That’s certainly true, but on an online forum, we can only go with what’s presented to us.
I do remember having a conversation with a man who said he’d quit riding after a year because his instructor told him he’d progressed as far as he could without owning a horse. A year!
Regardless, the girl in question has only been to one A-rated show. Taking things slow, especially in this market with non-horsey parents, is a good idea.
They must have an EXIT strategy. Unlike cars, horses get lame, they get sick and eventually they get old. Kids lose interest or go off to college. If these people are boarding, they definitely don’t want to keep this horse for the rest of its life. If it can be sold (or more likely given away) great. But if it is not sound or it is too old, they need to plan for that.
Nothing is worse though than having a kid that is raring to learn and to show, and having a horse that is not sound. Do you buy another?
Right now the lease market is commonly at 50% of purchase price. I would encourage them to look at both sales and leases and find the most appropriate solution. The money isn’t going to be much different, just the risk of being stuck with a retired horse weighing against the possibility of getting some cash back. Their trainer should be having this conversation with them.
As to hunter vs jumper, it depends on what the area and the trainer will support. Some areas are more local based with the occasional A, and having a jumper there means no classes to show in. Many trainers in these areas do not have a jumper background and moving to the jumper ring with them would be bad advice.
I’d lease. Lease lease lease.
Most kids coming off lesson horses at this stage (so advanced beginner/intermediates, not re-riders or kids changing disciplines) need something to do the 2’6” and teach them the finer points of flatwork. Give that a year, and a lot of decently talented and instructed riders are ready for the 3’. Which is a whole different horse. Both of which are not cheap.
Leases are pretty expensive right now BUT it’s going to be cheaper/easier/better for the rider’s journey to lease something proven in its job and focus on themselves, rather than buying something green or something doing the 2’6” and trying to resell in a year. Some riders can even jump from the lesson horse to the 3’ on a 6 month lease if it’s the right match and a good coach.
I would NOT be buying anything right now in their case.
Thank you everyone for the thoughtful replies - what I was thinking, but you folks are way more articulate than me!! I will pass this thread on for my friend to read. I think they are at the very early stages of turning this over in their own minds, so timing is good. I think the trainer is trying to be helpful - in our area nice lease horses would be very rare and so buying might seem the best option. No pressure is being applied, though.
If appropriate, I’ll try to provide an update down the road when they have figured out the next step.
Everything said above. Plus this.
A serious rider needs more than one horse. One to be on rehab, one to ride. (At the very least.) What I mean is that whatever happens to the horse, happens to the rider - and the rider’s family, really, as all will probably be affected by the demands of a major horse issue. Injury, disease, whatever. Stuff happens. Sometimes stuff keeps happening to the same horse, even if it isn’t expected. There may be extended periods when the horse is on the bill but isn’t riding-available. A lease should offer a way out.
The best riding education is to ride as many horses as possible. As often as possible. Not owning one makes that so much more possible.
Many trainers try to get their serious students to ‘buy a horse’. It is basic business development for them. The trainer makes money on this coming and going. Commission on the buy and later on the sale. Almost assured lesson and show coaching income, as the family doesn’t want the horse to sit idle. Plus it’s good for them to remain active in the buying-selling end of professional horse community (this is a thing that exists).
There is nothing wrong with trainers earning income for what they do. But is what is good for them also right for the student?
As for riding skill, the very best thing that every happened in my riding life was my parents’ refusal to buy a horse. I stayed 5 years with a lesson program and rode and rode and rode, every horse in the barn. Not only can I comfortably ride well a lot of different kinds of horses, I also know what kinds of horses I don’t want to ride! 
I have known so many riders who think they are great riders because of their accomplishments on their one horse. But who don’t realize that they are great riders only on that horse. They have no idea how differently other horses can ride – until they get on one and things don’t go as they thought. Once a rider goes on to the adult world of riding, it is a good idea to have a broader base of experience. IMO.
