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Advice on leasing out

4K views 34 replies 13 participants last post by  HowClever 
#1 ·
I have my 5yr old mare. Green broke. Great horse perfect on the ground. I am a very over protective owner and only let certian people handle her. And now i have decided to lease her. As i cant ride and she is just a pasture pet and i cant go out everyday to give her any attention. And i would like her to go further in areas but dont want to get rid of her.

So i thought leasing would be a good way to keep her but she get sorta like free training.

But now i am nervous i just put her ad up on craigslist and what i wanted and what she is like. My biggest thing is someone that will stick with how she is already trained and handled and the fact i get to see her when i want to. And can correct behaviors.

So how do i know i am doing the right thing? This is my baby. How do i know they are right? Red flags? What to look for in a person? What kind of contract should i have wrote up?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my baby my own little child and i am just turning her over to some stranger to train and use her. I feel like i am loaning a car and like i just dont care anymore. But this is my only option to not sell her but not pay all the extra costs and boarding right now.

So any advice and all advice please.

I know to go look at the place and to make sure there is some kind of contract and to contact the owner of the place or manager and let them know who i am and whats going on.
 
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#2 ·
I leased out my first quarter horse after years of "fixing" her (she was a track quarter). It actually wasn't THAT bad. It's really hard however to dictate how a horse is ridden as in how it's already trained unless you plan on spending hours training the person how to ride her, and then you still can't control how they ride.

I think maybe the biggest thing is to decide what you will allow and what you won't and maybe write out a list for the person so that there is no confusion. Also...if there are things that you completely do not want, maybe make it in the term that it would be grounds for immediate termination of the lease. I was leasing to a 10 year old so I had to make sure all of the stable rules for her age were followed as a major rule.

Some things to think about..
Is the lessee to use their own tack or yours? Are they only to use a certain bit/type of bit/hackamore? Will this person be showing the horse? Is jumping allowed? Do you want them to only ride western? English? Dressage? Are they going to be allowed to trim/clip the horse? (I actually had to specify that the mane, forelock, and tail were NOT to be cut, and yet my horse still ended up with "bangs" chopped much to my dismay). How do you feel about trail rides?

I'm sure you will think of plenty more. Depending on who you are leasing to you may need less or more rules than I had. Also think about what things the lessee are responsible for. I was still responsible for vet and farrier however I also still saw/rode my horse once a week or so. You said you still want use of your horse...so maybe make out what day is your day, etc because it really sucks to feel like going for a nice ride or giving the horse a bath only to find it already occupied. It's not like you can tell the person to get off the horse...because they have paid for that privilege.
 
#5 ·
I leased out my first quarter horse after years of "fixing" her (she was a track quarter). It actually wasn't THAT bad. It's really hard however to dictate how a horse is ridden as in how it's already trained unless you plan on spending hours training the person how to ride her, and then you still can't control how they ride.

I think maybe the biggest thing is to decide what you will allow and what you won't and maybe write out a list for the person so that there is no confusion. Also...if there are things that you completely do not want, maybe make it in the term that it would be grounds for immediate termination of the lease. I was leasing to a 10 year old so I had to make sure all of the stable rules for her age were followed as a major rule.

Some things to think about..
Is the lessee to use their own tack or yours? Are they only to use a certain bit/type of bit/hackamore? Will this person be showing the horse? Is jumping allowed? Do you want them to only ride western? English? Dressage? Are they going to be allowed to trim/clip the horse? (I actually had to specify that the mane, forelock, and tail were NOT to be cut, and yet my horse still ended up with "bangs" chopped much to my dismay). How do you feel about trail rides?

I'm sure you will think of plenty more. Depending on who you are leasing to you may need less or more rules than I had. Also think about what things the lessee are responsible for. I was still responsible for vet and farrier however I also still saw/rode my horse once a week or so. You said you still want use of your horse...so maybe make out what day is your day, etc because it really sucks to feel like going for a nice ride or giving the horse a bath only to find it already occupied. It's not like you can tell the person to get off the horse...because they have paid for that privilege.
Actually i have only rode her a handfull of times and cant ride now. So how she is rode as long as they are not yanking on her head or kicking the hell out of her its what ever except no cantering or jumping for another year. i just dont want the ground training to change. And i just want to see her when i can.

