Stallpool

Horse share agreement: what goes in it, and a template to fill in

Most horse shares start with a handshake and a WhatsApp message. That works until the horse goes lame and nobody knows whether the contribution continues, until the farrier's bill arrives, or until something happens and someone asks whose insurance pays.

A short written agreement settles that in advance. Below is the template Stallpool uses, filled in with an example, followed by what to watch for in each point. The template follows German law, where Stallpool is used most.

This is a template and general information, not legal advice. Check that it fits your situation and add your own terms under “Other”. For a specific case, ask a lawyer.

The template, filled in with an example

Horse share agreement

Template by Stallpool. Not legal advice. Please check that it fits your situation.

1. Parties

Owner: Anna Berg

Sharer: Lena Koch

Horse: Fiete, yard: Am Bruch livery yard

Start: 1 December 2026

2. Riding and care days

The sharer rides and looks after the horse on these days: Monday and Friday.

Single days can be swapped by agreement and are recorded in Stallpool.

3. Monthly contribution

The sharer pays €120.00 a month, due on day 3 of each month, directly to the owner.

Other costs are paid by the owner unless agreed otherwise.

4. Permitted use

Permitted: riding in the arena and indoor school, hacking out in company, lunging and groundwork.

Anything else only after asking first.

5. Care and duties

The sharer looks after the horse carefully on their days and reports anything unusual straight away.

Anything unusual about health or behaviour is recorded the same day as a handover note in Stallpool.

6. Insurance

The owner keeps horse owner's liability insurance for the horse.

The sharer keeps personal liability insurance that covers riding other people's horses.

Both upload proof to Stallpool and keep it current.

7. Liability

Statutory rules apply unless something else is agreed under “Other” below.

8. Holidays, illness, horse unavailable

The contribution continues during the sharer's holidays or illness.

9. Ending the share

Either side can end the share with 4 weeks' notice. A written message is enough.

10. Other

No further arrangements.

Template version 2026-11-1

What to watch for in each point

  1. Parties

    Full names and the horse with its yard. If the sharer is under 18, a parent signs too.

  2. Riding and care days

    Fixed weekdays prevent most disputes. Agree how swaps work too. In Stallpool a swap is requested with one tap and the rota only changes once the other person accepts.

  3. Monthly contribution

    Amount, due day and who is paid. A fixed monthly sum is usual; vet and farrier are often split on top by agreed shares. Write the key down (say 25 % of the farrier) and there's nothing to argue about later.

  4. Permitted use

    May the sharer hack out alone, jump, take lessons, compete? Anything not explicitly allowed is agreed in advance.

  5. Care and duties

    What belongs to a riding day: mucking out, feeding, picking out hooves, changing rugs? And how is anything unusual reported?

  6. Insurance

    Under German law the keeper of a horse is liable for damage it causes (§ 833 BGB), so the owner needs horse owner's liability insurance. The sharer needs liability cover that includes riding other people's horses; not every personal policy does. Ask your insurers whether sharers are covered and upload the proofs.

  7. Liability

    The template refers to the statutory rules. If you want something else, such as a waiver, write it explicitly under “Other”. This is where advice is worth having.

  8. Holidays, illness, horse unavailable

    Does the contribution continue while the sharer is on holiday? And if the horse is lame for three weeks? The template offers both usual options.

  9. Ending the share

    Two to four weeks' notice is common. A written message is enough and avoids arguments about the date.

  10. Other

    Anything specific to you: saddle and tack, use of the indoor school, transport to shows, photos of the horse.

How you fill it in with Stallpool

Add your horse and invite your sharer with a link. The template takes names, regular days and the contribution from your rota. You adjust it, both read the same version and accept it with one tap. If anyone changes it afterwards, the acceptance resets and both accept the new version. Each version gets a checksum, and Stallpool records who accepted when.