Leasing a Horse?

[mocha200]

Some of you may (or may not) know that a few years ago our horse passed away.  Since then I have been itching to do more with horses. This fall I started taking horseback ridding lessons once a week and have been doing very well. They have let me clean stalls a few times a month in exchange for more riding time. As you may guess, that’s not enough for me, haha! I want to do more! I asked the lady who owns the ranch if she had any horses I could lease (I kind of figured she would since she is desperately trying to sell horses for more room for babies!). Of coarse she said yes and said she thought a horse named Carbon would be good for me. He is 3 years old and is very quiet. I went in the pasture and met him and he looks very gentle! So now on to my point. My Dad at this point is still saying “MAYBE”. It would cost $200 a month plus $75 every 8 weeks for hoof trims and shoes. If I lease, my parents will use he $160 they spend on horseback ridding lessons a month towards the lease and I have to come up with the $40 extra. That’s not a big deal as I am pretty sure the two times I work a month cleaning would cover the $40. My problem is, how could I get the $75 every 8 weeks? I can use my allowance but then I don’t have much left for the bunnies and they come first! I “might” be able to get a job this summer, but who knows. Also if I lease I have no more ridding lessons. But I get to train the horse and the lady who owns the ranch said she would help me. 

So to sum it all up in a few sentences, I really want to lease a horse but my bunnies come first! How can I make a little extra $?

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Maybe you could lease a horse elsewhere. I remember when we once leased a horse, before buying our own, we were able to ride it whenever we wanted. It was basically just sharing a horse and covering the cost of care.

Are you saying you can’t ride carbon but help train him? That’s more like you’re paying her to allow you to help work for her lol seems reversed a bit. Or maybe I’m not reading this correctly…?

To help raise money… Hmmm how about baby sits? Dog walking? Just chore like jobs until you can find a job. I mean, it can’t be TOO hard making $75 every 2 months, right?

[Monkeybun]

I would wait until you have a job for extra money, honestly.

[mocha200]

It is pretty much like owning the horse without buying it.

[Deleted User]

I would see if instead of leasing you can just help out more with the horses. Maybe you can help out more with grooming and maybe you can ask to have them train you with how to train horses? I’m just thinking that if you learn how to do all this stuff then maybe you could get a job at the ranch. So that way you can have a job you enjoy.

[LabAgility]

Make sure you understand all details of the lease, as you are usually responsible for all costs associated with ownership.

I am currently working out details to lease my competition horse to a friend. Among the terms is all expenses. This includes feed, worming every 6 weeks, vaccinations, shoeing and all emergency vet care… You situation cold be different, but it may be a larger financial impact than $75 every 2 months.

For the record, this horse was originally bought by me for $10,000. He is incredible; fully trained, reliable, seasoned, sweet, etc. Not to mention a gorgeous paint horse. I have 2 kids, my oldest just turned two. The lease is because I no longer find time to ride…. Sad, but true.

I am not sure I would lease a horse that needed training…. The owner is getting the better end of you deal. You may just want to keep working for more riding time. That seems like a better situation in this case.

[AnnaW]

I agree, try and get a little weekend job somewhere? There’s nothing quite like having your own income that you can spend on whatever you want!

[MoveDiagonally]

Can you make a deal with your parents to do more chores around the house to have them put up some extra money? I would also talk to the lady that owns the horse and stable to see if you can work around the barn to reduce the cost at all. I owned two horses when I was 12-20 and worked at the barn (cleaning stalls, etc) to reduce board. I also groomed, cleaned, etc… for lessons (there were some instructors that boarded with their personal horses).

Edited to add: As LabAgility said make sure you’re not also responsible for any medical costs, etc… All the people I’ve known that have leased had to pay half the bill for vet care. 

[jerseygirl]

LabAgility, can we please see pics of him?

