Agistment guide: types, costs and what to check before you sign

Agistment is how most Australian and many New Zealand horse owners keep a horse without owning land. You pay a property owner (the agistor) for your horse to live on their property, with whatever level of care you agree. Done well, it gives your horse space, company and grazing. Done badly, it leads to disputes, thin horses and unpaid bills. This guide covers the types of agistment, what to look for when you visit, what a written agreement should include, and the legal obligations that come with it.

What is agistment?

In the UK it's called livery and in the US boarding. In Australia and New Zealand, agistment covers everything from a bare paddock where you do all the work to a fully serviced stable where staff feed, rug and exercise your horse.

Victoria's Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses describes this range. Agreements may include supervision, rugging, grooming, stabling, individual feeding, manure removal and high-standard facilities. The level of care is usually in direct proportion to the fee, and low-cost paddock agistment is fine as long as all welfare requirements are met (Code of Practice).

Types of agistment

Names vary between properties, so always ask exactly what is included.

Paddock (self-care) agistment

You rent paddock space. You do the daily checks, feeding, rugging, worming, farrier and vet arrangements. It's the cheapest option, but you need the time to visit daily – the RSPCA notes that agisting can mean travelling every day, sometimes twice (RSPCA Knowledgebase).

Part agistment

The agistor does some daily tasks – often a daily check, feeding hay you supply, or rugging – and you handle the rest. This is the most variable type, so get the details in writing.

Full agistment

The agistor provides most or all daily care, sometimes including feed, rugging, stabling and holding the horse for the farrier or vet. It costs more but suits owners who can't visit every day.

Specialist agistment

Spelling (rest) paddocks, retirement agistment, stud agistment for broodmares and foals, and training or pre-training agistment. These often come with their own contracts. Agriculture Victoria notes that training and stud agreements may need extra clauses, such as prize-money allocation or live-foal guarantees (Agriculture Victoria – horse agistment contracts).

What does agistment cost?

Prices vary widely by region, facilities and level of care. As one indicative range, the RSPCA Knowledgebase (last updated in 2021) lists agistment fees of about $120–$300 per month as part of its example running costs (RSPCA Knowledgebase). Full agistment near major cities can cost far more. Compare current listings in your area – you can find agistment near you on horse.work – and ask each property for a written list of what is included and what costs extra.

For a full budget, see the real cost of owning a horse.

What to look for when you visit

Visit in person, ideally more than once, and at a time of year when feed is short.

Paddocks and feed

• Ground cover and grass length. Is there real feed, or bare dirt and weeds? See paddock management.
• Stocking rate. How many horses per paddock? Victoria's Code says overcrowding increases injury risk, and agistors should advise owners how they prevent overstocking (Code of Practice).
• Poisonous plants and weeds. Look for Paterson's curse, ragwort, bracken and others – see poisonous plants for horses.
• Hay supply. Who provides hay when grass runs out, and who pays?

Water and shelter

• Reliable water. Troughs that refill, or dams with safe access. Victoria's minimum standards require free access to an adequate supply of good-quality water (Code of Practice). See water for horses.
• Shelter. Trees, sheds or stables. Victoria's Code requires access to proper and sufficient shelter at all times (Code of Practice). New Zealand's Code of Welfare also sets shelter standards (MPI).

Fences, gates and safety

• Fencing. Barbed wire, ringlock and high-tensile wire must not be used for yards and small areas in Victoria because they can cause severe injury (Code of Practice). Look for loose wires, rubbish and broken rails.
• Gates. Wide enough for safe passage. The Code suggests a minimum of 1.2 metres.
• Herd mix. How are new horses introduced? Are mares and geldings separated?

Facilities and people

• Tack storage, wash bay, float parking, arena, lighting and security.
• Who checks horses, how often, and how will they contact you?
• Is there an emergency plan for fire, flood or disease?

Biosecurity

Ask how new arrivals are handled. Agriculture Victoria recommends quarantining new, returning or visiting horses separately for at least 10 days (Biosecurity for horses), and Victoria's Code suggests 10–14 days for new horses (Code of Practice). Ask what vaccinations and worming the property requires. See biosecurity and isolating new horses.

