Facts about the Horse Bill of Sale template

What is a Horse Bill of Sale?

Purchasing a horse may involve many more steps than acquiring other animals like cats or dogs. Horse ownership requires a lot more responsibility and maintenance than other pets, such as appropriate housing for the horse, buying suitable food for it and making sure it gets proper care. Additionally, buying a horse may also entail a larger financial investment than other creatures. Horses, like other livestock, may cost more than $500, so there should be some sort of documentation when purchasing one. Because of these facts, people involved in horse buying and selling often use a horse bill of sale form when transferring ownership of these animals.

A horse bill of sale form mirrors other typical documents that detail large purchases. A document like this may also be called an equine contract, a horse contract, or a horse purchase agreement. This type of bill of sale should include a description of the merchandise, which in this case is the horse. A horse bill of sale may detail the horse's name, the size of the horse, its gender, its lineage, markings, colors, and other physical features. This type of bill of sale may also include information about breeding the horse or any warranties if the horse is expected to produce young. Purchase price may also be part of the documented agreement between the seller and buyer. Some states like California and Kentucky require a horse bill of sale.

What is a Horse Bill of Sale used for?

A horse bill of sale form is used to provide documentation for an ownership transfer of a horse between the seller and buyer. Because buying a horse may involve a lot of money and a big financial commitment to the horse's care, it's essential to use a horse bill of sale to record the transaction. Additionally, horse breeders, horse trainers and horse racers use these animals as a business, so documentation is vital for tax and investment purposes.

Why should you use a Horse Bill of Sale?

Horse sales can be huge financial undertakings, so documentation, like a horse bill of sale, is important. Without a record of the sale, it can be difficult for either the seller or the buyer to get a resolution if there are problems. A horse bill of sale provides written proof of the animal's condition and any other warranties from the seller. If the horse turns out not to be medically sound, the buyer could look to the court to resolve the issue.
The seller is also protected more if there is an official horse bill of sale instead of a less formal process of transferring ownership. In big-ticket horse sales, the seller often has to pay for veterinary examinations or other steps. When there is an official document prepared, it's likelier for the buyer to be serious and not waste the seller's time and money during the transaction.

How to write a Horse Bill of Sale

The horse bill of sale starts with an individual trying to sell a horse and advertising the animal to potential buyers. Once the seller gets an interested buyer, the document can start to be prepared. The seller will set a price for the horse and may require a deposit before the transaction can move forward. Usually, the buyer must ask questions about the horse's background, performance, physical condition and breeding potential. The buyer and the seller must also decide if the horse will be examined by a veterinarian before the sale. Horses often have registration papers detailing their lineage, so many horse sales transactions include the transfers of these papers. If a horse bill of sale is required in the state, the seller and buyer must make a note of that.

A horse bill of sale may contain the following information:

  • The name and contact details about the seller
  • The name and contact details about the buyer
  • The location of the horse sale
  • A description of the horse and its name
  • The date of birth of the horse
  • The sale price of the horse
  • The horse's registration details
  • The dam and sire of the horse and any other lineage details
  • Information about breeding rights of the horse
  • Details about the horse's physical condition
  • Whether or not the sale is "as-is"
  • Deposit information
  • Commission details for agents or other third parties
  • Veterinarian examination information

How To Fill Out Bill Of Sale with PDFSimpli in Five Steps?

  • 1. Preparation:

    The preparation for filling out a horse bill of sale starts with getting as much information about the animal as possible. The seller will need to find the horse's registration papers and use these details in the bill of sale. The seller must include the horse's lineage and date of birth in the document. The seller must also examine the horse's physical condition and use that information to write a description of the horse's color, size and markings. Then, the seller must connect with a serious buyer and discuss a price and deposit for the animal.

  • 2. Choosing a Software:

    After all of the logistics of the sale are determined and set by the seller and buyer, the seller may start working on drafting. Instead of putting together an informal document by hand, it's best to go electronic with a horse bill of sale and choose a convenient software program. PDFSimpli helps quickly draft a horse bill of sale that both parties can use for their records. This program also gives the seller the power to make changes and do everything via computer to make things quick and effortless.

  • 3. Fill Out or Edit the Horse Bill of Sale:

    The seller is usually the party responsible for filling out and editing the bill of sale. Horse owners can use PDFSimpli to piece together a formal bill of sale that will satisfy state requirements for this document if needed. During the writing stage, the seller must ensure that all of the animal's details are accurately entered into the software.

  • 4. Review

    Next, because a horse bill of sale is a legal document, the seller should thoroughly review it for accuracy and mistakes. The horse bill of sale should match the information that the seller communicated to the buyer about the animal.

  • 5. Save, Download, Print or Send for Signature:

    The final step for a horse bill of sale after review is to save and sign. After saving and downloading an electronic copy of the bill of sale, the seller may either print the document or electronically send it to the buyer for a signature. The software allows for electronic signatures to make it easier to process the transaction and transfer the ownership of the horse more quickly.

Boat Bill Of Sale Frequently Asked Questions

In several states, a horse bill of sale is required to transfer ownership of this type of animal. Horse enthusiasts, breeders and horse racing professionals also may need additional paperwork from equine associations to complete the ownership transfer. It's important to find out which organization registered the horse to determine the process of ownership transfer.

Even if money is not going to be involved in the ownership transfer, it's best to draw up a horse bill of sale to document the change. When a horse is given away or given to someone as a gift, the new owner still needs proper documentation of the conditions of the ownership change. For states that require a bill of sale, this is also part of the ownership transfer process.

Horses, like other pedigreed animals, may also include breeding rights as part of the sale. In most cases, new owners must secure breeding rights for a pedigreed or registered horse before breeding it. If breeding rights are included, this should be listed in the bill of sale. Consequences of not getting permission to breed could be that the horse's young may not be able to get registration papers. If the new owner tries to sell unregistered foals, the equine associations may be able to prevent registration.