A breeding contract, or more commonly termed a "stud contract," is the agreement between a mare owner and a stallion owner that sets out the terms of a breeding: what is being paid, what is being promised, how semen is delivered, and what happens if the mare does not take or produce a live foal. A clear stud contract prevents the two most common breeding-season disputes — money and outcomes.
This guide explains the clauses every equine breeding contract should cover and how to keep both parties aligned from booking to foaling.
What a stud contract should cover
At minimum, a good breeding contract names the mare, the stallion, and the breeding season it applies to, then defines these terms:
- Stud fee — the amount due to breed to the stallion, and when it is due. While most stud fees are due in full before the mare is bred, some stud fees are not due until after the mare has conceived, or even after the foal is born healthy.
- Booking fee — any non-refundable deposit that reserves the stallion. Stallions that get a lot of bookings may use a booking fee to reserve the spot with them.
- Breeding method — fresh cooled, frozen, or live cover.
- Live foal guarantee (LFG) — what qualifies as a live foal, and what rebreed rights apply if the mare doesn't take in the first season, or if the mare loses the foal before it is born.
- Semen shipment terms — how many shipments are included, cutoff days, and who pays collection and shipping.
- Chute and collection fees — these are common per-collection charges.
- Registration paperwork — who provides the breeding certificate and when.
The stud fee and booking fee
The stud fee is the headline number, but the booking fee is where expectations most often diverge. A good stud contract states clearly whether the booking fee is separate from or part of the stud fee, and whether it is refundable. Most booking fees are non-refundable because they reserve a season slot.
Live foal guarantee
A live foal guarantee means the mare owner gets to try again if a breeding does not result in a foal that stands and nurses. When a stallion owner is writing up a stud contract, they should define precisely:
- what counts as a "live foal" (commonly: stands and nurses without assistance);
- the deadline for notifying the stallion owner if a pregnancy is lost;
- whether the remedy is a free rebreed the following season, a partial refund, or a substitute stallion. A free rebreed the next season is by far the most common here. It is very rare that refunds are given.
Fresh, frozen, and live cover terms
Each breeding method changes the contract. Fresh cooled semen contracts should specify collection days and the semen-request cutoff. Frozen semen contracts often sell a fixed number of doses and should state whether unused doses are refundable or transferable. Live cover contracts should specify mare arrival, boarding, and any veterinary requirements.
Many stallion owners and stallion stations now require that a mare has had a culture and cytology done ahead of the breeding season. This is good practice for everyone involved and can save the mare owner money in terms of shipping semen on a mare with a dirty uterus.
Keeping both parties aligned during the season
A signed contract is the start, not the end. During the season, both parties need a shared view of what has been requested, shipped, paid, and confirmed. In StallionApp, a breeding contract links the mare and stallion, tracks semen requests and shipments against the agreed limits, prompts invoicing when the stud fee is due, and lets both parties see contract status at any time — so nothing depends on remembering an email thread.
Checklist before you sign
- The mare, stallion, season, and breeding method are named.
- Stud fee, booking fee, and their refund terms are explicit.
- The live foal guarantee defines the qualifying event, the deadline, and the remedy.
- Semen shipment count, cutoff, and who pays for collection and shipping are stated.
- Both parties know who provides registration paperwork.
Breeding season can get busy and stressful. For stallion owners and mare owners alike, the more organized you can be ahead of time, the better.