If you want to breed your horse, you may be in a situation where you can make a lot of money for doing so. It’s important that you do have a solid contract and breeding agreement in place. Both parties should understand the terms of the contract and at what point the contract is considered to be fulfilled.
In a typical breeding contract, there will be a few pieces of information such as:
- The name of the horse
- The age of the horse
- The color of the horse
- The horse’s eye color
- The pattern on the horse
- Any known genetics, such as potential genetic faults
- The animal’s registration number and association
This information should be provided for the mare, so that the stallion’s owner knows which horse will be bread with theirs. If you are mating your stud to a mare, then you need to define the stud fee, booking fee (refundable or non-refundable) and when the compensation is due. You should also note your stallion’s availability.
Other information, such if there are boarding fees, pasture breeding fees, artificial insemination fees or other assessed fees at a later time should be provided. Some common fees to include in your contract may include:
- Sales tax
- Booking fees
- Shipped semen collection fees
- Shipped semen shipping fees
- Shipping container deposits
- Shipping container refund terms
- Veterinary fees
- Ultrasound fees
- Hormonal treatment fees
One of the most vital steps is to discuss what happens if the mare does not settle in foal. If she does not get pregnant, the owner of the stud is generally not liable and is not required to attempt a second insemination without payment. There should also be information on what happens if a mare is too small to be mated with the preferred stallion. In most cases, people opt for artificial insemination, but this may not be an option for all breeders or their clients’ mares.
These are just a few items you may want in your breeding contract. Your attorney can help you put together a contract that works well for your specific situation and the intentions you have as a breeder.