Contracts in Motion: Legal Considerations for Multi-Circuit Agreements
Florida’s winter show season highlights the need for tailored contracts appropriate for those equestrians whose competitive and commercial strategies increasingly span multiple circuits and venues.
Movement between local circuits and those in Wellington, Ocala, and other winter destinations has become routine. That movement necessitates a web of contracts and agreements tailored to the realities of such a dynamic show season. We call this type of specialized agreement a Multi-Circuit Agreement (“MCA”).
Assumptions made in original training/boarding agreements can become pressure points once logistics shift. The use of MCAs helps eliminate risk and manage expectations in different environments.
Training & Program Agreements
When horses move between circuits, equine relationships are often stretched across trainers, locations, facilities, providers, and timelines. In addition to the typical contractual requirements, MCAs should also account for these concerns.
Stabling & Facility Contracts
Stall agreements and facility use contracts vary widely between circuits and venues. Owners should understand how each facility contract fits into the broader season plan—not just week-to-week logistics. A clear MCA will include these expectations.
Transportation & Logistics Agreements
Frequent circuit movement increases reliance on transporters and logistics providers. Contracts should clearly define insurance, risk, timing and liability. Allocation of risk and decision making authority must be clearly defined in the MCA.
Ownership, Leasing & Syndicate Structures
Multi-circuit campaigns often involve leased horses, shared ownership, or syndicate arrangements. What works for a single venue may not translate seamlessly across multiple circuit—which is why MCAs are critical.
Insurance & Risk Planning
Insurance coverage should be reviewed with circuit movement in mind. A good MCA will complement existing agreements to ensure there aren’t gaps or exclusions in coverage.
Why It Matters
Most disputes arising during show season are not the result of bad intentions. They stem from agreements that were drafted for a static plan, then applied to a dynamic reality.
A well-structured MCA is designed to anticipate movement, not react to it.
Thoughtful legal planning allows owners and professionals to focus on performance, confident that the structure supporting the season is legally sound.
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