Half Leasing a Horse

[autumnmoment]

“I am not looking at buying a horse anytime soon” – Good job, take your time.
“1) How much do half leases normally cost per month from the get go?” – I half lease out my hunter. I’m at a barn that costs 1100/mo for board, and he needs supplements, flax, beet pulp, shoes, etc. Because he’s a little expensive, I half lease him for two days a week for 300/mo. One of those days is always a lesson the person has to also pay for, and one day is a flat ride only.

“2) What are you normally expected to buy?” – I expect my half leaser to pay for their own lessons and have their own saddle (other tack can be shared)

“3) How many times a week do you usually get to ride?” – Two days for my lease, I’ve seen up to 4

“4) What costs do you have to help or fully pay for?” – It is completely different per horse, but typically when you’re half leasing you’ll pay a fee per month and nothing else on top, as it’s less responsibility than a full lease. One of my friends half leases out her hunter and insists the leasor pay for half his clipping fees on top of the monthly fee, which I always though was funny.

“5) Do you sometimes get to trailer the horse to shows?” – Case by case basis. I’m at a show barn so it’s expected my leasor would be going to shows. I don’t charge extra for that.

"6) Are you expected to fully take care of the horse on the day that he is " yours? “” – No, I really have never heard of that unless the barn is self care, and even then it would seem odd.

[Scribbler]

My barn is self board. A huge part of the attraction of a lease is that the leaser mucks the stall and feeds the day they ride so the owner doesn’t need to come down. That wouldn’t apply in a full board barn.

[cannoli2425]

Hello! I would talk to your network or ask your trainer to reach out to her network. You will be surprised how many people are looking to ‘lease’ out their horse for some extra income. From my experience, leasing agreements can be really flexible.

I am technically in a ‘half lease’ situation.

1. How much do half leases normally cost per month from the get go?
   The situation I am in currently is I pay for half the board. Unless its a top prospect, many people will offer a free lease.

2. What are you normally expected to buy? I spoil my horse, so i bought him a fly mask/sheet, fly spray, halters, grooming supplies, medicines, lead ropes, treats. Things like this.

3. How many times a week do you usually get to ride? The owner is not in the picture too much. In my situation, unlimited for me unless the owner wants to ride. If the owner rides, I am still allowed to ‘show up’ and clean/groom/ get involved.
   Discuss with the owner. If you are half leasing 3 or 4 times a week.

4. What costs do you have to help or fully pay for? Since I am the one primarily riding, I pay for farrier bills. I do not pay for vet bills.

5. Do you sometimes get to trailer the horse to shows? it is up to your agreement if you can use the horse off-site. Discuss with the owner.

6. Are you expected to fully take care of the horse on the day that he is " yours? "
   I do because I care about my horse very much. I make a effort to be there everyday to at least check his legs and pick his feet. I know others are looking at him, but just want to make sure.

[rockonxox]

1. How much do half leases normally cost per month from the get go?
   $275/mo, but have half and full leased for no charge (in exchange for working horse and keeping them fit) and have seen half leases go up to a thousand or so per month - usually the full lease are where you get the k’s at the end of your fees!

2. What are you normally expected to buy? Nothing. I have my own tack from previously owning a horse and also like to spoil every here and there so I just buy what I want to in terms of treats, saddle pads, etc. If you are buying tack (new saddle, bridle, different girths) I’d personally double check with owner to make sure it is ok. Some are very particular and it is still their horse.

3. How many times a week do you usually get to ride? Anywhere from 2-5 days. When I was half leasing my former guy since he wasn’t used in lessons I’d be able to ride 6x a week (usually made it out 4-6x). My current girl is used in some lessons so I just schedule my rides around that. I also half leased a handful of years ago and rode 3x a week and always the same days (no flexibility - two weekdays and one weekend day). You’ll find lease agreements that are super strict and some that are more flexible, but definitely get things in writing.

4. What costs do you have to help or fully pay for? None. If there is something “special” then I’d pay for them (ie: I wanted to get my older guy a massage so I paid out of pocket), but if it is required owner pays. Some half leases are legit just 50% of vet and farrier costs. Full lease you’ll typically find that you pay for all of the horses costs (vet/farrier)… some are lease fee only and owner pays for vet/farrier, but as with everything horses it just depends. Again, whatever the terms, get things in writing. Also discuss with your trainer what happens if horse gets injured on one of your days and who is required to pay those vet fees.

5. Do you sometimes get to trailer the horse to shows? Yes, absolutely. Talk to your trainer to see if that is an option.

