Free Newfoundland and Labrador Horse Bill of Sale
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province where selling a horse can require an export permit — because of the Newfoundland Pony. Under the province's Heritage Animals Act (1997), the breed holds protected heritage status and it is illegal to transport Newfoundland Ponies off the Island without an export permit. For any other horse the rules are the ordinary Atlantic set: personal property, common-law contract, no brand inspection, plus the federal digital EIA (Coggins) certification required since December 2021 and a health certificate for the ferry crossing to the mainland.
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Newfoundland and Labrador Horse Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
Horses are personal property in Canada. GST/HST may apply if the seller is a GST registrant (farm or business). Private individual-to-individual sales are typically GST/HST exempt.
Exemption: Private sales between individuals are generally exempt from GST/HST. Purchases from a registered GST farm may attract 5% GST.
Inspection Requirements
No provincial inspection is required for a horse sale, though a pre-purchase veterinary exam is strongly recommended.
Newfoundland and Labrador Horse Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- FIRST: establish whether the horse is a registered Newfoundland Pony — if it is and it is leaving the Island, an export permit is required under the Heritage Animals Act.
- Identify the horse fully in the bill of sale: names, breed, colour, markings, microchip, age, sex, registration or Newfoundland Pony Society registration number.
- Plan the crossing: Marine Atlantic ferry passage, hauling, insurance in transit, and seasonal timing all belong in the written terms.
- Obtain the current digital EIA (Coggins) certificate and the veterinary health certificate for interprovincial movement.
- Set price and warranty terms explicitly — as-is or named representations about soundness and use.
- HST applies only when the seller is a registrant selling in the course of business.
- Transfer breed-registry papers (Newfoundland Pony Society for the heritage breed) and keep signed copies.
Common Pitfalls
- Selling a Newfoundland Pony off-Island without the export permit: the Heritage Animals Act makes that transport illegal, and no bill of sale cures it.
- Treating the ferry as an afterthought: Marine Atlantic crossings are seasonal, weather-bound, and costly — write who books, pays, and insures.
- Presenting a paper Coggins: digital EIA certification has been mandatory since December 2021.
- Assuming any horse on the Island is a Newfoundland Pony — or that none is: registration status determines whether the export permit rule applies, so confirm it in writing.
Pro Tip
One question decides a Newfoundland horse sale: is it a Newfoundland Pony leaving the Island? If so, the export permit comes before everything. Otherwise it is a standard Atlantic deal — bill of sale, digital Coggins, health certificate, ferry.