Horse Bill of Sale Form
A horse changes hands on trust and paperwork in equal measure. Record the registered name, markings, and price — with conformation photos embedded — and keep the registry transfer and Coggins test beside it.
Download a blank bill of sale, or build a custom one.
A horse bill of sale records an equine sale in writing: registered name, breed, sex, markings, price, and signatures. It rides alongside the breed-registry transfer and Coggins paperwork as the document that proves the sale itself happened.
Download a clean, fillable horse bill of sale. Type the details in any PDF viewer, or print it and write them by hand.
Not legal advice. This template is a general-purpose starting point only. Specific DMV and state requirements vary — I understand it is my responsibility to verify local requirements before finalizing a transfer.
The bill of sale is one of three documents.
Photos matter here more than on any vehicle: two clear conformation shots taken the day of sale document the horse’s condition and identity (markings, brands, scars) exactly as the buyer saw it. Whether the sale is “sound” or strictly AS-IS, and any pre-purchase exam findings, belong in additional terms too.
Papers, tests, and promises.
Does the bill of sale transfer the registration papers?
No — that is a separate step. Breed registries (AQHA, Jockey Club, APHA and the rest) each have their own transfer report that moves the papers to the new owner, usually signed by the seller and filed with a fee. The bill of sale documents the deal; the registry transfer moves the pedigree.
What is a Coggins test and do I need one to sell?
A Coggins is the blood test for equine infectious anemia (EIA). Most boarding barns, shows, sales, and interstate movements require a current negative result, so buyers expect one dated within the last 12 months. Record the test date and accession number in the additional-terms box.
Should the sale be AS-IS or should I describe the horse as sound?
Write down whichever is true, and nothing more. This form's default is AS-IS; if you make a soundness representation, put the exact words in the additional-terms box — and buyers who want certainty should pay for a pre-purchase exam by their own vet before signing.
Do horse bills of sale need a notary?
No state generally requires it, though a few expect a written bill of sale for equine sales, and high-value transactions sometimes notarize by choice. What matters more is that both parties sign, date, and keep copies alongside the health and registry paperwork.
Can I put a first right of refusal in a horse bill of sale?
Yes — it's the most requested custom clause in horse sales. A first right of refusal gives the seller the chance to buy the horse back before it's sold to anyone else, which is how sellers make sure a horse they love never ends up somewhere they wouldn't want. Write the clause into the additional-terms box and have both parties sign; like any contract term, its enforceability varies by state, so serious buy-back intentions deserve a lawyer's eyes.
Not legal advice — brand-inspection states add their own transport rules for equines. Reviewed July 2026.
First right of refusal, in plain words.
Sample wording for the additional-terms box: “Buyer grants Seller a first right of refusal on any future sale or transfer of this horse. Buyer will notify Seller in writing before any sale and allow Seller ten days to match the offered price.” Adjust the notice window to taste — and remember these clauses bind the signers, so both parties should initial the line.