We all wish that we could own a horse of our very own, and some of us are lucky enough to have had that dream come true. It’s an enormous responsibility to own a horse and may not be the best option for everyone, no matter how much it may be tempting. If you want access to a specific horse without making the financial commitment to own one, leasing may be the right option for you. It can also be a great way to ease back into riding if you’ve been out of the game for a while, which you can read more about here. In this post I’m going to talk about what leasing is, how to do it, and the different kinds of leases that are out there.
What is leasing?
Leasing a horse is when you pay monthly, or sometimes weekly, to be able to ride or take lessons on a specific horse. This depends entirely upon your agreement with the owner of the horse-leasing is a broad term for a few different options. It essentially removes part or all of the financial obligations of owning a horse on paper.
On-site or off-site?
These two options can coincide with pretty much any of the below leasing options. On-site leases are when the horse stays on the property of the owner or their chosen boarding facility. This allows the owner of the horse to better monitor their care and training process. Off-site leases are when the lessee can take the horse to their own property or a boarding facility of their own choice. This allows the owner to free up space in their barn or gives them freedom from caring for the horse.
What is a full lease?
A full lease is when you pay the owner a monthly fee to ride and possibly even show the horse. With this option, you are responsible for paying all of the horse’s expenses, including but not limited to veterinary care. Full leases can either be on-site or off-site. This is a good option for people who want to be able to show but are maybe not interested in owning a horse and being responsible for one year-round. Needless to say this is the most expensive of all of the leasing options out there but also gives you the most freedom in terms of what you want to do with the horse you’ve chosen.
What is a half lease?
A half lease is when you pay for half of the horse’s expenses and typically a monthly fee. Generally with this option you are only able to ride the horse a certain amount of times a week or only on certain days. Half leases are almost always on-site. This is a good option for people who are looking to offset the cost of their horse’s care while still being able to ride them, and on the other side this is a good option for people who are unable to fully commit their time and money to full leasing or horse ownership.
What is a partial lease?
This is essentially the same as a half lease but is usually adjusted for less money and therefore less time with the horse. Just like half leases, partial leases are on-site. I would choose this option if you are only able to ride about once a week.
What is a care lease?
A care lease is when you pay no monthly fee for the horse but are responsible for part or all of its care, depending on the agreement with the owner. I have seen care leases be both on-site and off-site depending on the owner’s preferences. This is a good option for people who are prepared for the financial and time commitments but want to be able to stop at pretty much any time, like kids that come home from college during the summers and want to ride or show.
What is a free lease?
A free lease is not actually free! You won’t pay a monthly fee for the horse but you will be responsible for all of its care costs. These can be either on- or off-site leases. Oftentimes a free lease is essentially the same as a care lease, but care leases can have some slight variations depending on the agreement between you and the owner so I have separated them here.
What is the best option for me?
1. Look at your finances and see what you’re able to afford. Be very honest with yourself here as the financial commitment to a horse is an important one and so should be considered carefully. There are a lot of expenses that come with horse care in terms of both maintenance and preparation for emergency expenses, which can vary.
2. Think about how many times a week or a month you want to or will be able to ride. If you’re a serious rider with time on your hands, a full lease could be right for you. If you’re only planning on riding a handful of times a month or less, consider one of the other options.
3. Consider whether or not the horse is suitable for your level of riding experience. Some lease agreements will include lessons while others will not. There are owners that require the lessee to take riding lessons so that the horse’s training can be kept up to their expectations.
Whichever option you choose, make sure there is a signed agreement from both parties with clear terms so that there can be no confusion on who is responsible for what. The most important things to consider when leasing are finances, whether or not you will need lessons during your lease contract, and whether or not the horse suits your needs in terms of experience. We are fortunate as horse lovers to have so many options to be able to ride, so make sure you choose the right option for your situation. Happy trails!
Comments