Horse Sale Contract
Get it in Writing
This is a sample contract to use if you've found a horse you love. Since its primary objective is to establish the horse's history, the veracity of statements made by the seller, and doesn't hold the seller accountable for anything that happens once you buy, no honest seller should be hesitant to sign it. You can download it and alter it to suit your situation or use it as is. Will it help you in a lawsuit if it turns out the seller lied to you after all? Maybe or maybe not. Still, if your seller won't sign it, you should consider that a red flag. At the very least, you'll have documentation of your seller's lies.
This contract does not include how to handle a deposit made to hold a horse (for example, to arrange for a pre-purchase exam by a veterinarian). It also doesn't address risk of loss. At what point does the seller relinquish responsibility for the animal's health, damage it may cause, or its care? Buyer and seller should decide whether risk of loss occurs when the contract is signed or when the buyer takes possession of the animal, and this should be included in the contract.
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