Horse Sale & Purchase Agreement Solicitors
A horse sale and purchase agreement is a vital contract to have in place if you are looking to sell or buy a horse. Without one, if the horse you buy;
- Is no longer fit for purpose or
- Does not match the description provided by the seller, or
- The buyer backs out of the sale at the last minute
Then it will be the buyer’s word against the seller’s word.
Our equine law specialists have a wealth of experience in drawing up horse sale and purchase agreements. We can tailor your contract to reflect your circumstances and needs.
Call our Equine Law Team Email our Equine Law Team
Can I Write a Horse Sale and Purchase Agreement Myself?
You can draw up your own horse sale and purchase agreement yourself using an oline template. But we strongly recommend asking a solicitor who specialises in equestrian law.
An equine solicitor can tailor the agreement to your specific circumstances. So, if you have to pull out of the sale or purchase, both parties know what happens next. This will prevent disputes arising or getting out of hand.
Are Horse Sale Agreements Legally Binding?
Written horse sale and purchase agreements are legally binding. That means are protected in the event that a dispute should arise.
Verbal agreements are also legally binding. However, it’s difficult to prove the terms of an agreement if things go wrong.
If you;
- Buy a horse and it isn’t as you expected, or
- Sell a horse and the buyer then tries to reject it
It would be difficult to prove what both parties agreed and may make it much harder to resolve any disputes.
That’s why we recommend drawing up a written contract.
What Should I Include In a Horse Sale & Purchase Agreement?
The horse sale and purchase agreement should include details such as:
- The names and addresses of the parties
- The date of purchase and date of completion of the contract
- Details of the horse
- The purchase price of the horse and how the funds will be paid
- When and how the horse will be delivered or made available for delivery to the buyer
- Any behavioural problems, vices or illnesses which have been disclosed to the buyer
- In the case of a breach of contract, when and how the buyer will be allowed to return the horse
- The time in which a complaint can be made, or the horse must be returned.
What Should I Do Before Entering Into a Horse Sale & Purchase Agreement?
Regardless of where you’re buying or selling a horse, there are steps you can take to protect yourself before entering into a legal agreement.
If You’re Buying a Horse
If you’re a buyer, consider;
- Arranging a second viewing of the horse, and
- Discuss the purchase with a knowledgeable friend
If you still want to buy the horse, arrange a pre-purchase veterinary examination. Also. ask the vet to make sure the icrochip in the horse matches the details on the horses passport.
You could also ask the buyer for a trial period to ensure the horse you are purchasing is right for you. A trial period should cover details in writing such as insurance costs and emergency vet care.
There might also be some aspects of the sale you want to discuss with the seller before entering an agreement. These could inclide;
- Arrangements about deposit,
- A trial period, and
- Public Liability insurance cover
If You’re Selling a Horse
If you are selling a horse, it’s important to find out whether you are a business seller or private seller.
If you are a business seller, then you will need to sell the horse in accordance with the Sale of Goods Act 1979.
You also need to ensure that you describe the horse accurately to potential buyers. You should be legally authorised or have permission to sell the horse. If not, you need to inform potential buyers if you are not the legal owner.
If you find someone who wants to buy your horse, ask their vet for a reference to ensure your horse will be going to a caring and responsible owner.
The Horse I Purchased is Unsuitable, Am I Protected?
If you bought the horse from;
- A dealer. or
- Someone who sells horses as part of their business
Then you are covered by both the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Sale of Goods Act 1979. Both enforce implied terms into the contract of the sale.
For example, the horse should be of satisfactory quality, be fit for the purpose for which they sold it to you.
If you bought the horse from a private seller then Caveat Emptor, or “let the buyer beware” applies. and you cannot rely on the implied terms of the two acts above. In this case you may not be able to reject the horse unless you can prove that the seller has breached the terms stated in the contract.
Why Use Rothera Bray?
We have significant experience in drawing up horse sale and purchase agreements. We’ll work with you to create a tailored agreement that meets the specific requirements of you and your horse.
