AA Riders, who do not currently have their USDF Bronze Medal, but consider it a goal

[GraceLikeRain]

@Reynard Ridge;8934695

That’s exactly the difference I was interested in teasing out. Obviously this forum is not an actual cross section of the dressage community, and I am guessing there are strong regional differences, but I was curious if there was a market for the ‘shorter term, get a medal’ type of lease.

I think that there is absolutely a market.

I think doing back to back 3 month leases of GP horses to help riders get 80% at first level isn’t very thoughtful to others in the area or to the horse. However, 12-24+ month lease to help riders develop their feel, accomplish predetermined goals, and gain skills for their next horse sounds amazing. Depending on the area it may be very feasible to lease a horse out to a series of riders at the same barn and the horse has a consistent environment for many years.

Currently, I am desperate to lesson on a schoolmaster to develop my skill while I am horseless. I have found a single lesson horse available in a 45 minute radius who can school at 3rd+. Having more schoolmasters out in leases or in a very specific lesson program would be incredible for riders like me who want to develop feel.

[mjhco]

I am an amateur. Earned my Bronze and Silver medals on my own horse who I purchased when he had been ridden just 20 times.

Have a bunch of medal scores at I1 and I2 Just need the last 2 GP scores for my Gold.

It was a hard journey – my wonderful horse was a 6 mover all through Training through 4th level. Finally got strong enough to have more suspension so earned 7s most of the time at the FEI levels. So, getting there on an average mover can happen. Just had to work hard.

I would not have changed a thing. Our partnership is something I treasure. He is now retired and is rehabbing ME from an injury.

It really doesn’t matter to anyone but YOU how you want to get your medals. Do what makes you happy.

[DressageTalk]

[QUOTE=myhorsefaith;8934862]

The thing that keeps me from doing it is: #1 finding one local that i can board at my trainers. Seems like there are leases so long as you ride with that person’s trainer…and I don’t want to switch trainers. I totally get it and if I were the owner, I’d probably want the same for my horse. My trainer doesn’t currently have people who have horses up for lease. #2 is $. My goal was to get down to 1 horse to have the money to either purchase or find the elusive lease horse.

I think the concept of leasing the horse to show is a great one, but there are a lot of ingredients that have to come together for it to work.[/QUOTE]

I think you pinpointed the most difficult aspect of leasing a trained horse. People (for the most part) don’t want to lease their horses out to strangers. Instead you have to find trained horses through your trainer or very close contacts. The GP horse I’m leasing is owned by another person who rides with my trainer, and I’ve known this person for over a year. She’s seen me ride and care for other horses and as a result was willing to let me lease her horse for just the cost of his care. Without connections though it’s almost impossible to find a trained horse.

[Beentheredonethat]

I think that’s the big difference between hunters and dressage. Dressage people for the most part won’t lease (sponsor) a horse out of their care. Way back when when I was doing it as a business, I often had sponsors for my horses that I rode and competed (FEI) because I couldn’t ride that many a day. But, I wanted sponsor who wanted to trail ride, not ride my GP mare around in circles and play with her movements. (And, yes, I did have a sponsor/leaser for my mare who went GP when she was showing FEI.)

The decision I’ve made with my mare now is I would either sell her to 100% the right home who could appreciate her, or find sponsors. She has sponsors (leasors) who completely appreciate her, and she loves it. She feels really proud of herself knowing she has all of these good moves and won’t give it to her riders, but if they do it right, she will. She’s actually much happier, which anyone who knew her when I got her would have been really surprised about. I did not know how she would take it having other people ride her, as she is super sensitive, but it worked out great. But, I can monitor it all, so I think that’s the difference. Its not the same with jumping.

[SarahandSam]

I did my first recognized show this summer and got my first level scores. My dream is to get my bronze with my horse, because we’re learning this together and I think it’s more fun that way, even though it may take multiple years. I don’t think either of us have potential to go for silver really (I’m a lazy AA, he’s a 13-year-old quarter hony), so I’m happy just plugging away toward bronze, but I guess maybe later in my life if I really buckle down and decide to go for it, it might be worth it for me to lease a horse to achieve that goal. I’m still new to dressage and so right now learning with my own horse and having that partnership is most important to me, but I don’t know whether I’ll own another horse once he’s retired or passed on, so it’s hard to assess whether my goals might be more competitive someday.

[Dune]

I got my bronze medal scores on two different horses that I owned. I was going to lease a horse from my trainer’s client that would’ve (hopefully) helped me get my silver, but it did not work out. I had already had my own GP horse, so I was comfortable with this line of thinking. I would encourage anyone to ride/lease a schoolmaster type versus trying to train your own without a guideline. I think that it’s best that someone get one that is trained to maybe 3/4th level first, then if you’re dedicated/interested, try to find a FEI schoolmaster. YMMV

[AllWeatherGal]

[QUOTE=DressageTalk;8935580]
I think you pinpointed the most difficult aspect of leasing a trained horse. People (for the most part) don’t want to lease their horses out to strangers. Instead you have to find trained horses through your trainer or very close contacts. The GP horse I’m leasing is owned by another person who rides with my trainer, and I’ve known this person for over a year. She’s seen me ride and care for other horses and as a result was willing to let me lease her horse for just the cost of his care. Without connections though it’s almost impossible to find a trained horse.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. And don’t wait for the connections to make things happen. I reached out to someone looking for a leasor here on CoTH. We have a trainer in common who knew both the horse and me, but didn’t suspect we’d be a good match. But when the owner agreed to let me try a lesson, the horse and I took to each other.

It’s true I wouldn’t have stood a chance at getting the horse without the trusted connection, but I wouldn’t have found her just by waiting.

If the opportunity to show comes up, yes, I’d definitely want to pursue a bronze with her, but not WHY I wanted her so desperately