STALLION SERVICE CONTRACT

Witness this agreement this ___ day of ____20___, between Upnorth Morgans, hereinafter referred to as “farm” and ________________________, hereinafter referred to as “Mare Owner.”

Whereas, Mare Owner is the owner or lessee of a certain registered Morgan mare having the registered name of _________________________________________, with the American Morgan Horse Association registry, with registration number_____________, foaled____________________.

Whereas, Mare Owner wishes to breed said mare as above described to the stallion, HVK Rolling Thunder.

It is now therefore agreed between the parties as follows:

Booking and Stallion Fees

(A)    Mare Owner agrees to pay a non-refundable booking fee of $150.00 to reserve a breeding for the year 20___, which shall be credited against the Stallion Fee.

(B)  For Consideration of $1,000.00, excluding mare care, Farm hereby agrees to breed the stallion HVK Rolling Thunder and/or Upnorth Johnney Be Good, as above-described to the mare belonging to Mare Owner as above-described.

(C)   The full amount of the stud fee as set forth above and the accrued board, veterinary expenses, mare care, farrier expenses, and other related charges shall become due and payable prior to release of the mare to Mare Owner.  Farm shall have a lien against the mare, any foal at side and the produce of the mating which is the subject of this Agreement until such time as any and all charges are paid in full, said lien shall survive any transfer of possession, Mare Owner agrees to pay all charges when due and should Mare Owner fail to do so, Farm shall be entitled to recover any costs, expenses and attorney’s fees expended in collection.  In the event collection of Owner’s account is placed in the in the hands of an attorney, Owner agrees a minimum fee of $500.00 shall be assessed as attorney’s fees.

Mare Care and Board

Mare Owner agrees to pay Farm, the sum of $10.00 per day for wet or dry mares.  This amount will be charged per calendar day, or portion thereof, in which the mare is in the custody or control of Farm.  All mare care charges, including any charges of horseshoeing, veterinary care or similar charges shall be due and payable prior to the return of the mare to Mare Owner.  In the event the above-named stallion stands at a commercial breeding and/or boarding facility, said facility will be considered an independent contractor for purposes of this agreement.

Mare Owner agrees to pay the sum of $250.00 to have the mare foal on Farm’s premises.  All veterinary expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be paid by Mare Owner pursuant to the terms set forth herein.

Mare Owner hereby states that he has inspected the premises of the breeding facility, including the facilities in which the mare is to be kept and is satisfied with their condition, upkeep and safety.  Mare Owner agrees that the standard of care to be imposed upon Farm is that of ordinary care of a prudent horse owner and not that of compensated Bailee.

General Conditions

This contract is a “Live Foal” contract.  “Live Foal” is herein defined as a newborn foal, which stands and nurses without assistance.  If the foal is born dead, or if the mare does not otherwise carry to term, there shall be a return privilege for the following breeding season only if the notification procedures as set forth below are followed.

None of the above-described fees shall be refundable except as described below.  However, Farm guarantees a return breeding for the following breeding season for said mare or an approved substitute mare should a “live foal” as above-described not result from this mating.  Should this mating not produce a live foal, it must be evidenced by a written statement from a licensed veterinarian dated within one week from the date of death of the fetus, or in the alternative, a sworn statement from said veterinarian that the mare is no longer in foal and the date of the fetus loss is unknown.

In the event of the death of the above-named stallion, this contract shall become null and void.  No money shall be refunded to mare owner except the booking fee if the mare has not been bred.  In the event of the stallion’s death prior to the delivery of a live foal, the live foal guarantee as above described shall become null and void.  Should the mare die subsequent to payment of the booking fee but prior to breeding, only the booking fee will be refunded to Mare Owner.  No other fees or charges are refundable except as described in this paragraph.

Mare Owner agrees to furnish a negative Coggins Test (Swamp Fever) prior to mare’s arrival at the breeding farm.  All mares shall be accompanied upon arrival by a health certificate indicating a current vaccination for equine influenza, tetanus, and encephalitis.  Mares not accompanied by said certificate will be vaccinated shortly after arrival at Farm at the expense of Mare Owner.  Mare Owner understands and agrees that upon arrival at the breeding farm, the mare will be cultured (unless a current culture is included in her health papers) and examined by a licensed veterinarian selected by Farm, at Mare Owners expense.  Mare Owner authorizes Farm, to engage performance of such other veterinary services as Farm may deem necessary for the proper treatment, care and protection of the mare and/or foal at side.  This is to be done at the Mare Owner’s expenses and will be billed and payable as above described. 

