What's in your lease concerning horses?

Question

Though I have some country rentals, I haven't rented to tenants with horses.  I'm considering doing so now.  What provisions do you have about horses or other livestock?  Limits of liability, fence and stable maintenance, up to date vaccinations, damage, etc.

Account Closed · Answer

@Yenlan Patton   @Jon Klaus   There are two things to consider.  The first is damage to the horses caused by your property.  You need to have in the lease that the tenant will inspect the entire property prior to putting horses on it and on an on going basis as needed to make sure the property is safe for horses.  You also need in the lease that there will not be more animals on the property than the property can withstand without damaging the pasture.

Yenlan Patton · Answer

First of all thank you all for the responses and I really appreciate the opinions. It should be enough spot actually for another horse if 1 horse only need 2 acres and 1 acre thereafter. And we have 10 acres, probably about 7-8 acres with pastures. But i don't know anything about horses, what their personality. What if this new horse is wild and damage the property. I personally kinda disagree while my husband is no big deal for him about it as long their will keep maintain the fences.

Davido Davido · Answer

Consider also how you want your pasture maintained. One horse kept too long on the same small acreage can quickly turn lush pasture into denuded bare ground.  It takes considerably longer to restore pasture than it does to destroy it, and unless you've got the time to manage your pasture almost daily it can be expensive to restore.  I'd require cross fencing and a paddock shifting plan before permitting horse(s).

Colleen F. · Answer

We had a property in Arizona years ago with horse stalls but we did not cover it in the lease. We didn't have any problems with the horses but if I were to do it now I would limit the number of horses and put something in on fence maintenance.  We require anything rural we have now follow local regulations, in some places that is no farm animals below  a certain acreage. You also might want to ask a horse person how much acreage of pasture per horse in your area is good.

Yenlan Patton · Answer

I know this is an old thread, but i have the same issue that i couldn't find any info. We have a tenant with 3 horses at double wide and 10 acres. We have never renting country living before, we don't charge any their horses except $300 deposit for the dogs. And recently they asked to add another horse but we put in new contract that would be additional fee for additional animal. So they talked to trade for fixing the shower that has leaked and flooring around it (linoleum). Any advice?

Stephanie Bureau · Answer

Horses require some kind of shelter and fences. Either provide them or reduce rent if they build permanent structures. There are some temporary things they can put up, but if I were to rent I'd prefer something already there. They'll also need a place to store hay (at least) and possibly tack and grain. As far as liability you'll probably need a farm policy or you'll need to require that they get it. Talk to your agent, but usually it will cover the animals hurting other people as well as the property. You'll also need a place for them to take manure (depending on how big the pasture is) less horses on larger pasture can let the manure decompose in the field, but more horses and less pasture means they'll need to move the manure some where else. Some people will take the manure for free since it's good for gardens.

Casey S. · Answer

Bumping an old question because I have the same one and can't find any info.

What clauses should I add to my lease to protect myself from the added risk of renting to people with horses?

Lee G. · Answer

Dunno. All my stuff is in town. For my tenants, I allow pets but they are responsible for any damage the pets do, even if it exceeds their deposits. I would ask for the stars, moon and sky and see what happens. Sorry I can't be of more help.