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Buying & SellingUpdated 1 July 2026· 6 min read

Free Horse Bill of Sale / Sale Contract Template (UK, 2026)

A free UK horse bill of sale template — parties, description, price, vetting, warranties and passport transfer. Copy, download or print.

Why write it down

A private horse sale in the UK is a contract even if nothing is signed — but relying on messages and memory is how most disputes start. A short bill of sale protects both sides: the buyer gets a record of what was said about the horse, and the seller gets a clear cut-off point for future liability.

Consumer law bites harder when a business sells to a consumer (Consumer Rights Act 2015). Between two private individuals the position is closer to *"as described, but buyer beware"* — which is exactly why the description matters.

How to use this template

  1. Fill in the horse's description and the price honestly.
  2. Attach the pre-purchase vet certificate (5-stage or 2-stage) as an appendix if one was carried out.
  3. Both parties sign at handover; the passport is handed to the buyer at the same time.
  4. Keep photos of the horse taken on the day of sale.

The template

HORSE BILL OF SALE

This Bill of Sale is made on [DATE] between:

SELLER: [FULL NAME]
of [ADDRESS]
Contact: [PHONE / EMAIL]
Selling as: [PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL / BUSINESS]

and

BUYER: [FULL NAME]
of [ADDRESS]
Contact: [PHONE / EMAIL]

1. THE HORSE
   Name: [HORSE NAME]
   Breed / type: [BREED]
   Colour: [COLOUR]     Sex: [SEX]     Height: [HH]
   Date of birth: [DOB]
   Passport number: [PASSPORT NO]
   Microchip number: [MICROCHIP NO]
   Distinguishing marks: [MARKINGS]

2. PRICE
   The agreed price is £[AMOUNT] (the "Price"), payable as:
     - Deposit of £[AMOUNT] on [DATE], non-refundable except where
       the horse fails a pre-purchase vetting.
     - Balance of £[AMOUNT] in cleared funds on or before handover.

3. VETTING
   [ ] No pre-purchase vetting has been carried out. The Buyer buys
       the horse having satisfied themselves as to its condition.
   [ ] A [2-STAGE / 5-STAGE] pre-purchase vetting was carried out
       on [DATE] by [VET / PRACTICE], a copy of which is attached
       as Appendix A. Completion of this sale is conditional on the
       horse being passed as suitable for the Buyer's stated purpose
       of [e.g. light hacking, unaffiliated dressage, riding club].

4. SELLER'S DESCRIPTION
   The Seller confirms that, to the best of their knowledge, on the
   date of this Bill of Sale:
     (a) The Seller is the legal owner of the horse and entitled to
         sell it, and the horse is free from any lien or charge.
     (b) The horse is [BROKEN TO RIDE / DRIVE], has been ridden in
         [DISCIPLINES] and is currently [DESCRIBE LEVEL OF WORK].
     (c) The horse is / is not [DELETE AS APPROPRIATE]:
          - a weaver, crib-biter, wind-sucker, box-walker
          - known to nap, rear, buck, bolt, bite, kick or barge
          - known to have any vice materially affecting suitability
     (d) The horse's medical history known to the Seller is:
          [SUMMARISE any past lameness, colic, surgery, medication,
          allergies. Attach vet history where available.]
     (e) Vaccinations (flu / tetanus) are up to date to [DATE].

5. PASSPORT
   The horse's passport shall be handed to the Buyer at completion.
   The Buyer shall register the change of keeper with the Passport
   Issuing Organisation within 30 days as required by law.

6. RISK AND TITLE
   Risk and legal title in the horse pass to the Buyer on receipt by
   the Seller of the full Price and handover of the horse, whichever
   is later.

7. NO WARRANTY BEYOND CLAUSE 4 (private sale)
   Where the Seller is selling as a private individual, the horse is
   sold as seen, described in clause 4, and — where clause 3 applies
   — subject to the vetting. The Buyer has satisfied themselves as to
   the horse's suitability for their intended use.

   Where the Seller is selling in the course of a business, the
   Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies and nothing in this Bill of Sale
   removes any right the Buyer has under that Act.

8. HANDOVER
   Handover shall take place at [ADDRESS] on [DATE] at [TIME]. The
   Buyer is responsible for transport unless otherwise agreed.

9. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
   The parties shall attempt to resolve any dispute by good-faith
   discussion. Failing that, this Bill of Sale is governed by the
   law of [ENGLAND AND WALES / SCOTLAND / NORTHERN IRELAND].

SIGNED

Seller: ______________________________   Date: ____________
Print name: [SELLER NAME]

Buyer:  ______________________________   Date: ____________
Print name: [BUYER NAME]

Witness: _____________________________   Date: ____________
Print name / address: [WITNESS DETAILS]

APPENDIX A — pre-purchase vet certificate (if any)