Are the terms lease and sponsorship used interchangeably? I’m familiar with full-, partial-, or half-leases, but nowadays I see lots of horses listed for “sponsorship.” I’m familiar with that in the charity sense (generally money only applied towards the animal’s care, without any right to ride) but what I’m seeing looks more like a lease to me.
I think it may be an alternative term for lease, used in some regions instead of the word lease? I am not sure as it is not used in my area, but have seen it mentioned on COTH. I am sure someone will be along to sort us out soon!
I have never heard/seen the word sponsorship used in place of the word lease.
Interesting.
I look forward to reading the other comments because to me a sponsorship is totally different than a lease.
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Never heard it used in real life, but there is a COTHer from the PNW who insists its totally a thing.
Pretty dumb usage if you ask me because “sponsorship” really looks like an amatuer violation if you have someone “sponsoring” your horse.
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To me, paying for a lease would mean I give money and get a horse to use to ride and show for a period of time.
Paying for a sponsorship would mean I give money to someone else to support them riding and showing their horse, probably in exchange for them doing some sort of advertising for me. I don’t get anything horse related out of the deal.
I have never heard the word sponsorship used to mean the same thing as lease.
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I’ve never heard of these terms being used interchangeably either! Lease to me, means, you are paying someone to ride (and show) their horse! You’ll pay whatever you’ve agreed too, including vet, farrier etc and as an amateur you just wouldn’t be allowed to enter AO divisions. An amateur cannot enter into a sponsorship!
A sponsorship would be, in my opinion, someone is paying for the rider to show, put up monies toward the upkeep of the horse, provide tack, clothing etc, (generally upper riders are provided with sponsorship as the sponsor gets something back in return… advertising with a winning rider, prize monies etc) You are a professional (or jr) rider!
if I saw an ad asking for sponsorship, I’d assume the rider wants someone else to pay for them to keep riding and showing!
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and was a horse obsessed kid with no access to horses. And “sponsor” is the word used back then (40+ years ago) to describe a lease.
Sheilah
So what word did they use where the rest of us use the word sponsor?
Sheilah - I’m in the SF area too, and I grew up leasing :p.
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Sponsor: a person or organization that provides funds for a project or activity carried out by another, in particular.
Lease: a contract by which one party conveys land, property, services, etc., to another for a specified time, usually in return for a periodic payment.
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Mmeq - yes I know the standard definitions but that doesn’t seem to be the context people use the term sponsor.
Personally, I’ve never heard someone use “sponsorship” in place of “lease.” Seems silly, and it’s certainly not a correct use of the term.
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Ok hope it’s okay to post this here - this is an ad from a local public horse site, with location and contact info excluded. Sounds to me like a lease right! This same site has several similar ads in the “Lease” section.
XL Warmblood Gelding for Sponsor, Gelding, Age: 12, 18.1H, BIG Holsteiner gelding available for 2-3 day a week sponsor! Over 18hh and absolutely gorgeous - perfect for a tall rider! Seeking experienced rider with light hands and the desire to ride a fun, well-trained, fancy dressage horse. I can’t ride him as often as I’d like at this time and we are hoping to start showing next summer. He has schooled through 3rd Level. Lateral work is EXCELLENT, working on collection and softness. Gorgeous mover, generous, and unbelievably supple/athletic. Located in XXX. Gorgeous, quiet private barn with a covered all-weather arena and tack rooms. All tack provided. You will be required to ride with me present at least the first couple of times.
I have never heard the word sponsor used for lease IRL but it is clearly out there in some regions being used this way.
Perhaps in worlds where you never cross paths with the other kind of “sponsor,” 
which is where a rescue is asking for sponsors to provide health care or feed for a particular charity case horse.
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That ad doesn’t sound like it’s by somebody very familiar with typical terms in the horse show world as they are describing what most would call an in barn lease or free lease ( no mention of price there). Of course ads…could also be 15 years old and barely 16h…and sounds like it has not been shown,
I, too, grew up in Cali way back and leases were very uncommon back then…and were called leases. USEF records leases, not sponsors.
I wouldn’t call it wrong but it’s an unusual use of the word sponsor that might confuse a potential leaser, poor choice for an ad. Using the word sponsor might also create an issue if showing as an adult in a class restricted to Amateurs in some disciplines/breed shows.
Yeah that ad is definitely describing a partial lease.
I would call the use of the word “sponsor” wrong here.
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I’m from the PNW (obviously), and I’ve never heard the term “sponsor” used with anything that’s not amateur-rule-violating.
Why would anyone use that term with a horse? I guess I’m not clear on what it actually means. Does it mean that you are sponsoring the horse which allows you to ride it (which would make it the same as a lease)? Or does it mean that you’re sponsoring someone else’s riding habit - i.e. paying for the horse but not receiving rides in return?
It totally is a free part lease but I can see how it could be some sort of sponsorship as the HO provides a well trained horse at a great facility to an « experienced » rider aka Pro (or the like) for free.
Sponsorship seems more appropriate in a professional context.
Friend of mine is sponsored by a saddle company.
She got a free saddle, but technically, it’s not hers. They lend her one for the time she is sponsored. She is not leasing the saddle.
Here’s another ad on the same site (italics mine):
Love to trail ride? Quarter Horse for Lease, I am looking for a trail rider to half sponsor one of my Quarter horse mares. Rare direct access to miles of fantastic trails from a XX barn for someone that enjoys relaxing trail rides on an easy going, level headed, quality horse. Covered arenas available for winter riding in the event the trails are too wet. Rider with western riding experience preferred but not necessary. Sponsorship would be three days per week at 300 dollars per month.
Yeah, definitely a bit odd.
Is it possible the person writing the ads has rescue experience, but not “normal” horse experience? That’s the only place I’ve heard of sponsorship of individual animals, usually those that are “lifers” with a rescue or have special needs and related expenses.
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