Horse livery agreement

30 Apr The benefits of a horse livery agreement

Posted at 00:00h in Equine Law by

Do you need a horse livery agreement? Emma White, paralegal at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors discusses their importance and how they can protect your equine business.

A livery agreement should be an essential part of running an equine livery yard. It is a recommended industry standard whether you offer simple grass livery or a fully bespoke livery package. It helps both parties understand the limit of your services, payment terms and notice periods.  It also acts as a clear and concise reference point in the event of any disputes that may arise.

There are countless benefits to using a solicitor to prepare an agreement that you provide to all your liveries when they arrive.  These include:

Clarity

It is important that both parties are clear on their roles and responsibilities. For example, it will provide answers to questions such as how much rent needs to be paid? When is the rent due? What does their livery package include? What is the process if there is a late payment? How much notice should be given?

The information in the agreement acts as a protective shield for the livery owner by helping to manage expectations and by providing a clear understanding of how the yard will be run.

Protect profits

If you are running a livery yard, it is likely to be your income and your livelihood. It is important to ensure that you are paid for the time and effort you spend looking after the horses in your care. It is important to include a lien and a power of sale clause.

A lien provides a legal right for a person to keep possession of another person’s property until an outstanding debt has been paid. This can be combined with a power of sale.  A power of sale is a legal right that allows a person to sell another person’s property to repay a debt owed.  It ensures the person owed the debt has protective measures in place in case a livery client does not pay their fees.

Recoup costs of damages

Horses are playful herd animals and often get up to mischief. Accidents happen and fences get broken and stable doors get kicked. A livery agreement will ensure both parties understand who bears the responsibility for damage and safeguards the financial investment of the livery owner.

Safety

Horses are powerful animals and have a mind of their own. It is imperative that a livery owner addresses the necessary safety standards that must be adhered to and ensures the wellbeing of all horses and people on site. This should also include details of the relevant insurance the yard holds and what insurance cover is expected of the liveries.

Horse care

It is important that both livery owner and equine owner understand their responsibilities when it comes to the horses’ care. For example: if the horse is on DIY livery, it is crucial that the livery owner ensures the agreement stipulates they have no personal responsibility for the care or wellbeing of the horse. It can also support the livery owner’s authority to carry out certain tasks for the welfare of the horse, such as authorising emergency veterinary treatment.

Good practice

As well as showcasing the professionalism of your business, a livery agreement helps to maintain effective administrative records. For example, how many liveries are in the yard? How many horses are under the care of the livery? It is recommended that there is a contract in place per horse not per owner so specific information relating to each horse can be easily recorded.

A livery agreement also helps deal swiftly with any problems that may arise, which will save time and money in the future.

Our equine law specialists undertake thorough due diligence and have extensive understanding of the laws involved to create a fair and comprehensive livery agreement benefiting all parties involved. Remember, a carefully drafted livery agreement is the foundation of a successful livery business.

If you are starting a new exciting livery venture or would simply like someone to check or update your current livery agreement:

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