Did you use a contract and how did you write it up? And thank you for the ideas i never thought about the mane and tail getting cut. And i dont even have tack anymore but i didnt even think about saying they needed her bridle and thier tack.
 
#3 ·
I actually leased a horse from a friend for a year before I bought one of my own. I was beginner rider & the horse I leased (an older gelding) actually taught me how to ride. I would screen the people interested in leasing her very carefully.
 
#4 ·
Sorry stupid computer crashed & I didn't get to finish my thought.
Any way my friend watched me ride in the arena on the horse, rode out with me a few times, and watched me groom him & eveything. I used her tack, kept it on her property, I was only allowed to ride out in certain areas or in the arena. I couldn't trailer out anywhere. I consulted with her on feed, medical (he got an abcess), used her farrier & vet, all of that.
I also had to sign a waiver in case I got hurt.
 
#7 ·
I just sort of wrote up my own contract and had her and her parent sign it. I wanted to make sure they BOTH understood and agreed to the rules. Her mom was really great in enforcing the rules. As said before, I would watch the person ride her and talk with them to make sure they are a good "fit." Being that your horse is pretty green I would probably limit the person leasing to adults. I know there are some really GREAT horse kids out there, but it can be more of a liability if they get hurt. I don't know what area you are living in so there may be some things you need to do legally. Maybe after you get advice here, maybe you should post in the legal section and see what you can and can not do in the contract for your area.
 
#8 ·
Yeah i was thinking no one younger than 15 but i know a girl that was 13 and used to ride for me when i had other horses and she was great and you wouldnt know she was so young. So i am open to anyone except 10 and they have to show me that they can handle her. She does test her handler and they have to know how to handle horses as beginners are to much of a liability.

Thank you i am not as nervous anymore. I have till the 10th of may before i have to move her.

I do plan on making them sign a liability waiver as the last trainer i had on her was a male and she pitched him alot. I can ride her just fine when i could ride. She was great for me but then again i have had her for over 4 years.
 
#9 ·
IF in your gut you don't think they're a good match then don't do it. If she seems happy and the rider handles her well then go for it. You can always put a clause in there that you can terminate the contract at any time for any reason if you feel it is no longer in the best interest of the horse. I have that in all my lease agreements and I have used it a few times if I didn't like the way things were panning out or if for some reason the fit wasn't as good as it was previously. Sometimes horses mature and their wants and needs in a rider change or the person starts to get sloppy in their riding and/or tries to do more than they should, etc. Although these things happening are very rare and most leasers are VERY conscientious and solicitous of the owners and their wishes. Good luck and keep us posted if you find a leaser for her!
 
#10 ·
Nittany i like that thank you i didnt think of that.

This is her ad should i tweak it? I have had several people ask me if they could put young children on her that dont know how to ride. So i fear my ad is misleading and who would want to put a child on a green broke horse? Are people just idiots?


White paint 5yr old mare she is actually a faded grey medicine hat framed overo but very faded. Standing at 15.1 possibly taller have not measured in 6 months. I am offering a free lease only. She is green broke to ride but hasnt been rode over the winter. Leads, ties, stands, trims, loads, bathes, lunges free and on line. Jumps free and on line(never jumped undersaddle). Point her at it she will do it. Was beat by a man or men when she was a weanling so doesnt take to aggressive men. Can pick up all four feet and clean and stretch her legs. Easy to catch.

She would make a great halter horse or trail horse or pretty much anything but no cantering for another year and then no jumping with rider for another year. She is my baby and is my little pet but due to my own illness i can not take her any further than just a pet. She needs someone to help take her further. Must be within 30 miles of wooster/lakeville area and someone that uses natural horsemanship and who is not going to change how she is already trained but add to it. She is a free lease if leasee provides, trims, care, food, and vet. She has recent coggins, recent trim and shots due next month.

