For many horse owners, entering their horse into a breeding program is a logical next step in horse ownership. Breeding horses can be an excellent source of revenue and can help reduce the costs of boarding and farm maintenance. While the decision to breed your horse may seem to have only positive outcomes, there are many other considerations and steps to take to protect you and your stallion and mare from potential legal action. Our Los Angeles law firm, specializes in horse law and understands the complexities of stallion service contracts and breeding disputes. With over 35 years of equine law experience, our Los Angeles law firm offers the following advice to ensure a smooth breeding process for first time breeders.
Stallion Breeding Considerations
If you are a stallion owner, some of the most important areas of a breeding contract to consider are rebreeding rights, live foal guarantees, and additional fees in the event the mare does not become pregnant. To protect you and your stallion, it is best to hire an experienced legal representative to look over your breeding contract for irregularities and vague language. Breeding contracts should specify various procedures such as veterinarian visits, fertility checks if the mare does not become pregnant, and a timeline for additional breedings if pregnancy is not immediate.
Mare Breeding Considerations
When breeding a mare, it is crucial to recognize the additional risks that are involved and complications that can occur during pregnancy. When creating a breeding contract, these risks should be taken into consideration, and various expenses and medical procedures should be discussed with the stallion’s owner and added to the contract. If your mare is of a certain age, the stallion’s owner may seek out additional assurances such as live foul guarantees. Check over the language of this addendum carefully and look for language that refers to a time period. If your mare gives birth to a foul, but that foul dies outside the time period, you may not be entitled to rebreeding your mare.
Foal Considerations
There are no guarantees that a foal will have the unique characteristics of its parents or even be born healthy. While it is good practice to review both the mare and stallion’s medical history before breeding, a foal can still be born with different ailments and complications. When creating a breeding contract, it is essential to consider the foal’s possible health concerns and have specific language within the contract that discusses the steps that will be taken if a foal is born disabled.