When you board your horse with someone else, an arrangement arises over care, payment, and who's responsible for what — whether you put it in writing or not. A boarding contract records those arrangements so no dispute arises if something goes wrong. Below is what such a contract typically covers, how liability is broadly divided, and what to watch for before you sign.
Why you want this in writing
A verbal agreement is legally valid, but hard to prove. If a dispute arises over a farrier's bill, an injury, or a notice period, it quickly becomes one person's word against the other's without a contract. A written boarding contract prevents that by setting out in advance what both parties can expect.
That goes for both sides. The owner knows what care is included and what costs extra; the yard operator knows when payment is due and what happens if it isn't. The contract isn't a sign of distrust, but a way to keep the relationship workable — especially when it lasts for years.
What belongs in the agreement
At its core, a boarding contract is an agreement about stabling and (partly) caring for a horse in exchange for payment. Most contracts cover the same topics. A practical checklist:
| Item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Parties and horse | Names and addresses, plus a description of the horse (name, breed, age, chip number) |
| Type of boarding | Full board, half-board ("halfpension" — shared use of a horse), or stabling only — and exactly what that includes |
| Included care | Feeding, mucking out, turnout, hay/concentrate feed, tacking up and untacking |
| What's not included | Farrier, vet, supplements, clipping — usually paid by the owner |
| Price and payment | Monthly amount, payment terms, and how and when rates can change |
| Use of facilities | Access to the arena, horse walker, pasture, wash bay, and opening hours |
| Insurance | Which insurance each party must carry (see below) |
| Liability | Who's responsible for what, and what exclusions apply |
| Notice period | How much notice either party must give to end the agreement |
| House rules | Safety, conduct on the premises, access for third parties, manure and hay storage |
Not every point needs to be extensive; the point is that money, care, liability, and termination aren't left to chance.
The biggest sticking point: liability
This is the trickiest part, and the reason many conflicts arise. It comes down to two different questions you need to keep separate.
The first: who is liable if the horse causes damage? In the Netherlands, the possessor of an animal is, in principle, liable for damage the animal causes, even without any fault on their part. When you board a horse, the yard operator can, depending on the circumstances, be regarded as a "commercial user" of that animal for the time it's in their care. How that plays out in your case depends on the facts and the agreements made — this is precisely something to settle in the contract and with your insurer.
The second: who covers damage to the horse itself? If the horse is injured in the pasture or damages its stall, the question is whether the yard operator fell short in their duty of care. Many yards include a clause limiting their liability to cases of demonstrable intent or gross negligence. Such a limitation is common, but its validity and scope aren't unlimited. Always read this clause carefully and ask for clarification if anything is unclear.
The practical lesson: a boarding contract shifts the risk, and insurance covers what's left over. Leave the exact legal interpretation to a lawyer and the coverage to your insurer — don't assume certainty where there isn't any.
Insurance that comes with this
Your contract and your insurance need to line up. Three types of coverage come up most often:
- The owner's liability. For a horse you keep purely as a hobby, your personal liability insurance (AVP) often already covers damage caused by the horse — but far from always, and not without limits. Check your policy terms and don't assume. Read more on this in the guide on which insurance you need.
- The yard's commercial liability insurance. A professional boarding yard should carry its own commercial liability insurance. Ask about it; it tells you something about how well things are organized.
- Health or life insurance for the horse. These are separate from the boarding arrangement, but relevant to the agreement on who calls and pays the vet in an emergency.
Set out in the contract who must carry which insurance. A common gap is both parties assuming the other has something covered, while neither actually does.
Types of boarding and what they mean
The arrangements differ significantly by type of boarding, and the agreement should make clear which one you're entering into.
- Full board — the yard takes care of the horse entirely: feeding, mucking out, turnout, hay. You come to ride. This is the most expensive option and gives the yard the most care duties, which carries through into liability.
- Half-board through the yard — you share tasks with the yard or do part of it yourself, for example mucking out yourself at a lower rate. Set out precisely who does what.
- Stabling only (self-care) — you rent a stall and/or pasture and do all the care yourself. Here, the bulk of the care, and with it the liability, sits more with you.
The more care the yard provides, the more duty of care sits with them — and the more important it is that the contract describes exactly what "care" involves.
Ending or changing the agreement
A fixed notice period protects both parties: you don't suddenly find yourself and your horse without a stable from one day to the next, and the yard keeps track of occupancy. Notice periods of one to two months are common, but that's not a legal requirement — it's set out in your contract. Also check how and when the yard may adjust the monthly rate, and whether a minimum term applies.
If the arrangement breaks down — overdue payment, or a yard not delivering the agreed care — pull out the contract before drawing conclusions. A right of retention, where a yard operator keeps the horse until outstanding bills are paid, is a recurring point of dispute; have a lawyer check the precise rules that apply.
In practice: how to arrange it
- Ask the yard for their standard boarding contract and read it in full, including the fine print on liability and termination.
- Go through the checklist above: if anything is missing on price, care, insurance, or notice period, ask for it to be added.
- Align your own insurance with the contract — call your insurer and explain the boarding situation.
- Put any deviating agreements (an extra turnout session, a different rate) in writing, not just verbally.
- Unsure about a liability or retention clause, or about a conflict that's already underway? Put it to a lawyer or legal expenses insurer.
A boarding contract is tailored to each situation, and the legal details differ by case and change over time. Use this guide to get the right topics on the table, and have an actual contract or dispute reviewed by a lawyer or your insurer before you sign.
See also: Which insurance you need · Full board, half-board, or your own stable · Glossary for this level