Yay! New lease!

I found a lady who is willing to offer me a lease horse in exchange for doing work for free! I am so happy. I got to meet her horses, and they're beautiful. I do have some general etiquette questions regarding others' horses, as this is my first time leasing.

1. Is it okay to show that I am the boss to other horses [i.e. Making them move their feet if they're in my way, or getting pushy]? The boys were getting pushy as I helped feed today so I moved them out of my space. She didn't seem to mind, and I think respected me more for it. I just want to know for future reference.

2. What kind of ground work should I do before riding, so as to enhance my riding and general relationship with the horse?

3. Should I ride with the owner present at first while I get acquainted with her horses for safety reasons?

I think I'll have more questions later on, but thank you for answering!

1. Is it okay to show that I am the boss to other horses [i.e. Making them move their feet if they're in my way, or getting pushy]? The boys were getting pushy as I helped feed today so I moved them out of my space. She didn't seem to mind, and I think respected me more for it. I just want to know for future reference.

It definitely is okay.. I don't allow any horses to push me around, whether it's Indie or a horse when I'm doing barn chores. If they shove me, I shove them ten times harder and usually they're content to just walk beside me.

2. What kind of ground work should I do before riding, so as to enhance my riding and general relationship with the horse?

I usually just do lots of backing up, turns on the hindquarter/forehead, etc. Basically just things you'd do in a showmanship pattern.

3. Should I ride with the owner present at first while I get acquainted with her horses for safety reasons?

I think that'd be up to you. When I leased a horse (although now I own a lovely mare), I had a few lessons on him first before riding on my own (with the two lessons a week as well).

For the first question, I ask, because some people are all: NO MY BABY when it happens, and I didn't want to step on any toes that way. I guess what my real question was meant to be is: Should I look for a lease owner who allows such discipline?

If someone is like "Oh my baby!" When you shove their animal that's ten times your size, chances are you won't want to lease from them anyway lol. They are the hardest people to lease from. Too protective!
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I hear you! This lady seems really savvy and I like her. I plan on helping her fix up her barn to make some stalls for her mare and her poor gelding that gets beat up on by the more dominant boys.

It's going to be fun!

Sounds like it! I wish I could find leases around here! The nearest horses up for lease are in Austin and Dallas, both about 3 hours away from me. Sad day.
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Aw I am sorry. My last 'lease' was an hour and a half from me. Nice to find something in comparitavely shorter distance.

Onething that throws me off is how small the riding area is... it's not an arena, but supposedly works fine for riding. She teaches a little girl on her paint there, so it seems like it does. I always like something wide and outstretched, personally. Like a field so I can move wherever and not be confined. But, there is a trail... I just don't know where it leads to and if I should trail ride without a buddy.

I know what you mean, I'm used to riding in a pasture. I don't want my horse to act silly and be bumping into a fence and scare herself. I'd prefer her have room to bolt because I can stay on for that! Lol, a crazy spook/buck combo? Not so much!
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Definitely! But in my experience, it was the arena that kept the horse from doing anything terribly crazy... like running into a tree.

Maybe I'll see what she does... all the experience I have is pleasure riding, and I don't wanna be riding just in circles. :/ I do want to try jumping, and she has jumps... maybe if I work on my 2 point some more, maybe. Just maybe.

I'm working on barrel racing, so when I do get a horse I need an arena. It's fun so far! I've always wanted to try jumping, but that's not too common around here.
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