered into a business relationship. As such, you must ensure that the terms of this relationship are clear. And there is no better way to establish the terms of a business relationship than with a contract.
Boarding Agreements Manage Expectations
Boarding agreements manage the expectations of the parties. And with clear expectations in place, the parties to the agreement are less likely to become embroiled in a legal dispute. However, by failing to execute a formal boarding agreement, both the horse owner and stable owner place themselves at risk.
Key Provisions of a Boarding Contract
All boarding contracts should address common contractual issues, such as cost and duration. However, there are also several issues that are unique to the equine industry that the parties should address in a boarding agreement. And although the following list is not exhaustive, it details several key issues that most boarding contracts should address:
Horse injury and death: A boarding contract should address what will happen in case of the horse’s injury or death. In addition, it should address any known risks associated with boarding the horse at the stable and whether the boarder agrees to assume such risks. In addition, it should address the liability of the stable should the horse be injured or killed.
Boarder injury and death: A boarding contract should also address any risks to the boarder. For example, it should address whether the boarder assumes the risks associated with riding the horse on the property. It should also address whether the boarder is required to wear safety equipment while riding the horse on the property and whether the stable will face liability if the boarder is injured or killed on the premises.
State-specific equine statutes: Many states have statutes that are unique to the equine industry. When required, boarding agreements should include language mandated by statute. In addition, a boarding agreement should reference relevant statutory language where appropriate.
Termination: As with other types of contracts, a boarding contract should address termination. For example, it should outline the amount of notice required by either party before terminating the contract. In addition, it should detail whether a termination notice must be in writing and whether either party will face financial consequences related to such termination.
Abandonment: Finally, the contract should address what should happen if the boarder abandons the horse at the stable.
Contact a Wellington Equine Law Attorney
At Gueronniere, P.A., our experienced equine law attorney provides legal representation to those involved in the equine industry. Whether you are a horse owner or an equine business owner, we have the knowledge and skills necessary to assist you with your Florida equine law issue. Please contact us to schedule a free and confidential initial consultation with our talented equine lawyer.