Is it practical to lease my mare?

Hi everyone!
As some of you know, I had my sone 3 1/2 months ago. Prior to that I chose to stop riding as I was no longer just risking my life when I rode. So my mare has had over a year off.
I'm strict breastfeeding and am choosing not to give my baby a bottle, as I feel there is no need since I'm a SAHM.
Since I have no idea how my time will be before he's weaned, I'm been thinking of putting Vega up for lease..again.
First time I got zero interest in her. Let me rephrase that. I would get some emails. I would respond and would rarely hear from them again. I was doing a free lease (they just had to pay board and we'd split vet/farrier bills) so I wasn't even making any money on the deal (as in they didnt have to pay me a fee per month)

I would like to get back into riding in the spring, but I don't know how that will be. And I'm not sure how marketable a 7 year old mare that's had more than a year off is. Let me rephrase that. I know I will get no one to want to lease a 7 year old mare that hasn't been ridden in over a year.
I would like to down the line lease her out, even if its just a part time lease because my son takes up all of my time. But in order to that, I need her to be in shape and no longer a pasture puff.

We don't have the money to pay someone to ride her or else I would do that.

Also, any breastfeeding mamas out there. How long was it before you got back into riding?

You can see if you have any friends that would ride her for free and wait for her to get more 'leasable'-ie she is under the saddle regularly again. Sending her off to a trainer would probably be ideal, but since there isn't enough money for that it isn't an option.

I personally have no kids. But my family and friends were up in the saddle again a month after having a baby. I'm sure you can find someone, you just have to get the word out more.

I think a lease or a part lease would be a very good idea. Do you currently board? Or is it at your own place? Would you maybe consider doing a free lease? That could be another option. There always people around who are looking or might want a horse to ride.

I did try to free lease her and like I said got very little interest. Im not open for someone to ride her that I don't know and not pay anything.
I will see if some friends I have will want to work with her.

I was in no way shape or form ready to ride 1 month post partum. And it hard to ride when your husband works all day, you are breastfeeding on demand and family that will come over and watch him is 1 hour away :( that's why im not sure how im going to be able to ride in the spring.
And yes we board. If we didnt I think id be out there when my son is sleeping.

Have you ever tried to use a breast pump and have someone watch him for an hour or two?

No and I chose not to introduce a bottle to my baby. I know that may sound selfish or whatever, but that's a choice I made and I'm not willing to change it.
He does go 2-3 hours between feedings, but there are days where he'll go 30 minutes between feedings and I don't want to be out, to get a phone call to come home because he's hungry and there's no more milk.

You could try to find a rider who is able/willing to ride her at least a few times per week and charge him/her say $100/month. That way you're not paying someone to ride your horse, you are making a bit of an income to go towards your horse's upkeep (which you are paying for 100% right now anyways, I am guessing). Plus, that is fairly cheap for 3+ days per week.
I, for instance, would jump on a chance like that right now as I have very little extra money but I am wanting to get back into riding. I have come across a few ladies in pretty much the same situation as you, and I am going to be trying out their horses in the next couple of weeks.

I don't think it's selfish at all.

I don't know how leasing would work, but I have a different idea for how you could manage to get to ride your horse without leaving your baby at home and still be able to nurse on demand (BTW, with my kids I nursed all of them on demand and never would have been able to leave them for even a few hours - I wouldn't change that for anything).

You could find a teenager who can watch your son ringside (at the barn watching while you ride), so she can hand him right over if he wakes up or gets hungry. You could either pay her for this as if she were babysitting or you could trade her watching your son for letting her ride your horse.

That way one or two times a week (more often if the arrangement works for the three of you - you could even look into finding a homeschooler so you could do this in the middle of the day on a weekday) you pick up the teen at her house and drive to the barn. The teen holds your son while you ride for half an hour or more. You take your son and watch while the teen rides your horse for another half hour or hour. Then you both put your horse away. This way you can get two or three hours at the barn with an extra pair of hands to hold your son. Also, if you don't already, try carrying him in a sling - it will free up your hands and makes it really easy to nurse him standing up.