Contracts and dispute resolution for horse sales, breeding, livery yards, riding schools, trainers and equestrian organisations.
Sales and pre-purchase examinations
A horse’s identity, agreed use, training, medical history and disclosed findings should be documented precisely. The scope of a pre-purchase examination must be agreed separately. A veterinary assessment reduces uncertainty but cannot promise future soundness or sporting performance.
Livery, training and breeding
We draft and review agreements on care standards, turnout, feeding, veterinary authority, payment, termination and release of the horse. Training and breeding arrangements need clear rules on intended services, risk allocation and reporting. Association and competition disputes can add internal deadlines and specialist procedural rules.
Accidents and disputed defects
Liability may involve the keeper, rider, instructor, yard or another participant. Insurance and contributory fault must be examined. A defect claim depends on the contractual standard and condition at the relevant time; an abnormal finding or later illness does not automatically establish a seller’s liability.
Example: lameness after delivery
Preserve the advert, sale agreement, examination report, imaging and a dated treatment history. Urgent treatment should not be delayed, but evidence should be secured where possible. Before declaring rescission, assess the seller’s opportunity to provide a remedy and any exception applicable to the facts.
Preparing for advice
Please provide the relevant contracts or official correspondence, a dated account of events and any technical or veterinary reports. Identify the parties, the country or German state involved, and every known deadline. We will agree the appropriate next step after reviewing the documents.
Related services
Legal framework & further reading
Reviewed 8 November 2026. Examples are illustrative and do not describe reported client matters.
Discuss your matter
Send a short description, the parties involved and any deadline. We check conflicts and agree the scope and fees before starting work. For urgent matters, telephone our office as well.