Leasing a horse

[meohmyalter]

I’ve been advertising my horse for a lease this year and have only gotten a few bites by people who aren’t suitable (young children). I am offering a free lease because my horse isn’t a packer and was a bad match for me but could be a great partner for someone who didn’t have nervous breakdowns at shows. Horse went great for my trainer and the other riders I hired to show it, as well as most of the time when I schooled or showed but not so well if I was nervous. I was looking for an adult that couldn’t afford to buy a horse, a college student, etc.

I’ve seen a ton of WANT ads for people seeking free leases but they don’t match up with my horse.

For example, a recent one stated that they wanted a 16 hand or plus horse that was ready to go Novice or Training, had no maintenance issues, had to be a gelding, that the owner could be flexible on low or no payments, and that the owner would pay board where the lessor moved the horse.

Am I doing something wrong? When I was in between horses none of these types of lease were available to me, are they available to other people?

[FlightCheck]

“Not a packer”- why? Is your horse spooky or forward? What is he/she good at? I have brokered many leases, from a BN packer to a confirmed 3*** horse for a YR. More information is needed to make suggestions

[Gardenhorse]

@meohmyalter

I’ve been advertising my horse for a lease this year and have only gotten a few bites by people who aren’t suitable (young children). I am offering a free lease because my horse isn’t a packer and was a bad match for me but could be a great partner for someone who didn’t have nervous breakdowns at shows. Horse went great for my trainer and the other riders I hired to show it, as well as most of the time when I schooled or showed but not so well if I was nervous. I was looking for an adult that couldn’t afford to buy a horse, a college student, etc.

I’ve seen a ton of WANT ads for people seeking free leases but they don’t match up with my horse.

For example, a recent one stated that they wanted a 16 hand or plus horse that was ready to go Novice or Training, had no maintenance issues, had to be a gelding, that the owner could be flexible on low or no payments, and that the owner would pay board where the lessor moved the horse.

Am I doing something wrong? When I was in between horses none of these types of lease were available to me, are they available to other people?

I think a lot of ISO ads have ridiculous requirements and they will never find what they’re looking for.

For your own horse, it might be about how you’re wording the ad, where you are advertising, or what you will allow. A lot of people want an off-site lease so they can keep riding with their own trainer. Would you consider that or does horse need to stay at current barn? Can your trainer help you network at all?

[meohmyalter]

@FlightCheck

“Not a packer”- why? Is your horse spooky or forward? What is he/she good at? I have brokered many leases, from a BN packer to a confirmed 3*** horse for a YR. More information is needed to make suggestions

My horse likes a confident ride to the base. If you are wishy washy about your commitment to jump the fence they will not jump a pole on the ground or will not leave the group. I have not had these issues when someone else rides and think someone who isn’t so nervous would be fine. A pro can get on and have zero issues at all, or can get on after I have caused a problem and will sort it out in short order with some dramatics. Most of my issues were showing or in lessons where I got overwhelmed. My previous horse was a joke taker so I probably looked like a better rider than I am.

I think someone who had gone the level before and maybe lost a horse due to injury, can’t afford a horse, is in college, etc would be perfect.

I’m allowing a free lease at their barn if they are in a program with someone I know/trust or someone I know recommends. I’ve contacted a few trainers but nobody has anyone.

Seeing all the free lease want ads for 16 hand Novice Packers made me wonder if I was out of line.

[blue_heron]

Most people lease to ride a horse they could not afford to buy, IME. When I was looking for my last lease, I got so many messages from people who wanted me to pay them to ride their out of shape OTTB with terrible ground manners and could barely canter under saddle without falling over. You should be paying me (or a trainer, really) to ride that! I’m not saying this is your horse, but Anyone who has any business taking a horse up the levels or looking for a project doesn’t want to invest money into something that they get no return on-- the horse goes back to you in the end, or they can’t sell it for profit.

What level of training does this horse have? Show experience? If it’s a lower level horse with little experience off property and no ribbons, even if it’s a free lease, there might not be much interest.

[ndirish07]

@meohmyalter

I’ve been advertising my horse for a lease this year and have only gotten a few bites by people who aren’t suitable (young children). I am offering a free lease because my horse isn’t a packer and was a bad match for me but could be a great partner for someone who didn’t have nervous breakdowns at shows. Horse went great for my trainer and the other riders I hired to show it, as well as most of the time when I schooled or showed but not so well if I was nervous. I was looking for an adult that couldn’t afford to buy a horse, a college student, etc.

