Is partboarding/half-leasing/shareboarding not a thing in the US?

[LiveToRide1000]

So I recently moved to Rockville MD from Ontario, Canada for work, and I’m having a tough time “breaking into” the horse scene here. Back in Canada, I owned a wonderful heart horse of a TB mare for 5 years until a fluke injury took her from me. After her loss, I was a bit shook up, so instead of buying again, I stuck to partboarding instead.

For clarity, by partboarding I mean that I shared a privately-owned horse with its owner, paying half the horse’s boarding costs and getting to ride half the time in exchange. This is very common in Ontario - lots of people are too busy to ride every day, and are happy to have someone to split the costs with and keep the horse in regular work. Partboarding often gives you the chance to take lesson or compete or go to clinics - basically treating the horse as your own on “your” days, although of course being respectful of the horse owner’s rules and preferences. Partboarding is frequently used to help the transition from school horses to horse ownership - you get a lot more freedom, but still have the horse owner keeping an eye on you and making major horse care decisions etc.

I’ve been trying to find a similar situation here in MD and was shocked to find that it doesn’t seem to exist. In my Ontario Facebook groups for example, I’m seeing horses available for partboard every day, while in the MD equivalent, I have seen maybe 1-2 horses come available for this kind of situation over the span of several months. Lots of horses for sale and full lease, but I’m not really looking for that level of commitment right now. Part of the problem, of course, is that I have no contacts here in the horse world and nobody knows me or my riding, but I’m not really sure how to change that.

I’m a typical adult amateur rider - been riding for over 20 years, not bad, but not really good enough to expect free rides (I was competing very successfully at the entry/BN level back in Canada, usually in the top 3 on my dressage score, but I was partboarding a super terrific perfect unicorn at the time. I did improve his dressage quite a bit but was frequently grateful for his generosity over fences). I was hoping to avoid going back to lessons on schoolies, but maybe I need to swallow my pride and try that as a way to make some contacts? Does partboarding not exist in the US? Or is it more of a word-of-mouth thing that isn’t advertised and it’s just hard to find unless you know someone?

I did try posting a wanted ad, and got lots of responses, but it was mostly riding schools, or very far away, or the horse was very green/very old/rehabbing from a serious injury, which isn’t really what I was looking for…

TL;DR - moved to a new country where I know no one. Decent adult amateur rider with years of experience with privately owned horses, but definitely can’t claim to be a great rider. Not ready to commit to a full lease or ownership at this time, but don’t really want to go back to schoolies. How do I find a horse to ride?

[findeight]

It’s available, need to ask around. That said, not everybody wants to share their horse… Not understanding why you don’t want to deal with a lesson barn? That’s where most in the states board. Land is very expensive compared to most of Canada and there just are not a lot of alternatives. Barns that don’t offer lessons as well as board don’t make enough income to survive and are disappearing.

Also consider many owners of nicer horses prefer a shareboarder also taking lessons under the same trainer the owner uses to keep the horse consistent. This would be almost a must if the owner does not know you well.

[LiveToRide1000]

Thanks for the response! I have no problem taking lessons on a horse a I am partboarding, preferably with the owner’s trainer - very important for consistency for everyone. It’s just that riding a privately owned horse with a trainer is one thing, riding school horses that teach little kids all day, and only in supervised lessons, is another.

[DoodlesMom]

It’s definitely a thing! I live in Northern VA, and I found a lovely girl to half-lease my gelding. I think it’s maybe more difficult to find than a regular lease, but you can certainly find one. Check FB (local horse groups), marylandequestrian dot com, or maybe simply check with local barns? Or heck, even craigslist.

[Wonders12]

Yes, it’s a thing, but rarely advertised and usually arranged by word of mouth.

For example, I am currently looking for a half lease for my horse, but I haven’t advertised. My trainer and a few other people know, and if I see a good ISO ad, I’ll respond. But my horse is finicky and I don’t want to sort through a ton of unknown people looking for a match.

