Got it. Yes, it’s definitely a Full Lease. They’ve only focused the discussions on Lessons + Shows, so we’ll start asking more and more questions about independent riding next. Thank you! We honestly didn’t even know what questions to ask, so this is extremely helpful.
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Well, having been in lots of programs that have to make a similar “push,” I’m guessing that your barn is mindful of how hard its lesson horses and work and does not allow riders to ride more than twice per week without making a leasing commitment—hence where you’re getting that number. Many barns also cap the height their lesson horses jump and how many shows they attend. Key to your daughter getting better and improving in the sport: more saddle time and more technical lessons that are beyond the scope of many school horses. That’s pretty cut and dry.
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Correct. We’re such novices that we didn’t even know what questions to ask. But for sure, she needs more and more saddle time (and would love every minute of it - we can’t get her out of the barn!)
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“Short Stirrup” is not defined by the USEF, so it means whatever the show says it means.
At the (quite reputable) unrecognized H/J show series in Warrenton VA, Short Stirrup is defined as " riders 12 years and under. (restrictions on cross entering to higher classes) … fences 18" "
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I agree these are all things she needs to clarify and I also 100% agree that independent riding on the flat is critical to any rider’s development. Also agree 2X jumping (versus riding) is normal. Even 1X jumping lesson wouldn’t be abnormal.
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Yes, we now know what other questions we need to ask and will give the barn the benefit of the doubt for sure for now! Because of this post, we’re learning what we need to be asking about for sure - thank you!
Got it - we’re on it! Saddle Time, More Technical Lessons, and Unsupervised flat riding!
Got it. It’s probably 18" then, 24" at most!
Here is a good link to get started.
But she is not likely to be able to compete much in Eventing until she is competently jumping 2’. (Recognized competition currently starts at 2’7", though a 2’3" level is being introduced next year.) So, if competing is important, it might be a better medium term goal than a short term one.
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Well, and important to note that eventing is not a pathway to riding on an NCAA team, nor is it offered at a serious collegiate level.
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IMHO you need to allow her to buy a horse, and stop leasing. Especially as your concept of leasing is unclear. But she needs a horse that she can ride whenever she wants, not just in lessons. And even more importantly, her own horse to learn basic horsemanship, ranging from mucking the stall to hoof care to taking vital signs, recognizing problems, and interacting with farriers and vets. She needs to clean tack, polish boots and wash saddle pads. She needs to learn when, how, and with what to blanket.
Note that I said “allow her to buy a horse.”. She should participate in the cost somehow. When my daughter was about 12 she started babysitting and saved her money to contribute to the eventual first horse purchase. Let her be invested in the deal.
And you should prepare yourself to purchase tack, a truck, and your own horse trailer. Sooner rather than later. Take her to frequent shows. Take her to clinics. Take her to lessons and make sure she has the right teachers to help her develop the basics of equitation. And do not be surprised if she loses interest as puberty kicks in. I think we all have dreamed of our little girl as a future Olympian, but the odds of that happening are astronomical. Horses can make huge positive differences in a young girl’s life. Just helping a daughter make it happily through middle school is priceless.
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Love these comments, thank you! This will definitely be a goal, but with her just entering multiple growth and transition phases, we’ve just been nervous to “lock in” on any horse without knowing if she will outgrow it or not. But all other aspects of horse ownership are definitely something she wants and needs to learn! Thank you!
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I’m going to address the question you asked that most replies haven’t mentioned: cost.
For someone who wants to ride H/J and compete at shows, you’re on the ground floor right now. The cost only goes up from here. For most of us, our budget is the factor that dictates how high we will rise in the world of H/J showing, not our desire or ability.
When you’re riding lesson horses, the cost is fixed. You pay $X/lesson and that covers everything. Once you move into leasing and ownership, you’re going to have fixed costs that you can budget for and then you’re going to have unexpected extras on top of that. For example, in June and July this summer, I had over $3,000 in unexpected expenses for the vet + prescription meds.
Don’t be afraid to ask your daughter’s coaches questions about everything. Make sure you understand exactly what’s going on and what it’s going to cost.
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Probably that’s a disconnect of what is assumed in the horse world vs needs spelled out to non horsey parents. If you do a full lease, you are responsible for all the exercise that horse requires, so in addition to her two lessons she would also be riding 3ish additional days per week to keep his fitness up and practice her own skills. Trainer likely wanted to clarify that you would still be expected to keep her in two lessons per week since letting a small child be entirely unsupervised is a bad idea, but doubtful that it’s the only time she would be able to ride. That would be considered a half lease or less, if it was just guaranteeing her the same horse for her lessons, essentially. That would be silly.
I also strongly disagree with buying a horse right now. Her first year of stepping up how often she’s riding and the age in general mean she’s likely going to both physically and metaphorically outgrow that horse a lot faster than the subsequent and so on. Buying is a big financial commitment and a year of leasing and showing will give you a lot of background to make a wiser purchase as parents as well.
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Will do, thank you!!!
Beginner level horses are bought and sold frequently. I stand by my advice to purchase. Sure, a young child will outgrow a pony, but 15.2 hand horse will physically fit most pre/teen girls going forward.
As an owner, the doors to US Pony Club membership and activities are opened wide. There is no better place to develop a young rider’s knowledge and skills.