I’ve seen a ton of WANT ads for people seeking free leases but they don’t match up with my horse.

For example, a recent one stated that they wanted a 16 hand or plus horse that was ready to go Novice or Training, had no maintenance issues, had to be a gelding, that the owner could be flexible on low or no payments, and that the owner would pay board where the lessor moved the horse.

Am I doing something wrong? When I was in between horses none of these types of lease were available to me, are they available to other people?

I think I saw that same ad and thought the same as gardenhorse… I mean, good luck, I hope you find the 16.2 under 12 year old novice/training packer with no maintenance that the owner will underwrite all the expenses for you to ride so you get the experience at the level. Heck, sign me up too.

I would think you’d be able to find a lease for your horse. You may not have reached the right person yet to make that connection, but I bet it’s out there.

[meohmyalter]

I would say the horse schools all questions at BN and has been to a lot of shows, schooling, clinics, and lessons. I’m looking at a free lease since horse is currently fat and isn’t a packer.

[blue_heron]

@meohmyalter

I would say the horse schools all questions at BN and has been to a lot of shows, schooling, clinics, and lessons. I’m looking at a free lease since horse is currently fat and isn’t a packer.

What area are you in? How is his dressage work?

[add_leg]

Man and I’m over here looking for something sane and sound to go ride BN - that preferably ISN’T over 16h and not a 10k a year lease.

[Hej]

Maybe look for a good ammy whose horse is temporarily laid up with a (relatively) minor injury or pregnancy.

I have twice taken horses on free lease so I could have something to ride while my own horse rehabbed. Each was a little quirky - enough that the owners weren’t doing much with them - but well within my comfort zone.

I admit that I took them to preserve my own sanity, but they both went well for me and I enjoyed riding them.
Just a other possible route to explore.

[Scribbler]

@meohmyalter

I’ve been advertising my horse for a lease this year and have only gotten a few bites by people who aren’t suitable (young children). I am offering a free lease because my horse isn’t a packer and was a bad match for me but could be a great partner for someone who didn’t have nervous breakdowns at shows. Horse went great for my trainer and the other riders I hired to show it, as well as most of the time when I schooled or showed but not so well if I was nervous. I was looking for an adult that couldn’t afford to buy a horse, a college student, etc.

I’ve seen a ton of WANT ads for people seeking free leases but they don’t match up with my horse.

For example, a recent one stated that they wanted a 16 hand or plus horse that was ready to go Novice or Training, had no maintenance issues, had to be a gelding, that the owner could be flexible on low or no payments, and that the owner would pay board where the lessor moved the horse.

Am I doing something wrong? When I was in between horses none of these types of lease were available to me, are they available to other people?

Why are you wanting to lease him, as opposed to sell him? Why do you want to retain ownership? Why not sell at a good price to a confident rider that will enjoy him? A free lease is what you do if you want the horse back in a year or two after you have a baby or travel the world or finish college. Or if you have a sweet older horse that is not really marketable but has some work life left. Or if this is your long time best horse and you don’t want to let him out of your sight.

In the case you describe selling at a slightly lower price to a great home, or to a trainer who can school.and then place the horse with an appropriate rider, is your best bet.

The people who want this horse are not interested in free leases. The people who want free leases by and large are beginners or returning riders who are dipping their toes into horses. There are exceptions of course. The best way to find those exceptions is through your trainer and their networks, and horse may need to go to another barn and trainer anyhow

[meohmyalter]

I am sentimentally attached to the horse and don’t want to sell right now, and if the lease isn’t a match I want to make sure the horse has a landing platform. I would be fine with a semi permanent free lease and then taking the horse back when the rider’s plans changed. Horse is fat right now and I think a leaser would need a month to make sure horse was going to fit with their riding needs. Like I said, I am pretty sure it’s a poor personality match and someone without my hang ups would compete XC fine, since horse and I schooled XC fine most of the time. I just get frazzled and horse likes a better rider. I tend to remember when I did poorly and perhaps local people do as well, also horse isn’t a bay TB.

Dressage scores were decent, lower 30s.

I’m in Area VIII.

[Highflyer]

I think part of it is just the timing. A lot of people have had to cut back financially or just aren’t competing/ travelling around to look at horses right now.

[GraceLikeRain]

Schooling all of the elements of BN is a bit vague. Does that mean with 2-3 months of fitness someone could take him out and be competitive at BN or that he can string together some pieces but isn’t really show ready? Can you get him back to a good baseline fitness even if you don’t jump? Is he flawless on the ground and a piece of cake to flat or does he need someone with decent experience?