The written agistment agreement

Always get a written agreement. Victoria's Code recommends one that states the fee, the services provided, who is responsible for supervision, feed and water, what happens if the horse is sick or injured, and a contingency plan for emergencies such as fire, flood or disease outbreak (Code of Practice). NSW also recommends a formal written agreement for agistment (NSW Government – agistment).

Agriculture Victoria's outline of horse agistment contracts suggests covering (horse agistment contracts):

The parties and the horse

• Both parties' details and an emergency representative.
• Each horse's name and description – colour, markings, brands, whorls and scars.
• Pre-existing injuries, ailments or vices.
• Vaccination records (for example tetanus, strangles and Hendra – see horse vaccinations) and recent treatments such as worming and dental work.

Money

• Duration, fees and payment schedule.
• What happens if fees aren't paid, including any lien over the horse.
• Authority and cost recovery for vet, farrier or other services the agistor arranges.
• Possible cost changes in drought or flood.

Standard of care

• Accommodation, shelter, fencing and stocking rate.
• Feed quality, pasture care and supplements.
• Water supply.
• Parasite and disease management, including quarantine and paddock rotation (see biosecurity and isolating new horses).
• Who can call the vet, farrier or dentist, and who pays.
• The owner's right to inspect the horse.

Ending the agreement

• Notice period and termination date.
• Transport costs and final payment.

Disputes

• A dispute-resolution clause, so disagreements can go to an agreed expert rather than straight to court.

Agriculture Victoria recommends an experienced legal adviser prepare the contract, and notes that without a written agreement covering non-payment, Victoria's Impounding of Livestock Act 1994 lets a landholder create a lien over an agisted horse (Agriculture Victoria).

Your legal obligations: PICs and welfare

Property Identification Codes (Australia)

In several states, any property where horses are kept – including agistment – needs a Property Identification Code (PIC):

• Victoria: horse owners and keepers must have a PIC for the property where their horse is kept. If your horse is agisted, that property needs a PIC, and the agistor should update its PIC details to show the number of agisted horses (Agriculture Victoria – biosecurity for horses).
• NSW: properties with horses need a PIC, applied for through Local Land Services (NSW Government – apply for a PIC).
• Queensland: anyone keeping at least one horse must register as a biosecurity entity, even if they don't own the land (for example, an agistee), and is allocated a PIC for the land where the horse is kept (Queensland DPI – horse registration).

Ask any agistor for their PIC before you move your horse. Rules in other states and territories differ, so check with your state agriculture department.

Welfare responsibility

Agriculture Victoria notes that both owners and landholders may be held legally liable if agisted horses aren't properly looked after, and that owners should check their horses to make sure the agreement is being met – or appoint someone to do it for them (Agriculture Victoria – horse agistment contracts). It also recommends written records of any period when responsibility for welfare passes to someone else. Victoria's Code suggests agistors record the full name, address and phone number of every horse's owner (Code of Practice). Keep visiting, keep records, and act quickly if standards slip. See horse owner law in Australia and NZ.

Red flags

• No written agreement offered.
• No PIC, or the agistor doesn't know what one is.
• Thin horses, bare paddocks, or empty or dirty troughs.
• Barbed wire or loose wire in horse paddocks.
• No plan for new arrivals, fire or flood.
• Vague answers about who checks the horses and how often.

FAQ

What is the difference between agistment and livery?

They mean the same thing. Agistment is the Australian and NZ term; livery is the British term.

Do I need a contract for agistment?

It isn't always legally required, but it is strongly recommended. Victoria's Code of Practice recommends a written agreement covering fees, services, responsibilities, sick or injured horses, and emergencies (Code of Practice).

Does an agistment property need a PIC?

In Victoria, NSW and Queensland, yes – properties where horses are kept must be registered (Agriculture Victoria; NSW; Queensland). Check rules for your state.

How much is horse agistment?

It varies by location and service. The RSPCA gives an example range of $120–$300 per month for agistment fees (RSPCA Knowledgebase); full agistment and city locations cost more. Compare agistment listings on horse.work.

How long should a new horse be isolated at agistment?

Agriculture Victoria recommends at least 10 days for new, returning or visiting horses (Biosecurity for horses), and Victoria's Code suggests 10–14 days (Code of Practice).

Who pays the vet if my horse is injured at agistment?

Normally the owner, unless the agreement says otherwise. Set out in writing who can call the vet, spending limits, and how costs are recovered (Agriculture Victoria).