Leasing a Horse
If you're thinking about leasing a horse this information is for you. Lets take a look at the pros and cons of leasing and look at what you need to have in order to lease a horse. What's normally involved, and how to make sure you get the most out of the lease should you decide to go ahead and lease.!
Finances
You need it to lease a horse, even if an ad states FREE LEASE, you still usually have to pay for the horse's farrier,
worming, vet bills, agistment and feed. It will depend on the horse's owner as to what you're paying, but it's important to
realise that even leaseing a horse can be a very expensive exercise.
Time
Plus there's riding, you need to keep your lease horse fit and healthy. You should visit your horse every day to check on him and make sure he's well and happy. If you can't seem to squeeze your homework around your dancing class, then you probably don't have the time to lease a horse. Estimate that you need (or should want) to spend at the very least around 8 hours a week with your horse. If you've got this spare time, it's time to move on to the next point.
Knowledge and Skill
There are certain skills recommended you have, of course leasing a horse will ensure you learn a lot,
but you need to go into the lease with a sound knowledge of horse health problems, and some basic knowledge.
How to safely catch and lead a horse.
How to groom a horse thoroughly.
Basic riding skills, walk and trot.
All basic ailments and what to do in a first aid emergency.
How to correctly feed a horse.
And just in case you're not sure about everything else, it's a good idea to have an experienced expert there to help you and give
you advice, and it also pays to sort out which vet you'd like to use in case of an emergency ahead of time, and store his number in your
mobile.
A Suitable Horse
Finding The Right Horse
Finding the right horse to lease can be difficult. The good part about leasing is that you don't have to be so concerned with how old the horse is, so you can go and lease an older schoolmaster who can teach you the basics.
Look for a sensible, quiet and willing horse. You might find ads up in the local saddlery, or in the paper, or you might hear about horses for lease by word of mouth. Some riding schools will lease out school horses over their holiday break, so that's always a good way to get started. Make sure that you choose a horse who is the right size for you, and who you will enjoy handling. A horse who is easy to catch is a must, you don't want to be spending all of your lease time chasing your lease horse around the paddock.
Also make sure that you feel confident handling the horse and that the owner of the horse is happy to answer any of your questions about the horse. You should look for a horse to lease that appears to be in good health, and who looks well taken care of.
Free Lease Agreement
Full Time Horse Lease Agreement
Part Time Horse Lease Agreement Instructions to Lease Agreements
Visit Lease Agreements and
print off a copy of the lease agreement you need.
Contracts and Lease Agreements
After you've found a suitable horse to lease, it's time to talk contracts.
Having a lease agreement on paper is a good way to settle any disputes that might arise. Some owners have conditions on their horses, such
as that they should not be moved from the agistment they're on, or conditions relating to what can be done with the horse. You should always
respect the wishes of the horses owner.
You also need to discuss what the terms of a lease are, points to consider are:
How long the lease is for.
How much money you're going to pay for leasing, is it free or a monthly cost?.
Who is responsible for farrier and vet bills.
Who is responsible for agistment costs.
if tack and rugs are included in the lease, or whether you need to buy your own gear.
How much notice should be given if the lease is to be terminated.
What should happen if the horse is injured, or worse, what is to happen if the horse die, costs may be involved.
Horse Leasing
You can ride whenever and whereever you like. You can also take your horse to shows, spend lots of time with him, cuddle
him and give him treats !.
Its a Dream Come True
You'll learn a lot about horses and riding, and what it's like to own your own horse. The problem with leasing is that sometimes you can get so
attached to the horse that giving him back to his owner is heartbreaking.
If you can take some lessons with your horse to keep your riding skills sharp. After a couple of months of leasing a horse,
you'll know if you're ready for horse ownership. It takes a lot of time and care to look after a horse, and leasing will
really give you the hands on experience.