He is probably a really cool horse but my interpretation from what you’ve shared is an out of shape unconfident horse that is maybe BN and needs a really confident ride or else he will definitely stop. That’s a paying someone else to ride type of situation, not a free lease. Again, this is just my interpretation and may be waaaay off base.

Why is he currently not in work? Have you spoken with the DC of your local pony club?

[Ruth0552]

How old is this guy? Is there not a chance that with training and age he could be a packer?

I’m not really clear on how you are marketing him but it sounds like you are looking for him to go to an eventer in a program which is going to be hard to find with him being not-a-packer at BN.

I know you don’t want to post all the horse’s stats but the non-bay TB in my head I think must not be what you have. If you have a 12 year old 15.2 hand paint cross with a decent brain that just needs a strong leader I’d say you need to market him as an all-around type but that varies wildly from having a 7 year old 16.2 hand warmblood.

[NC001]

I know 3 people who would be thrilled with a free lease that could go BN even with quirks. The only free leases around here are barely broke or have been off work for a year+

[meohmyalter]

@Ruth0552

How old is this guy? Is there not a chance that with training and age he could be a packer?

I’m not really clear on how you are marketing him but it sounds like you are looking for him to go to an eventer in a program which is going to be hard to find with him being not-a-packer at BN.

I know you don’t want to post all the horse’s stats but the non-bay TB in my head I think must not be what you have. If you have a 12 year old 15.2 hand paint cross with a decent brain that just needs a strong leader I’d say you need to market him as an all-around type but that varies wildly from having a 7 year old 16.2 hand warmblood.

I don’t think horse needs a program as much as it doesn’t need a busy adult on a very small private farm who doesn’t ride it often enough

[CindyCRNA]

@meohmyalter

My horse likes a confident ride to the base. If you are wishy washy about your commitment to jump the fence they will not jump a pole on the ground or will not leave the group. I have not had these issues when someone else rides and think someone who isn’t so nervous would be fine. A pro can get on and have zero issues at all, or can get on after I have caused a problem and will sort it out in short order with some dramatics. Most of my issues were showing or in lessons where I got overwhelmed. My previous horse was a joke taker so I probably looked like a better rider than I am.

I think someone who had gone the level before and maybe lost a horse due to injury, can’t afford a horse, is in college, etc would be perfect.

I’m allowing a free lease at their barn if they are in a program with someone I know/trust or someone I know recommends. I’ve contacted a few trainers but nobody has anyone.

Seeing all the free lease want ads for 16 hand Novice Packers made me wonder if I was out of line.

So here is what I read into this and why I would keep skimming for me personally. “Horse likes a confident ride to the base”. A BN rider isn’t going to give a confident ride to all of the bases so this horse is going to refuse like hell or dump me if I’m not totally into the next jump. Needs a confident ride in prelim is different than needs one at BN. “A pro can get on…” I’ve seen a pro give a beautiful ride on a horse that has given it’s owner 3 concussions. Next. “Most of my issues were showing or in lessons.” Honestly that only leaves trail riding. The horse is BN/Novice that needs a pro ride to do well. I would pass also. I’m not trying to be harsh. I own this horse and it is a difficult place to be in.

[CindyCRNA]

So here is what I read into this and why I would keep skimming for me personally. “Horse likes a confident ride to the base”. A BN rider isn’t going to give a confident ride to all of the bases so this horse is going to refuse like hell or dump me if I’m not totally into the next jump. Needs a confident ride in prelim is different than needs one at BN. “A pro can get on…” I’ve seen a pro give a beautiful ride on a horse that has given it’s owner 3 concussions. Next. “Most of my issues were showing or in lessons.” Honestly that only leaves trail riding. The horse is BN/Novice that needs a pro ride to do well. I would pass also. I’m not trying to be harsh. I own this horse and it is a difficult place to be in.

[LokiCharms]

So I somewhat agree with what others are saying as far as this horse seems to be a project horse. And so someone would be increasing its value then giving back to you. Unless you phrase it more as a lease to own and explain you want to make sure it is a good fit first and then set a dollar amount at the beginning.
my other question is is this an event horse? If he’s questioning BN and needs a strong ride would he be happier as a jumper or a hunter? Or a dressage horse? Maybe a career change would be better for him?
Have you thought about a shareboard? Someone could take lessons and get him out more and then you could still ride him and maybe with consistent work he would be better for you? Or flip side they fall in love with him and full lease him or buy him?