(full) Leasing VS. Owning

llarryllama373 · 08-28-2008, 09:59 PM

Yes, I probably am more green than grass (the fluffy bright healthy green variety of course!), this is your warning!!

I was just wondering why people take on a free, full lease at their barn/on their own property (where they still pay for everything, but not an additional fee to the owner) rather than buying the horse themselves?

Thanks!!
PS- if this is on the wrong board, feel free to move it.

SirenAlecto · 08-29-2008, 03:05 AM

I know that when I free-leased a horse, I was 14. My parents wanted to see if I could handle taking care of a horse before they had to buy one.

Horses&Soccer · 08-29-2008, 05:06 AM

That way if it doesn't work out between you and the horse you just take it back to the owner and not have to worry about reselling it.

BarnBum · 08-29-2008, 05:29 AM

Leasing works for many people in many ways. My neice was just gettig into horses, loved to go riding with her firends on their horses, and begged to get a horse. I told my brother to lease a horse, to see if she carried thru the with committment and responsibilty of taking care of the horse. It was like her horse but if things didn't work out, they could just opt out of the deal and walk away.

I have seasonal friends who leave their horses up North in winter, live down here in the season/winter and lease horses while they are here to ride.

Leasing is a plus for the horse owner, no doubt.

nrhareiner · 08-29-2008, 11:21 AM

All that has been said are many good reasons to lease. Also depending on the level you are showing you can lease a very very nice show horse for a lot less then what you can buy one for. I know my trainer is letting a Green/Rookie rider show my mare. She could not afford I would think to buy a mare like that but she can show her and dose very well. Works out for all. I do not see any thing but the extra earnings on my mare but it is good for not only the person but my mare.

Heidi

Drafty · 08-29-2008, 11:34 AM

When I leased it was because I owned horses that were not show-quality, but wanted to show. So I leased a show-quality horse. I have several friends who have leased for the same reason, and I have friends who lease because they cannot afford to buy a horse. IMHO leasing is no cheaper than owning your own horse, unless you do a partial lease or something. Although I enjoyed the horse I leased and learned a lot, it was a total waste of my money. I ended up spending enough on the lease that I could have bought a horse of equal value.

Carri · 08-29-2008, 11:36 AM

Yep, there are lots of good reasons. It's a good way to gain experience and make sure you are ready for the commitment of owning a horse, and for those of us with kids, a good way to make sure they are really going to stick with it.

pasopony · 08-29-2008, 12:41 PM

I lease two of my horses. One is my 18 year old been there done that won that gelding that is teaching one of my best friends how to show the circuit and win (and gain confidence on a steady mount). The other horse I lease to my Goddaughter's mother is a rescue horse I took (because there's sucker written on me somewhere). This rescue horse is an arab, who I will never ride long term because of bouncy gaits. My friend loves her and it works out perfect, since when I adopted the horse, part of the contract was that the horse cannot be sold or given away.

Neither one of these women could afford to outright buy a horse, but both LOVE these horses and they get so much extra care and attention that I don't always have time to give them. I also give them both free lessons so that they learn and the horses continue to improve. Plus theses horses are now paying for their own feed/hay

Works out really well for us.

EquineAlberta · 08-29-2008, 04:28 PM

For someone who want to be competitive, often they need to have "stepping stone" horses; a horse that can teach them walk/trot/canter, then a horse that can do the low jumps, then something that can compete at a higher level in whatever they decide to do. For them to buy a horse that tolerates a beginner but can also be a show horse might be very hard to do, but buying and selling a horse each year or two as they move up might not be practical either, so they are better off leasing a horse for each level until they get to a point where they know where their interest lies, and they are at a skill level where they can bring a horse along for at least a few years.

Karen

A J · 08-29-2008, 06:34 PM

Well, I can tell you why I've leased horses, and currently am leasing two horses....

My first horse that I am leasing I am covering her expenses, but we did a "trade lease." The mare's owner couldn't ride and work with this mare, and this horse needed a job, and needed one BADLY - not the kind of horse that can sit around for the occasional trail ride. I have an older retired TB that isn't sound for much riding anymore. Mare's owner liked having a horse around, so we did a trade lease. She takes care of my gelding who gets to be a pasture puff, and I am working with, training, and now competing on her horse (and teaching her some manners). I cannot afford two horses, and won't unload my gelding, so this gave me a way to have a horse to work with while keeping ownership of my old man.

The second horse I'm "leasing" the owner is covering his expenses. Basically, she's getting free training on him, but in exchange I get a decent english horse to train and work with. This benefits both of us: she gets training and time put into her horse that she doesn't have; I get to show my training abilities and hopefully have a competitive horse that I can show my abilities with. He's a better bred horse than I can afford to buy, and I would like to eventually get some training clients again (did where I used to live, but not enough to have a carry-over reputation when I moved out here), so it's a way for me to get a reference and possibly some ring time and experience.

There are other reasons to lease, but those are why I am currently leasing two horses!