6. Are you expected to fully take care of the horse on the day that he is " yours? " If I don’t show up to ride it isn’t the end of the world, but I also don’t have super specific days and there is barn staff. I’m not responsible for feeding, mucking, waters, etc… but if it was more of a self board place and no regular employees that handle basic care then absolutely you’d be required to do so yourself unless otherwise arranged with your trainer. When I am at the barn I make sure to fill my girls water and even if I can’t ride, if I know she won’t be ridden in lessons, I’ll try to make it out to groom. When my former lease had to be on stall rest and hand walked I went out and did that because, imo, it was the right thing to do and I adored him.

[gottagrey]

As Findeight said, you need to find out if your trainer is even interested in leasing her horse out - especially is this is one she is actively competing. Then your trainer will work out what her terms are for a 1/2 lease.

[KingRocker4Life]

Thanks everyone! I am probably not looking at leasing for a little while ( 6 months or so ) because I am getting braces put on and my family has a lot of expenses coming up but I will definitely keep what you all have said in mind.

[BayBondGirl]

Is there a possibility of exchanging barn work for extra riding time outside of lessons? It would allow to you spend more time on this horse, show your instructor that you have a good work ethic and are committed to improving your equestrian skills outside of the saddle and it wouldn’t cost extra funds from your family (other than gas to transport you to/from the barn obviously). You would be learning valuable horse-care skills that you will definitely need down the road when you do eventually lease or purchase your own!

If riding time isn’t an option, could you offer to muck out, groom, learn to lunge, etc for this horse? If your instructor sees that you’re genuinely interested in caring for the horse, she could very well be more inclined to consider future riding options for you outside of lessons.

[KingRocker4Life]

the problem with barn work for extra time out of lessons is that the barn I ride at only allows me to work on sundays and the time that I would have to do that is when I go to church.

I could see about the second option though.

[skydy]

@KingRocker4Life

yeah, I am not at a lesson barn anymore because my trainer resigned. But I followed her and she is now at a friends property. They don’t have many horses whatsoever though. My trainer does work a 9 to 5 job at a computer company though so she may be interested in leasing her horse to me monthly so that he can be ridden more. I live in southern NH, does that help?

QFP

[KingRocker4Life]

@skydy what is QFP?

[rockonxox]

@KingRocker4Life

@skydy what is QFP?

Quoted for posterity. If quoted a post can’t just disappear if the OP decides to go poof and deletes the original one. Not sure why this one got quoted, but that is what it means.

[skydy]

Sorry, wrong post.

[KingRocker4Life]

It is ok, just wondering what that meant.

[Classic]

I would add a caution here. I see half-leases in some programs where the horses are providing too much work and are not comfortable, but it seems to go unnoticed.

[2DogsFarm]

@KingRocker4Life as much as I applaud your youthful enthusiasm, you are putting the proverbial cart waaaaaaaaay before the literal horse here.

From what you’ve posted, it seems you are less than a year into your riding career, no financial resources of your own & plotting to have your parents foot the bill for what could be an expensive lease on what is probably not the horse best-suited for your experience & abilities now.

Your trainers have limited access to horses you can ride & fortunately wife’s Eventer is quiet enough for you to ride one day a week, outside of a lesson.
What do you do on these unsupervised rides?
W/T/C? Or?

Assuming you are not yet 18, it is unwise for your trainers to allow this strictly for liability.
If you get hurt, what happens?
Do your parents accept full responsibility not just for you, but any injury the horse might incur?

Please put aside the idea of leasing any horse until you have gotten more saddle time.
A LOT more saddle time, and on different horses.
Right now your judgement is not good enough to make the decision that this horse is The One.
Citing coat pattern as a deciding factor is a giveaway that you are still a bit too My Pretty Pony to be making the choice.

[findeight]

Unless I mixed up posters, OP here is now looking for a new barn and trainer is moving to Fl. But for future reference if OP wants to enter into a lease, parents will need to sign the contract and there absolutely needs to be a contract, even in a “ free’ lease. There’s numerous threads about leases gone bad with and without contracts but without one, you can’t prove who was supposed to pay for what plus a contract with a minor is unenforceable.

[KingRocker4Life]

@2DogsFarm, I am not still My Pretty Pony, I was just citing that, well, just because.

@findeight, I am looking for a new barn and trainer is moving to SC not FL.

To everybody…I am no longer looking at leasing my trainers wives horse because they are moving. This topic is now just for information in general for leases for now. I am not looking at leasing for a little while yet because I am still a beginner.