Opportunity to lease a horse

[samshane]

DD11 has been riding for a year now - she has been taking about 6 lessons/ month, 1hr for each lesson. She loves it - but I am not in the position to invest in a horse- - nor am I sure I want to.

A lease opportunity has come up through her instructor. Apparently, the instructor is half-leasing a horse with another student. That student is moving end of the summer and the instructor cannot afford to board her own horse and board the lease horse as well. So she approached us to see if we are interested in entering into a half lease once that student leaves.

We live in WA state and in our area horse boarding is around $400-$450/month.

It would be $175/month (lessons are not included), about $20/month for shots and other medical care, and half of the shoeing expense every 6-8 weeks. The deal is, the instructor would use the horse for lessons (typically right after school, M-Th) and Emily could ride any other time she wanted. The stipulations are very flexible for DD11. The barn the horse is at has an indoor arena (for winter riding), an outdoor arena, and has miles of trails that lead right up to it.

DD11 loves this horse - it's a beginner to intermediate horse. And she will be able to ride more - which is something she is dying to do.

What should I consider if we choose to pursue this? We were going to look at leasing options this summer (her instructor is now teaching her everything - from lunging to grooming to riding) - and this kind of just fell into our lap. DD os over the moon - but I want to know if anyone has any advice at what I should look at in a contract for this.

TIA!

 

[Luvchefmic]

DD11 has been riding for a year now - she has been taking about 6 lessons/ month, 1hr for each lesson. She loves it - but I am not in the position to invest in a horse- - nor am I sure I want to.

A lease opportunity has come up through her instructor. Apparently, the instructor is half-leasing a horse with another student. That student is moving end of the summer and the instructor cannot afford to board her own horse and board the lease horse as well. So she approached us to see if we are interested in entering into a half lease once that student leaves.

We live in WA state and in our area horse boarding is around $400-$450/month.

It would be $175/month (lessons are not included), about $20/month for shots and other medical care, and half of the shoeing expense every 6-8 weeks. The deal is, the instructor would use the horse for lessons (typically right after school, M-Th) and Emily could ride any other time she wanted. The stipulations are very flexible for DD11. The barn the horse is at has an indoor arena (for winter riding), an outdoor arena, and has miles of trails that lead right up to it.

DD11 loves this horse - it's a beginner to intermediate horse. And she will be able to ride more - which is something she is dying to do.

What should I consider if we choose to pursue this? We were going to look at leasing options this summer (her instructor is now teaching her everything - from lunging to grooming to riding) - and this kind of just fell into our lap. DD os over the moon - but I want to know if anyone has any advice at what I should look at in a contract for this.

TIA!

I don't lease I own but here is a great source for you.good info & things you may not have even thought about sample of lease agreement is here http://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/whatsinourformslease.html
I'll bet your daughter is over the moon good luck to you all

 

[yoopermom]

The one thing that I would be very careful to have spelled out is what would happen in case of injury/illness to the horse. Lesson horses are used regularly (just like your car), and can have issues due to that if over/mis-used. I'd hate to have your daughter get too attached and then not be able to ride due to no fault of her own. I would get the "nonuse/lesson" hours spelled out very carefully too, so you know if it will be 5 or 10 or ?? hours a week.

Could be very exciting for her though, from one horse crazy girl to another, I saw huzzah!

Terri

 

[Jennasis]

Leasing is extremely common in the horse world. Full leases and half leases. I am a full time barn owner and riding instructor with 26 horses on my property, of which 5 are leased (all half leases with two people splitting costs).
hal
For my lesson horses, when I do a half lease the way I work it is the student pays for half of the board and half of the shoes. I take care of all routine medical (shots, boo-boos) but the student is responsible for any injury or illness that stems from an act of negligence (such as the horse colicking because the kid over fed it or rode it into the ground). I spell all of this out clearly and we sign a contract.

Some of mt boarders do the same type of contract except they split all vet costs.

Some people charge a flat fee that covers half the board and the shoes and a bit exrtra for random vet costs.

What your trainer proposes sounds very reasonable and customary. Be sure that leasing includes use of all tack and grooming supplies otherwise you may need to by her her own saddle,bridle, grooming tools etc.

If the trainer uses the horse M-T, I presume your daughter would ride F-Sun. So when does the hrose get a day off? All of my horses get at least one full day off per week. Unless you want to wind up with a horse soured on the whole riding thing, there should be a day off.

If you have any questions feel free to pick my brain!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Leasing is a good way to get kids into the horse world without a huge initial commitment. I agree with previous posters, make sure there's info regarding illness/injury (to the animal) and the use of equipment (not just saddles and bridles, but all equipment). Also, there needs to be provisions for termination. I've known a number of less than reliable horse people in my day, and if this woman is already struggling to keep her animals, you can't expect her situation is going to improve any. Find out what her contract is with the barn (for instance, what happens if she doesn't pay the board for 3 months). It needs to be clear you are not on the hook if the owner bolts, or alternatively, that you can keep on in your half-lease with the barn owner (should he or she take possession of the animal). Finally, you might want to make sure there are indemnification provisions, in the event your DD, DD's friends, the horse's owner, you or anyone else is injured by the horse.

Now, all that legal stuff being said, a slight warning. Leasing, in my experience, almost invariably leads to ownership. Not always of the horse being leased, but of some horse or other. If nothing else, it tends to lead to the accumulation of expensive pieces of tack and show clothing. Understand that this is the first major step on a neverending staircase of horse committment. When I was 13 (after years of lessons and camps) I finally convinced my parents to let me lease a horse. By the time I was 17 my family owned 2 horses, a trailer, a truck to pull the trailer, 5 saddles, countles bridles and show halters, and multiple costumes.

Best of luck in your horsey future!