Free Leases, are they worth it?

[gertie06]

I don’t think “free lease” means what you think it means. It is absolutely not free. It’s only free to the horse’s owner, because they’re giving YOU all the expenses.

I wish people would stop using the term “free lease” and start using the more appropriate name “care lease.”

If you “free lease” a horse, you’re typically responsible for board, training, vet bills, shoes, and insurance. And you’re committed to that for the term of the lease. So if the horse goes lame on day two of a one year lease, you do not get to send the horse home and be absolved of cost or responsibility.

Also, an off-site free/care lease is quite rare unless you or your trainer know the owner.

[Pennywell_Bay]

Free lease needs to be defined, in a contract, as it has many different variations.

One of mine is out on a “free lease”, as in she does not pay a lease fee but does pay boarding, takes lessons, goes to shows.

I pay for the vet bills, as he has some maintenance that I want to take care of by my vet, and not worry. He is boarded 7 minutes from me, which is perfect.

She pays for farrier, board, buys him blankets etc.

She and her parents think it’s worth it. I certainly do as she loves this horse (her parents love him because all her horse activities keep her away from boys- she’s 18 )

[BigMama1]

I hope so, because I’m about to enter into a free lease. It’s a good scenario for the owner who doesn’t want to sell her horse, and doesn’t want him to retire yet either, and wants to know he’s in a top quality home with top notch training and care. It’s a good scenario for me, because I get to benefit from a nice quality, highly trained older horse, but I’m not locked into caring for him throughout his retirement years.

Our lease contract spells out where he will live, who is allowed to ride him, who pays for routine care and maintenance, who makes decisions in case of an emergency, and under what circumstances the lease can be terminated by either party. It also releases me as the lessee from liability should the horse become ill or injured not through my negligence, and releases the owner from liability should the horse damage property or injure someone. Both parties must have liability insurance.