CO-RIDING CONTRACT / RIDING PARTICIPATION CONTRACT
A riding participation contract or co-riding contract can be freely drafted within the framework of the legal norms. In practice, it often happens that a co-riding contract is only concluded verbally. A verbal co-riding contract is also legally valid, but its content is difficult to verify in case of ambiguities and disputes.
The following questions often arise in the event of disagreements between the horse owner and the co-rider:
- Can the owner prohibit the co-rider from riding cross-country?
- Can the co-rider be forced to attend training sessions (with a specific trainer)?
- Is there still an obligation to pay the co-riding fee if the horse is absent due to illness or injury?
- What if the co-rider is absent due to illness or vacation?
- Is the co-rider allowed to pass the horse on to a third party?
- Is the owner of the horse liable to the co-rider for damages incurred by the co-rider while riding and/or handling the horse?
- Can the owner of a horse exclude or limit the liability towards the co-rider?
- Is the co-rider liable to the owner of the horse if damage occurs to the horse during the co-rider’s use?
- What if the horse causes damage to other persons or property during use by the co-rider?
- Can/should the owner of a horse enter into a co-riding agreement with a minor?
Especially with regard to mutual rights and obligations as well as possibilities of contract termination, however, it is recommended for reasons of legal certainty to conclude a written agreement in the case of a co-riding contract. In practice, each co-riding contract should be adapted to individual circumstances and the use of sample contracts, for example from the internet, should be avoided.
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE CONTRACT FOR A RIDING PARTICIPATION:
- Contracting parties to the riding participation contract (information on the owner/authorized person to dispose of the horse as well as the co-rider, contact information for emergencies, etc)
- Information about the horse
- Rights and duties of the co-rider
- Scope of use (riding in the riding arena/cross-country, lunging/ground work, training sessions, competition participation, etc)
- Times of use
- Rights and duties of the owner of the horse (duty to warn and inform about peculiarities of the horse)
- Co-riding fee (amount, due date, obligation to continue payment in case of temporary absence/illness/injury of the horse and absence of the co-rider)
- Beginning, duration as well as possibilities of termination of the riding participation contract
- Liability (exclusion of liability/limitation of liability)
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Contractual and legal security in horse and equestrian sport
- Horse purchase agreement
- Horse stabling contract
- Co-Riding contract
- Horse training contract
- Liability issues in case of accidents
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