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

[Gardenhorse]

Just saw a post on the USEA Area II Facebook page for a half lease in Boyd’s, MD which is fairly reasonable distance from Rockville. Horse is listed as dressage/eventing.

For eventing barns within reasonable distance of Rockville: Waredaca (Steph Kohr), A Bit Better Farm (Kelly Williams), Fine Idea Farm (Abby Gibbon). Crossfire Farm (Lauren Sumner) just opened. Destination Farm (Natalie Hollis) may be a bit far for you. Southwind Farm seems like a relaxed multi-disciplinary barn, I don’t know if they have a resident trainer.

[SnortyPants]

I put your zip in here and there are some leads https://www.equinenow.com/lease.htm

[Putter]

There are quite a few opportunities to half-lease a horse in the Maryland. Facebook had some good groups to join that will advertise for part leases.
I am in Mt Airy, and I have seen several around here. I have found someone to half lease my mare by word of mouth. I am looking for someone for the other half lease. Seasoned mare, but recovering from an injury…although she is doing really well.

[Tigoli]

I second the idea to volunteer at some events! It’s been very educational to see riders and trainers from a bunch of the area barns come out (and you get to see some of the schoolies!). I’m pretty happy at my current barn, but seeing the trainers and horses out at shows has given me an idea of which barns I would (or wouldn’t) go to.

Find a barn you like, and your trainer will be able to help you find a half lease. A few of the boarders at my barn half lease. Not a ton, but a few.

[Grassstainknees]

I am also in Rockville and have relied on half leasing for 12+ years all around Maryland.

I have had 4 long term arrangements with high quality and safe horses suitable for my interest, which is low level dressage. I appreciate that some pursuits have a smaller pool of suitable mounts!

I have utilized all these avenues to fit different situations at different times in my life:

• Trainer’s personal horse
• Craigslist posts (I posted a want ad and screened responses)
• Trainer’s program/school horse lease (horse capable of Training level eventing, not a w/t dead head)
• Emailing barns I didn’t necessarily have connections with
• Currently via a friend who saw my facebook ISO ad and put me in contact with one of their clients.

Personally, I have had better luck at small private barns where there isn’t a built in “supply” of lesson students all vying for the ride. To access opportunities at smaller barns, I would go the route of posting ISO ads on facebook or craigslist. If you are willing to do some leg work, Equiery (http://equiery.com/) is a great resource for farm listings. Depending on your routine/traffic, Montgomery, Howard, and Fredrick County could all be areas to consider during your search.

PM me if you want to chat/exchange emails. Unfortunately, I don’t have a horse to offer, but might be able to steer you in the right direction.

[BAC]

It is very common in my area, but as findeight mentioned, generally happens between clients of the same trainer. Where I rode there was a wide variety of horses too, from pleasure types and those who showed locally, although an occasional person with a fancier show horse would sometimes be open to a partial lease, especially those going off to school, having babies, etc. who didn’t want to sell their nice horse but wouldn’t have time to ride in the near future. Might be worthwhile to start taking lessons and maybe you will come across the right situation at the lesson barn.

[gottagrey]

@LiveToRide1000

Thanks again for all the great replies - lots of good suggestions and helpful advice.

Fellow Marylanders, I would absolutely love some barn suggestions. Networking is not really my strong point and I’ve been feeling kind of daunted trying to figure out where to start/who to approach. I’m really hoping to find an eventing barn.

One of the best area horse trials to volunteer at is at Loch Moy - the organizers, Carolyn and Gina are fabulous… She has a lot of things going on at her facility check out TheMarylandhorsetrials.com.

There are several eventing barns near you - Waredaca, Bascule are a couple of the larger ones (Waredaca also has a brewery - so let’s just say that watching a horse trial there has added benefits LOL) Destination Eventing is also in that area of the county… Otasaga Farm Cindy Lytle is spending more time in the eventing world than the H/J world as is her sister Sandy - either one of them might have something or know of something to part-lease. Cindy works out of Otasaga, Sandy has her own place.