We can also help you with
- Stud agreements
- Horse co-ownership agreements
- Livery agreements
- Horse loan agreements
- Horse sale and purchase disputes
- Equine veterinary disputes
- Horse riding accidents
Send us a message
“We strive to make every matter as stress free as possible”
Caroline Bowler
Equine Solicitor
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Posted 10 March 2026
We recently instructed Abbey Freeman at Rothera Bray to act on our behalf when buying our first house. As first time buyers, this was a completely whole new process to us and quite frankly a scary one too! However, throughout the whole process, from start to finish, Abbey and Luisa were brilliant. They are both extremely knowledgeable, approachable and quick to respond to any queries we had to ease our minds and point us in the right direction. We can’t thank both of you enough for your help and expertise throughout this process.
Carly-Jo Wakeling
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Posted 9 March 2026
David was great, always positive but realistic on what to expect. Would highly recommend anyone needing help or advice on divorce.
J.P.
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Posted 9 March 2026
Excellent service as always from Lucy and Karen, this will have been our 4th house purchase through Lucy and Rothera Bray, never let us down and always on time.
Jon Baird
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Posted 7 March 2026
We had the pleasure of using Rothera Bray to purchase our first home. Ellie Robinson was incredible from start to finish. Nothing was too much of an issue for Ellie and she kept us well informed during what is an extremely stressful time. Her communication was always prompt and she kept us updated every step of the way. Thank you Ellie
Olly Thompson
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Posted 6 March 2026
Had the pleasure of Ellie Robinson handling the purchase of our first home and could not be more grateful for the way she handled it all. Good communication and fast responses, updated us at every step of the way, due diligence during searches and enquiries and reporting to us thereafter. Very friendly yet professional and I would 100% recommend Ellie, she made the process as stress free as possible! Very huge thank you!!!
Chel S
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Posted 6 March 2026
Rothera Bray Solicitors Loughborough; On a number of occasions I have asked Nelissa Hicks (Partner) to be my legal representative, she delivers with professional conduct, is thorough in all matters and a great communicator. She gets things done in a timely manner and she is a very nice person. I highly recommend Nelissa & Rothera Bray Solicitors, Loughborough for their legal support & services.
Nigel Stewart
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Posted 6 March 2026
I’ve been using Rothera Bray for a number of years now. I really appreciated their professionalism following the death of my wife. Together we sorted out her estate and rearranged my powers of attorney to accommodate my altered circumstances. Now four years on from that I’ve taken the opportunity to update my Will. Once again Rothera Bray were a pleasure to deal with under the guidance of Nelissa Hicks who was able to make suggestions which helped enormously to assist my thought process. From my experience I would have no hesitation in recommending them and Nelissa Hicks for a professional, caring and successful outcome.
R.B Beck
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Posted 6 March 2026
Abbey was absolutely amazing throughout the whole process of helping us buy our house. From the very start she was incredibly responsive and supportive always just a call or message away whenever we needed her, and nothing was ever too much trouble. What really stood out was how quickly everything moved. We first got in contact on January 9th and we’re getting our keys on March 6th, which is incredibly fast for a house purchase. Abbey kept everything progressing smoothly and made what could have been a stressful process feel straightforward and well managed. We’re so grateful for all her hard work and dedication. I would highly recommend Abbey to anyone looking for a solicitor, she’s professional, efficient, and genuinely cares about her clients.
Paris Statham
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Posted 5 March 2026
Just bought our first house with the help of Abbey, always keeping us in the loop, outlining things and making sure we understand everything. Would definitely recommend if you want to put your mind at ease, I was surprised at how stress free everything was having heard friends and families cases. Thanks Abbey!
Alex Woolley
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Posted 5 March 2026
We had a great experience with Russell explaining our current wills in layman’s terms and making suggestions for enhancements.
Kate
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Posted 5 March 2026
Natalie was fair, unbiased and honest. Professional throughout. Competitive pricing, good comms and scheduling. Very happy with the process and result. Highly recommend.
Tom Spooner
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Posted 4 March 2026
I recently used Sara at Rothera Bray to act for me on the sale of a property. The nature of the sale was complicated but Sara acted with great patience, always keeping me updated with frequent communication and expertise. I can't thank her enough. Highly recommended to you.
Ian Clay