Template under English law (Sale of Goods Act 1979 / Consumer Rights Act 2015) – for private and trader sales
§ 1Parties
Seller
Buyer
§ 2Object of Sale
The Seller hereby sells to the Buyer the horse described below under the terms and conditions that follow:
§ 3Purchase Price and Payment
Title to the horse passes to the Buyer only upon full payment of the purchase price (retention of title clause, s.19 Sale of Goods Act 1979).
§ 4Delivery
Upon delivery the Seller shall hand over the original equine passport (legal requirement), proof of ownership and all available veterinary records. Risk passes to the Buyer at the moment of delivery.
§ 5Condition and Warranty
To the best of the Seller's knowledge, at the time of delivery the horse is free from hidden defects, except as expressly stated below.
§ 6Pre-Purchase Veterinary Examination (Vetting)
§ 7Final Provisions
No verbal side agreements have been made. Any amendments to this contract must be in writing. If any provision is or becomes invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall be unaffected. This contract is governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising hereunder, save where mandatory consumer law of the Buyer's residence provides otherwise.
Signature of Seller
Signature of Buyer
Legal notice: This template is provided free of charge by Post-Your-Horse as general guidance. It does not replace individual legal advice. For purchase prices above £20,000, vetting findings of clinical significance or international sales, we recommend that a solicitor reviews your specific contract.
Fill in the fields in your browser, tick the clauses that apply and click “Print / Save as PDF” at the top. Empty fields print as lines, so you can also complete them by hand. Strike through any clause that should not apply, so there is no doubt later about what was agreed. Both parties sign two copies and keep one each.
Private sale: what “sold as seen” does and does not cover
Between private parties, the implied terms on satisfactory quality and fitness for purpose in section 14 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 do not apply, because they only bind sellers acting in the course of a business. The buyer is expected to check the horse, ride it and ideally have it vetted.
What a private seller says still counts. The horse must match its description, a rule in section 13 of the Act that also applies to private sales. Statements such as “good to load” or “hacks out alone” can become terms of the contract, and if they are untrue the buyer may have a claim for misrepresentation.
Selling as a dealer or breeder
If you sell in the course of a business to a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies and cannot be excluded: the horse must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. The buyer has a short-term right to reject for 30 days. More background in our guide to horse sale contracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is this horse sale contract template free?
Yes. Fill it in online without registering, then print it or save it as a PDF.
Do I need a written contract to sell a horse?
No, a verbal agreement is a valid contract. A written contract, though, is evidence of the price, the description of the horse, the vetting and any warranties, and that is what matters if there is a dispute.
What does “sold as seen” mean when selling a horse?
It signals that a private seller gives no warranty on quality or fitness for purpose. It does not protect a seller who misdescribes the horse or makes false statements about it, and it has no effect when a trader sells to a consumer.
How long can a buyer reject a horse bought from a dealer?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a consumer can reject a faulty horse within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. Faults that appear within six months are presumed to have existed at delivery unless the trader proves otherwise.
Should the horse be vetted before signing?
It is strongly recommended. Attach the vetting report so it becomes part of the contract. If the buyer decides against a vetting, tick the corresponding clause in § 6.
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