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Here is the SF Bay Area, it would be unusual for a 10 year to have more than 1 day a month of “unsupervised” riding time, even then it would be in a ring with a trainer but not being schooled at the moment by the trainer.
You are on the right track that saddle time at this young age is really the only way go. Imagine trying to get better at a sport when you can only practice it 1.5 hours (2 lessons at about 45min each) a week. You need to find a way to get her saddle time.
Out here a half lease is 3x/week and a full is 5x/week. All the other details can be negotiated.
Sadly, in equestrian sports you are only as good as your horse. Luckily at this low level it does not take much. No need to worry about Olympics now. Enjoy the shows now. Find a good trainer that you feel like you can communicate with. Someone who will walk your through the process. Not just someone who sees only your checkbook.
Your daughter is lucky that you are taking the time and effort to support your dreams.
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I know you don’t want to buy and sell horses, but if your daughter is going to ride competitively, that’s going to have to be a part of it (one of the reasons I shelved my dreams and now do dressage to work with the horses I have as a personal goal, not a competitive goal - I don’t want to sell mine).
Lesson horses are awesome, and can teach you a lot, but your own horse is going to teach you way more, even if she outgrows them “skill-wise”, you’ll quickly find she might not, especially as she does the majority of the work. Horses aren’t static creatures, and even the best beginner horse will test a beginner if that’s who rides it the bulk of the time. That’s not a bad thing.
When I was a kid, I rode for 2 hours every night, and 4 hours on weekends. I then went to an academy where I rode for 6 hours on the weekends (yes, my parents paid for lessons and rides, but I also mucked stalls etc. for the privilege). This made my balance and feel excellent. To become excellent, that’s what you need to do - ride every chance you can get. I rode everything, easy horses, not so easy horses, horses they just got off the truck. That’s what makes a rider good.
So what I can say is to find her somewhere she can be a barn rat. Pony club is a good place. Let her work for more rides. I know she’s 10 and that feels young, but it really isn’t THAT young. She can learn to clean tack and muck stalls. If you’re not millionaires (and even if you are), that’s the way to develop a rider. Good luck to you 
I’m glad she’s got you as a parent trying to figure this out!
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I haven’t read all the comments. Maybe this is covered.
My kids came up thru Pony Club, which is/was at that time a pretty comprehensive program including horse management as well as just the riding portions. It was 3 day eventing focused, tho many kids went into specialties (dressage, frequently) when they got older.
In our Pony Club, we had riding lessons 2X a week, which was unusual in local clubs at the time*. Our students also had AT LEAST 1 additional lesson a week privately. The mantra we observed was, 1lesson/week, you will slide backwards in your riding. 2 lesson/week, you will maintain but not advance. Advancement required 3, 4, 5 lessons/week, AND these kids got their horses out on the weekends as well (competitions or conditioning). Difference here was these horses were owned by the families in question or were full leases (not some limited access).
Our riders graduated with considerable horse knowledge and skill: the upper level testing requires them to get on horses they’ve never ridden before and put them over a course of fences or thru a dressage test properly, analyze their rides, discuss the problems evident and possible approaches to a solution. And yet, I can’t name a single Pony Clubber from our region in 20 years of being a part of the organization who was Olympic level, because at that point, the quality of the horseflesh itself is so critical, and none of these families had that kind of money.
These are statements about the average kid, on their own horses. Of course there are exceptions. And it is possible, if you know what you are doing, to find that needle-in-a-haystack horse, but it will take years to develop that eye, not to mention the luck, to be the one who does it.
There are interscholastic clubs and intercollegiate clubs that have school-based competitions (generally on barn horses) – that’s another venue rich with possibilities for competition.
The A circuit generally requires a very expensive horse, either owned or leased exclusively, and as these horses run into the 100s of thousands, the leases aren’t “feed leases”, but $20K year sorts of things. “Hunters” which seems to be the area so many junior riders are pushed into, is a beauty contest: it isn’t even an Olympic sport, but it none the less seems to be the most expensive of them all.
My advice to you would be to discuss the horse show world with a whole lot with trainers (who have NOT got a financial interest in your child’s activities), other parents, and boards like this one where you can reality check some of the things your child may bring home to you but not fully understand. Ultimately, the decision-making resides with you, and therefore the knowledge base has to become something you’re pretty well versed in. This is a field where it is easy to make very expensive mistakes very easily, which could trash your child’s dream in a hurry. Try to avoid that.
*we also held stable management lessons with the trainer 1Xweek, because stable management is part and parcel of the curriculum, and entertains topics most kids who don’t own horses would never cover.
ETA: if you purchase, she will UNDOUBTEDLY eventually outgrow the horse. “Outgrow” in this context does not mean in terms of size, but in terms of the horses’s ability/talent/sensitivity. You don’t want a young rider attempting to bring along a highly sensitive horse, so that’s not what you buy at the “start”. However, by the time they are in serious competition, later in their teens, they need that step up horse who will do anything asked (but you must be careful what you ask and how.) So it is inevitable. You buy the best you can, with a confidence that a good horse well handled will also be sellable when your daughter is ready to move on.
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OP, on the topics of cost and commitment, here are a couple of recent threads on the HJ forum that might be informative to skim:
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