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08-28-2008, 09:59 PM
llarryllama373 Halter broke Join Date: May 2007 Location: California, USA Posts: 86	(full) Leasing VS. Owning Yes, I probably am more green than grass (the fluffy bright healthy green variety of course!), this is your warning!! I was just wondering why people take on a free, full lease at their barn/on their own property (where they still pay for everything, but not an additional fee to the owner) rather than buying the horse themselves? Thanks!! PS- if this is on the wrong board, feel free to move it.

08-29-2008, 03:05 AM
SirenAlecto Halter broke Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 130	I know that when I free-leased a horse, I was 14. My parents wanted to see if I could handle taking care of a horse before they had to buy one.

08-29-2008, 05:06 AM
Horses&Soccer Started Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Warrenton, MO Posts: 2,727	That way if it doesn't work out between you and the horse you just take it back to the owner and not have to worry about reselling it. __________________ When life gives you lemons - find someone to throw them at!

08-29-2008, 05:29 AM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,542	Leasing works for many people in many ways. My neice was just gettig into horses, loved to go riding with her firends on their horses, and begged to get a horse. I told my brother to lease a horse, to see if she carried thru the with committment and responsibilty of taking care of the horse. It was like her horse but if things didn't work out, they could just opt out of the deal and walk away. I have seasonal friends who leave their horses up North in winter, live down here in the season/winter and lease horses while they are here to ride. Leasing is a plus for the horse owner, no doubt. __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !!

08-29-2008, 11:21 AM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 727	All that has been said are many good reasons to lease. Also depending on the level you are showing you can lease a very very nice show horse for a lot less then what you can buy one for. I know my trainer is letting a Green/Rookie rider show my mare. She could not afford I would think to buy a mare like that but she can show her and dose very well. Works out for all. I do not see any thing but the extra earnings on my mare but it is good for not only the person but my mare. Heidi __________________ Double Eagle Photography www.doubleeagleph.com Definision of Gun Control: Hiting what you aim at.

08-29-2008, 11:34 AM
Drafty Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 979	When I leased it was because I owned horses that were not show-quality, but wanted to show. So I leased a show-quality horse. I have several friends who have leased for the same reason, and I have friends who lease because they cannot afford to buy a horse. IMHO leasing is no cheaper than owning your own horse, unless you do a partial lease or something. Although I enjoyed the horse I leased and learned a lot, it was a total waste of my money. I ended up spending enough on the lease that I could have bought a horse of equal value. __________________ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi

08-29-2008, 11:36 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 9,981	Yep, there are lots of good reasons. It's a good way to gain experience and make sure you are ready for the commitment of owning a horse, and for those of us with kids, a good way to make sure they are really going to stick with it. __________________

08-29-2008, 12:41 PM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 811	I lease two of my horses. One is my 18 year old been there done that won that gelding that is teaching one of my best friends how to show the circuit and win (and gain confidence on a steady mount). The other horse I lease to my Goddaughter's mother is a rescue horse I took (because there's sucker written on me somewhere). This rescue horse is an arab, who I will never ride long term because of bouncy gaits. My friend loves her and it works out perfect, since when I adopted the horse, part of the contract was that the horse cannot be sold or given away. Neither one of these women could afford to outright buy a horse, but both LOVE these horses and they get so much extra care and attention that I don't always have time to give them. I also give them both free lessons so that they learn and the horses continue to improve. Plus theses horses are now paying for their own feed/hay Works out really well for us. __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

08-29-2008, 04:28 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,425	For someone who want to be competitive, often they need to have "stepping stone" horses; a horse that can teach them walk/trot/canter, then a horse that can do the low jumps, then something that can compete at a higher level in whatever they decide to do. For them to buy a horse that tolerates a beginner but can also be a show horse might be very hard to do, but buying and selling a horse each year or two as they move up might not be practical either, so they are better off leasing a horse for each level until they get to a point where they know where their interest lies, and they are at a skill level where they can bring a horse along for at least a few years. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-29-2008, 06:34 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,318	Well, I can tell you why I've leased horses, and currently am leasing two horses.... My first horse that I am leasing I am covering her expenses, but we did a "trade lease." The mare's owner couldn't ride and work with this mare, and this horse needed a job, and needed one BADLY - not the kind of horse that can sit around for the occasional trail ride. I have an older retired TB that isn't sound for much riding anymore. Mare's owner liked having a horse around, so we did a trade lease. She takes care of my gelding who gets to be a pasture puff, and I am working with, training, and now competing on her horse (and teaching her some manners). I cannot afford two horses, and won't unload my gelding, so this gave me a way to have a horse to work with while keeping ownership of my old man. The second horse I'm "leasing" the owner is covering his expenses. Basically, she's getting free training on him, but in exchange I get a decent english horse to train and work with. This benefits both of us: she gets training and time put into her horse that she doesn't have; I get to show my training abilities and hopefully have a competitive horse that I can show my abilities with. He's a better bred horse than I can afford to buy, and I would like to eventually get some training clients again (did where I used to live, but not enough to have a carry-over reputation when I moved out here), so it's a way for me to get a reference and possibly some ring time and experience. There are other reasons to lease, but those are why I am currently leasing two horses! __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.