Mocha, I know you’ve done dance for a number of years. Is there possibility you could get a paid position with a local group to teach beginners?
It would take up more time but hopefully bring enough income you’d need.

[mocha200]

I think I need to be a little more clear on what I know.

It is $200 a month which includes board and hay and I can also go out whenever I want to ride. Right now, I have to pay $40 every time I ride, so if I want to ride more than once a week I would be paying WAY over $200 a month! Also the horse is already trained, He knows walk, trot, canter. I meant I could train him like some ground games and fun stuff like that! Also my sister and my friend could come ride him! I would only do it if my parents are 100% in with me and since it is a lease there is not as much as a commitment as owning a horse. I have owned a horse before so me and my parents know what we are in for.

[mocha200]

Oh also thanks for all the advise! I just asked her if I will pay for vet care and asked her if I could help groom and lounge or anything. Not sure I will be able to because the horses she uses every day are her show horses.

[LittlePuffyTail]

What about asking her to do more barn chores and a portion of the lease cost?

I leased horses before I got my own and really enjoyed the experience.

[MyPets1031]

Would your parents ever consider owning your own horse again? I know that’s different from leasing and completly different from what your asking, but then you would be able to ride whenever you want without paying someone. I think you should continue lessons for a while and wait to see if you can get a job this summer. That’s what I would do. If summer comes and you can’t get a job you could try talking to your parents about working for them, or some of their friends. Maybe even talk to the barn owner and see if she’d let you pay for part of the lease through work or if she knows anyone looking for some stable help. You could look for odd jobs like baby sitting or cleaning houses. In my town we have a board at the grocery store and town hall that people check all the time (I live in a really small town, so those boards are like the community sharing place) Does your town have a place like that? You could see if there’s anyone looking for oddd jobs to be done. There’s always old people needing help with mowing or raking their lawn or shoveling the driveway. What do your parents do for a living? One time when I needed money I went to my mom’s work (She works at the phone company) and helped old people learn to use their computers for free. I helped them for like 30 minutes and if they wanted more help, they hired me. You could take a website designing class and design websites for people.

[Elrohwen]

If you can’t afford to take lessons while leasing, I would skip the lease and continue with the lessons. Or see if you can do a partial lease where you can ride the horse a couple days a week, but not every day.

I took lessons for many years (12?) and wouldn’t feel comfortable leasing a horse now, especially a young barely trained horse, without lessons. There are just so many bad habits you can get into (yourself and the horse). I might give different advice if the horse was older and totally trained, but inexperienced riders on inexperienced horses with limited supervision is just not the best way to go, I think. Even though you say he’s trained, there’s no way a 3 year old can really be trained and someone experienced should be working with him on his development. How are his transitions? Can he bend properly and balance himself around circles and in corners? There is just so much to training a horse that is very subtle. There’s so much for you to learn too, that I think you’d be doing your own riding a huge disservice to skip lessons and just tool around on a green horse.

Sorry, I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but that’s my take on it after lots of years of riding. I totally understand the dream of having a horse you can ride every day, but I don’t think this situation is the best way to go for you or the horse. Keeping working for her and taking lessons, see if you can get a job this summer, and go from there.

[mocha200]

I already am working for her as much as I can (other people already have the other days taken). There will be more for me to do in the summer, and she says sometimes if the girl help enough she ends up paying them!

Elrohwen: I have been riding for many years and have taken many different lessons in the past! I just started lessons here in the fall though.

I haven’t even decided which horse if any that I would lease. If my parents let me I will go and try out all the different horses she has available and make my decision then.

[Elrohwen]

I still don’t think it’s a good idea to stop taking lessons and start riding a green horse. I’m sure you’re experienced, but even people who have ridden every day for 20 years really need to take lessons regularly. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to give that up, even if it means you can ride every day. Is there any way you could get lessons as part of your lease agreement?

[mocha200]

Elrohwen: Idk. I am going to go there tomorrow and ask if I could just come out and ride and work some of the horse that no one is working with. I think I like my lessons to much stop taking them. I hope she lets me! I will let you know.

