Horse Bill of Sale: What to Include
Selling or buying a horse isn't like selling a used couch — a generic bill of sale misses several details that matter a lot in an equine sale: health history, a Coggins test, whether a pre-purchase exam happened, and registration papers. Here's what an equine bill of sale should actually cover.
Why a horse bill of sale needs to be different
A car has a VIN and an odometer. A horse has a health history, a temperament, papers from a breed registry, and sometimes a legal testing requirement most people have never heard of. A bill of sale written for "general merchandise" simply doesn't ask the right questions — which is exactly why our tool has a dedicated Livestock/Animal category instead of forcing horse sales through a generic template.
Use the built-in equine fields
Our free generator has a dedicated Livestock/Animal category — breed, health disclosure, Coggins test date, and pre-purchase exam status all included automatically.
Create a horse bill of sale →What to include
- Full description — breed, age, sex, color and markings, and any identifying details (microchip, brand, or tattoo if applicable).
- Registration papers — if the horse is registered with a breed association (AQHA, Jockey Club, etc.), note the registration number and confirm whether papers transfer with the sale.
- Health disclosure — known conditions, past injuries, lameness history, or vices (cribbing, weaving, hard to catch, etc.) the seller is aware of.
- Coggins / EIA test — see below; this is the equine-specific item people search for most.
- Pre-purchase veterinary exam — whether one was performed, and by whom, or whether the buyer knowingly waived it.
- Price, payment, and the standard clauses — purchase price, payment method, "as-is" language, and signatures, same as any bill of sale.
Do you need a Coggins test?
A Coggins test checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), a serious and incurable disease. Many states legally require a current negative Coggins test for a horse to cross state lines, to be sold at auction, or to board at many facilities — and it's simply good practice for any private sale regardless of whether your state mandates it. A copy of the results (or at least the test date) is worth including in the sale record.
The pre-purchase exam
Most experienced buyers arrange a pre-purchase veterinary exam (sometimes called a "vet check") before finalizing a horse purchase — an independent vet evaluates soundness, health, and any red flags. It's not legally required, but it's standard practice for anything beyond a low-value sale. If the buyer chooses to skip it, that's worth documenting too — it protects the seller from a later claim that a problem should have been caught.
Health and behavioral disclosure
Sellers should disclose what they actually know — chronic lameness, prior colic surgery, known vices, or a training gap (for example, "not yet started under saddle"). This isn't just good faith: an honest, documented disclosure protects the seller if the buyer later claims they weren't told about a known issue, and it protects the buyer by setting clear expectations from day one.
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Answer a few guided questions — breed, health status, Coggins date, pre-purchase exam — and get a complete, free PDF in minutes.
Start the free Bill of Sale generator →Frequently asked questions
Is a horse bill of sale legally required?
In most states, a bill of sale isn't strictly mandated for a private horse sale the way vehicle titles are, but it's strongly recommended — it's your primary proof of the sale, price, and what was disclosed about the horse's health and history.
Does the bill of sale need to include health records?
It should at least summarize what's known and note whether full health/vet records were provided separately. This protects both the buyer (clear expectations) and the seller (proof of disclosure).
What if the horse has behavioral issues or vices?
Disclose them. Known vices like cribbing, weaving, or being difficult to catch or load should be noted in the condition/health section — undisclosed known issues are a common source of disputes after equine sales.
Do I need to attach the actual Coggins test result?
It's good practice to provide a copy alongside the bill of sale, even if the document itself only references the test date. Requirements for what must accompany a sale vary by state and by venue (auction vs. private sale).
Related reading: How to Write a Bill of Sale → · What Does a Bill of Sale Look Like? → · When Does a Bill of Sale Need to Be Notarized? →
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