In the event of colic or life threatening illness of the mare, all means available will be utilized to save said mare unless otherwise instructed by Mare Owner, including surgery if recommended by the veterinarian.   Mare Owner shall pay and all costs, in connection therewith.

Farm shall not be liable for any sickness, disease, estray, theft, death, or injury which may be suffered by the mare and/or foal at side, or any other cause of action whatsoever arising out of or connected in any way with the breeding or boarding of the mare and/or foal.  This includes, but not limited to, any personal injury or disability which the Mare Owner fully understands that Farm does not carry any outside horses in its possession, custody or control for breeding and boarding on any public liability, accidental injury, theft or equine mortality insurance, and that all risks connected with the breeding and boarding of the mare or mares and/or foals are to be born by the Mare Owner or Owners.  Farm strongly recommends equine mortality insurance be obtained applicable to the subject horse(s) by Owner. The standard of care applicable to Farm is that of ordinary care of a prudent horse owner and as a compensated bailee.  In no event shall Farm be held liable to Mare Owner for equine death or injury in an amount in excess of Five Thousand Dollars ($5000.00) per animal.  Mare Owner agrees to obtain equine insurance for any animals valued in excess of Five Thousand dollars ($5000.00).  Mare Owner agrees to disclose this entire agreement to Mare Owner’s insurance company and provide Farm with the company’s name, address and policy number.  Failure to disclose insurance information shall be at Mare Owner’s risk.

Mares that are not halter broken and do not lead will not be accepted.  Owner agrees to submit a complete Horse Information Sheet at least five days prior to the mare’s arrival on the premises of the breeding facility.  Mare Owner understands and agrees that the mare may be tranquilized for breeding purposes if deemed reasonable or necessary by Farm.

It is understood that the breeding season for Farm commences on February 1 of the calendar year and terminates October 31 of the same calendar year.  Mares that do not come into season or are not settled within said breeding season as above-described shall be carried over to the following year, or may be re-bred during the following heat(s) if it is practical for Farm to do so.  In the event mare owner elects to rebreed during the following breeding season, Mare Owner agrees to pay any increase in the mare care fee.

In the event Mare Owner does not leave the mare at the breeding facility for 18 days following last breeding for purposes of a pregnancy test, mare owner assumes all responsibility for pregnancy testing.  Mare owner agrees to have said mare pregnancy checked within 18 days from the date of last breeding and provide said information to Farm within five (5) days from the date of said pregnancy check.  Failure to provide said information waives the live foal guarantee although Mare Owner shall have a guarantee right to rebreed the following breeding season at the rate set for said breeding season.

Sale of the mare by Mare Owner to another party or parties will terminate the live foal guarantee as set forth above and describe in this contract unless same is acknowledged and accepted in writing by Farm.

Inherent Risks and Assumption of Risk.  The undersigned acknowledges there are inherent risks associated with equine activities such as described below and hereby expressly assumes all risks associated with participating in such activities. The  inherent risks included, but not limited to the propensity of equines to behave in ways such as, running, bucking, biting, kicking, shying, stumbling, rearing, falling or stepping on, that may result in an injury, harm or death to persons on or around them; the unpredictability of equine’s reaction  to such things as sounds, sudden movement and unfamiliar objects, persons or other animals; certain hazards such as surface and subsurface conditions; collisions with other animals; the limited availability of emergency medical care; and the potential of a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, such as failing to maintain control over the animal or not acting within such participant’s ability.

WARNING:  Under the Michigan equine liability act, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in an equine activity resulting from an inherent risk of the equine activity.

This contract represents the entire agreement between the parties.  No other agreements, promises, or representations, verbal or implied, are included herein unless specifically stated in this written agreement.  This contract is made and entered into the State of Michigan, and shall be enforced and interpreted in accordance with the laws of said State.

In the event one or more parts of this contract are found to be unenforceable or illegal, the other portions hereof shall be deemed in full force and effect.

Upnorth Morgans

By____________________________             ______________________________