I would reach out directly to some trainers you would like to work with and explain your situation. They likely won’t commit to anything until you’ve taken some lessons with them, but if you’re a good student, most trainers have some clients who may be interested.

[soloudinhere]

You will generally only find something like this if you are part of a group at a barn that has both lessons and boarding and the trainer arranges to have you half lease a boarder horse. It’s not usually advertised to the public.

I myself have some horses that I would half lease but only to very much the right person and I would never advertise them to the public. That being said, I also wouldn’t allow someone to show them or take them off property. That might be more than most people leasing out their horse would allow. Really depends on the person.

I personally don’t really like the idea for exactly why you stated - I have to bear all the responsibility and cost for someone who may or may not flake out on me.

[Chall]

There is an entire “sticky” (yellow threads ) at the top of this board named "Sticky: Riderless Horses and Horseless Riders–matchmaking service! "
That might be something for you to look at.

[Chall]

And here is one in MD, and it was at the top of the list, so go search!
"Riderless Horse - Southern Maryland

Inky, 5 year old TB. Ride 2-3 x weekly. Good boy, very nice mover, was going well, but DD is back to school and I do not have time to train 2 horses. Will pay 2x monthly lesson fees for experienced rider with my dressage trainer. Great opportunity for good rider with limited resources. Small lighted schooling paddock with access to trails and jumps on premises."

[painthunter]

Agree with everything said above. I’m in NC and previously had a shareboarder on my gelding. Don’t right now as I’m home enough to take care of what riding he needs, but when the time comes that another one is needed, it will be word of mouth. He’s picky about the type of rider he prefers but is extremely forgiving to that rider.

[coloredhorse]

Absolutely it is a thing in the US! Back when I was getting back into riding as an adult, most of my riding was done via part-leasing. When I got my own horse, I pulled in a part-leaser at one point to help with expenses; I’ve also part-leased older, steadier horses to new riders to help with expenses and give me more time to spend on my main riding horse. It’s a really great option for many people … on both sides.

I agree with others who’ve posted that you usually find the best options via word-of-mouth. I’ve also found good part-boarders in people who volunteered at local shows; that’s a great way to meet local folk and start getting the word out to people who might have something suitable in your area.

[Scribbler]

I think you should pick a barn that is convenient, is taking riders to shows at the level you want to ride at, and can offer you private lessons on one of their horses. Dont pick a straightout beginner lesson factory. Explain you are from out of town with experience, and you’d like to get back in the saddle here and are exploring options.

IME trainers often have better horse options that aren’t advertised that they will pull out for the right client, but wouldn’t stick in regular group lessons. Maybe one of their personal horses or maybe a boarder’s horse.

Take the hit in pride as paying your dues and a way to mutually get to know the trainer. I bet if you and trainer hit it off, and its a faurly big barn a part lease with another client or the trainers horse will turn up soon. And if you lease in the trainers program the client might be happy for you to show sometimes if the barn goes as a team. Anyhow I think in a new town finding a satisfactory trainer as mentor is going to be the most effective route into the horse community and a way to build a “local resume.”

[NoSuchPerson]

@LiveToRide1000

Thanks for the response! I have no problem taking lessons on a horse a I am partboarding, preferably with the owner’s trainer - very important for consistency for everyone. It’s just that riding a privately owned horse with a trainer is one thing, riding school horses that teach little kids all day, and only in supervised lessons, is another.

But the lesson stable is your foot in the door. That’s where you make the connections that lead you to a nice horse to share board. You’re a stranger. No one knows anything about your riding ability. As other have said, most good share boarding opportunities come through word-of-mouth. You’ve got to be in the loop to hear about them.

I don’t really understand your attitude toward school horses (and am a little bit offended by it, to be honest). Most places have school horses with a range of temperaments and athletic abilities. I’m sure that once you demonstrate your superior riding ability, you won’t be stuck with “school horses that teach little kids all day.” :rolleyes:

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

@LiveToRide1000

I’ve been trying to find a similar situation here in MD and was shocked to find that it doesn’t seem to exist. In my Ontario Facebook groups for example, I’m seeing horses available for partboard every day, while in the MD equivalent, I have seen maybe 1-2 horses come available for this kind of situation over the span of several months. Lots of horses for sale and full lease, but I’m not really looking for that level of commitment right now. Part of the problem, of course, is that I have no contacts here in the horse world and nobody knows me or my riding, but I’m not really sure how to change that.

