Lesson 1: Getting Started
The Breeding Contract
Once you’ve decided on your dream stallion, you need to enter into an agreement with the stallion owner. This is to protect both you and your mare and the stallion owner and the stallion. A good stallion service contract should include the following information: 1. All the people involved should be named. 2. Horses involved should be identified correctly. This would include name, a registration number if applicable, a detailed description, and any remarkable identification marks or scars. 3. Service compensation should be completely spelled out and should include: a. Fees, how much, and when due b. Live foal options (usually must stand and nurse). If there is no live foal option there should be compensation spelled out in the contract. c. Non guaranteed breedings are paid when mare is covered with no guarantee of pregnancy 4. Times when other expenses, such as board or veterinarian fees, are due 5. Description of boarding fees, breeding chute fees, booking fees. 6. Liability disclaimers. 7. What will break the contract? 8. A mare refusal clause. (If the stallion owner does not like the quality of your mare he can refuse service for the inferior foal will decrease the value of his stallion.) 9. The quality of the care for mare (and foal if applicable). Important if your mare will be staying a while. Does she get turn out, groomed, etc.? Also, how is she to be protected during breeding? 10. An abandonment clause. (Can’t imagine someone not returning for their mare, but money, and the lack of it, does strange things to people.) What should the stallion owner do, what is he allowed to do to recoup his money in such a case? 11. Of course date it. And sign it! Both parties, with a copy for each.
A Sample Contract can be found in the book “The Stallion, A Breeding Guide for Owners and Handlers” by James P. McCall, Ph.D.
I have bred mares for friends without a contract, thinking that our friendship would be enough to stand the exchange of business, but I would not recommend it. It is particularly important on the stallion owner’s side, as they are responsible for the mare while at their facility. And people can be unreasonable about their beloved horse if something happens, no matter how good a friend they might have been.