I agree with the sentiment that this family should lease - because this family is generally non-horsey, with only one child who rides and she only has two years left. However, I disagree with the bang for the buck sentiment. Leases (at least leases for A show quality horses/ponies) are no longer, at least in my experience, 1/3 of the purchase price. Typically they are at least 50% of the purchase price, if not more. I have leased 6+ horses/ponies for my child over the last 10 years and never paid less than 50% of their sale price. I finally bought the one we have right now, it was the first horse we wanted to keep for a second year and the buy out was the same money as the second annual lease fee (lease to buy arrangement). The benefit of a lease is the ability to hand it back at the end of the year with no further financial obligation. Owners have realized that this is very valuable for many people and are capitalizing on it.
This may be regional. Here I’m still seeing people paying 1/3 for a lease. Overall prices are way up so that’s 1/3 of a bigger pie than in the past, but I’m still seeing people finding leases for 1/3.
This kind of ignores the idea of a kid wanting her own horse.
Which is mentioned more than once in the first post as a possible motivation.
I’m also seeing leases for about 50% of purchase price around me. It’s why I’ve almost always ended up buying (but I’m an adult, not a kid going off to college soon).
Yes. Which is why I mentioned it concerning the post I quoted.
Midge I was agreeing with you. I just never manage to get quoting to work on my iPhone.
Ah, my apologies! It is hard to read tone sometimes. Thank you for clarifying.
2 years ago I got the talk from my kids trainer it was time to get a horse of our own (and this trainer is generally not one to push horse ownership). My kid is not hunter/jumper so things are different but we didn’t really find any leases that would work for us. So even though I never thought we’d buy a horse we bought one.
And… it’s been great. Sure there are ups and downs but overall, in the past 2 years my kid has been able to do every horsey thing she ever dreamed of doing.
This kid wants a horse of her own. Sometimes that is more important than A rated shows. If the family can afford it… a lot can be accomplished in 2 years.
We half lease our horse to help with costs and in a couple years when my kid goes to college she either will take the horse with her or I will ride the horse and/or we will continue to half lease out.
Lots of things can go wrong, but plenty can also go right. Horse are always a terrible financial decision but if you can afford it may be a good choice. We’ve also had multiple friends that have terrible leasing stories. They are out thousands with a lame lease horse and have nothing to ride. One horse had to be sent back early because it was dangerous - they were lucky to be able to get out of the care costs for the rest of the year but they were out the lease fees and still had nothing to ride. Its always a risk. Having said that, I think leases are great - but there are risks just like with ownership.
The parents need to think about what they really want for their kid.
We’re in roughly the same area, I believe, and 50% for a lease is very, very standard now, at least for the types of horses I deal with.
These parents also have other children that do not want to ride. That can be an important consideration financially and keeping family peace.
This. Omg it is so humbling to go from solidly competing at a decent level to back to basics just because you’re on a different horse and have gotten so used to what you need to do to ride THAT horse well.
I absolutely love leasing, but I’ve found at a certain point with long term leasing I also need to start riding other things so that I can really solidify my skills. You never know where you really are until you ride something challenging in a different way and realize you weren’t as solid as you thought.
HI all
I have an update from this family. First of all, they are so appreciative of all the advice on this thread, which I sent to them as-is. It helped them discuss the issues and come up with a plan since y’all did such a great job of laying out all the POV. Their daughter is going to lease a horse for 12 months, which means she can ride all winter and spring and show next summer. Horse sounds like an OTTB type who the coach has been riding for several years, so a good solid citizen. The coach has been super-supportive of the journey to get to this point! Everyone is happy, and DD seems to understand the need to be open to the future that awaits beyond high school. So COTH people, you did some good in the world today!
Findeight nailed it. Lease lease lease. I’ve seen so many situations where the clients aren’t quite prepared to invest $$$ in a made schoolmaster type so they buy a promising green horse which will work out great since it’s in a program. Parents/clients pay $$ for training and showing fees for trainer or other pro or good Jr. to compete the horse, while the client stands by or shows another horse cause theirs isn’t quite schooled enough for them. And then poof off to college having never competed their own horse. IMO that’s the scenario the OP should stress to their friend not to fall into. It’s easy, especially when the horse is really sweet and has potential.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