Agree with the answers you’ve already gotten - try to make some contacts in your new area. Take some trial lessons with trainers in your discipline. You could even consider volunteering at horse trials or with a local Pony Club or 4-H group.

Many have posted about being picky in choosing a half-leasor or part boarder to be sure the match is right. In addition to the match being right for the horse in terms of the rider’s abilities, I think people need to know that you are not a flake - that you will pay your half promptly, communicate well, take care of their horse and tack and facility. Once a few people know that you are not a flake, possibilities will begin to appear.

[Training_Cupid]

I mostly see part leasing among recreational riders, no showing (or just casual local shows). Show horses are usually fully leased (usually with trainer involvement required) or ridden by pros.

[Toblersmom]

@LiveToRide1000

Thanks for the response! I have no problem taking lessons on a horse a I am partboarding, preferably with the owner’s trainer - very important for consistency for everyone. It’s just that riding a privately owned horse with a trainer is one thing, riding school horses that teach little kids all day, and only in supervised lessons, is another.

Don’t knock schoolies too hard. A barn with a large and robust lesson program may have some quite advanced students and may have several horses that are either too advanced and hot for MOST of the students (and therefore could be available for a half-lease to advanced keep them ridden more regularly), or are the type of horse that really does know All The Things and will freely give them to somebody who knows how to ride, but is also content to plod along as a kiddo flails ineffectively. Those horses often are half-leased by the barn so they keep a bit of an edge on and don’t collapse entirely to sloth and deafness to the aids by the uninitiated.

There’s also the factor that many lesson barns are boarding barns, and many boarded horses may be available for half-lease, but the owners don’t want to go through sifting people and wants somebody that’s a “known” via lessons at the barn.

I’ve done half-leases in all of those situations, all around the country.

[Mango20]

It is definitely a thing in MD! I know of two horses that have three half leasers right now (one is half leased by two different people and not ridden by the owner, and the other has one half leaser and the owner rides too). Both are boarded at a lesson barn, and the leasers were already in the lesson program, but these horses have never been used as lesson horses.

This farm, which is not inconvenient to Rockville, has a program where you basically half lease any/all of the school horses: http://www.reddemeade.com/equishare.html
This actually seems like a pretty good deal (unlimited is $290/month and you don’t pay any extras for farrier, vet, etc), and it would give you a place at a barn where you could keep an eye out for your own unshared lease horse, too.

[Hopeless]

It is a thing, but probably depends on where you are. Here in the Chicagoland area it is really popular and you can find ads all over the place.

[Jumping31]

Fellow Marylander here!
There are definitely some half-leases in the area. Most of them are offered by lesson barns where you’d be taking weekly lessons with them but there are also a lot of private owners who look for leasers.
If you join a couple Maryland horse network groups on Facebook then there are a lot of people regularly ISO leasers with reasonable rates and days.

[findeight]

@Training Cupid

I mostly see part leasing among recreational riders, no showing (or just casual local shows). Show horses are usually fully leased (usually with trainer involvement required) or ridden by pros.

Guess it depends on where you are and the trainers/ barns in your network. Part leases are done on nice show horses too. Actually know more at that level then recreational riding horses as owners prefer to have their shareboarder riding under some supervision, like a trainer.

[Gardenhorse]

I think part-leasing is more difficult to find and more word of mouth, but it does exist. I half-leased for 9 months before I bought my horse. I suggest that you call the trainers at barns within your driving radius, tell them your riding background, and ask if they know of any boarders looking to part-lease their horses. You should expect to have to take a lesson on the horse before the owner agrees and probably to take X lessons a month with the trainer as part of the lease agreement.