As much as I want to lease a horse I think my Sister made a good point, If I lease a horse, I will have to ONLY ride that horse and not have experience riding different horses.

Thanks guys! I will tell you how thing go tomorrow! Maybe some of you would like to see some pictures of some of the horses I ride?

[Elrohwen]

Your sister made a really good point! I love riding one horse, and really getting to know them, but it really improves your riding to get one a bunch of horses and be adaptable.

And I would definitely like to see pictures!

[longhairmike]

you need to factor in scheduled maintenence

[LittlePuffyTail]

Would love to see pictures

[bunnyfriend]

Hi, leasing a horse is exciting! It does sound like a very good idea to do a little more research and talk more with lady you could be potentially leasing from. There are so many types of leases and it’s really important to make sure to work out all the details ahead of time with a written contract. That way if anything pops up such as the horse gets injured, ect. you won’t be hit with some unexpected responsibility or cost, especially since you don’t have a job. At my barn there are 2 different types of leases, “regular” leasing and “share boarding”.

With share boarding you pay a fee every month that gives you the right to use the horse for all of your lessons plus the horse is reserved only for you during the weekends, you also get first pick to use the horse at a show (the horse is also used by other people in other lessons). The fee that you pay also includes lessons. Share boarding is really nice because you get to form a special bond with a specific horse without having too much cost or commitment, since you pay monthly. In return my trainer of course gets money and it’s a great way to ensure that the horse gets exercise and proper attention/care.

Regular leasing at my barn requires a year contract. You pay 1/4 or 1/3 of the horse’s worth (depending on the horse) which gives you what my trainer calls ownership with a time limit. The horse is yours; you pay for the farrier, boarding (which includes a lesson package), your own supplies (tack, blankets, ect.), everything…except for vet bills.

On the other hand, at my barn the lesson horses who aren’t being leased or share boarded are available for free practice rides on the weekends which I think is very nice. And some of the girls have deals worked out for less cost in boarding, share boarding, lessons, ect. in exchange for barn chores. Anyways why I am sharing this with you is to give you an idea of what other leases are like, because you want to make sure you’re getting a good deal and maybe you can negotiate with the lady. You have consider how much you can afford with the type of lease you agree to, like regular leasing vs. share boarding. Personally I think lessons are a really important thing to keep up with, not only for you but the horse as well (even well trained horses need schooling lessons regularly), otherwise bad/dangerous habits can form. Hope this helps! Pictures would be great

[longhairmike]

there were lots of horses free for this taking this afternoon.

but i couldnt carry any on my handlebars

[jerseygirl]

So cool! Are they called Mustangs there? We call them Brumbies.

[longhairmike]

i didnt get close enuff to lift up their tails. i was zoomed in on the camera, thats why it was so shaky

[LittlePuffyTail]

Oh, wow! I want that grey one on the right!

Yes, Jersey, wild horses in the US are Mustangs.

[mocha200]

Haven’t been on in awhile! Really busy all last week. I didn’t talk to her about leasing last lesson. I still am unsure. I will have to take pictures on Wednesday when I go if I remember! haha!

[HappyHopperz]

Also, will you have enough time to? I have two bunnies also, and along with school and my commitment with swim team, it’s quite ALOT of work. I manage though, and love them all . I also have a horse where I board for free. Are you not doing more than one sport and is riding your only sport?

[mocha200]

Happy Hopperz: Lets just say I have to much time my hands! haha not really. I am homeschooled and almost the only time I get out of the house is when I do horseback riding lessons!

I have decided not to lease a horse though. I just don’t have the money and I am not sure I am comfortable at this place yet. Just the way they train the horses I am not sure I like it…. I am going to continue lessons though.

Where are the pictures? Hmmmmm…… Hahah I keep forgetting!

[Author]

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