Please email if you would like to come and meet her or we can work something out. Would like her to do local shows my plans were to always do western pleasure and halter.

Do request that if you are not fairly local and/or i can not freely see her then please do not contact me. Must be 24/7 visitation and/or behavior corrections.
 
#11 ·
Why exactly is there no cantering for another year? And then no jumping for another year after that?


Your best bet might be to find a trainer or a barn owner you trust and see if they know anyone looking to lease. Since you have so many restrictions (no cantering is a pretty big restriction) it will be hard to find a good leaser. If you did it thru a barn owner or trainer you know and trust you will at least know they will be looking out for her best interest when you are not there.
 
#12 ·
Why exactly is there no cantering for another year? And then no jumping for another year after that?


Your best bet might be to find a trainer or a barn owner you trust and see if they know anyone looking to lease. Since you have so many restrictions (no cantering is a pretty big restriction) it will be hard to find a good leaser. If you did it thru a barn owner or trainer you know and trust you will at least know they will be looking out for her best interest when you are not there.

She turns 6 in next year and that is when she is allowed to be cantered and jumped. I want no jumping period until then and light cantering once a week i will allow if i have to. Its safer for them i dont want a horse at 20 to be swayed and broken down. I am doing it in her best interest. And as for stables or trainers i know and trust thats hard as i just moved to the state. I do plan and forever will keep her until she is old and ready to go over the rainbow.
 
#13 ·
So you are restricting her cantering because of her age? :shock: Can you tell me why? Jumping I can see to a certain degree but I can not see how cantering a 5yo would be something to cause long term issues.
 
#14 ·
Because thier backs dont completely close till 6-7 yrs old. Her knees i am not even sure if they are closed but they should be with her being 5. You actually shouldnt back a horse until they are 5-6. Its like strapping a 4yr old child down with alot of weight and expecting it not to cause problems.
 
#15 ·
Then why is it OK for a rider to trot on him? I miss why you see a difference between a horse carrying a rider at a walk and trot to a horse carrying a rider at the canter when it comes to their joints being closed.

Sorry, I really am trying to understand.
 
#18 ·
Well ya never know....there are plenty of suckers out there.

There's a lady near me who "leases" out her horses. For a quite pricey fee, you get the privilege of grooming, hand-walking and TALKING to her horses. Absolutely no riding is allowed. And idiots actually take her up on this!
 
#20 ·
I dont expect her back to close i said nothing of that. But simply her maturing more. Carrying a rider does not bother me as she handles that fine but she also had hip problems in the past when i had a trainer putting time on her for me. And i dont think she is ready for cantering as she gets really upset and confused. Now if someone that knows about training and is a trainer i will allow cantering and possible lower level jumping. But all the responses i have gotten are people that are wanting to gallop and run her hard and work her hard. And they dont know anything about horses.

And would you want to lease out a horse and never be able to see it? How do you know the horse isnt being beaten? Starved? But the person isnt willing to let you see the horse. And then comes the time to get the horse. Can show you abandoned a horse because you never came out. Automatic horse turn over to that person. I doubt i will be out there 24/7 but i do want access to my mare at all times. Not to train or work but to check in on her and see her.


Have you guys ever passionatly loved a horse as a it was your own kid? Or do you just see them to be thrown away when you are done? Let them go to someone and hope they may care for it?

And yes i dont want her whipped all the time for doing bad. I dont want a huge shank bit in her mouth and her head yanked around. All her ground work is done she just needs time. All she needs is miles i could ride her with no problem.



All i wanted was advice on leasing out so i dont loose my horse and if the ad was ok or needed changed. I didnt need critiqued on how i feel about an animal. Thank you kindly.
 
#21 ·
You don't want to lease - you want the $ and still have complete control of the horse and situation. Look at the restrictions you want in place. Could you honestly accept those terms from someone else if the position were reversed?

If your checkbook can't handle the horse right now, perhaps it would be best to sell or give her to someone who is in a position to do right by her.
 
#24 ·
You don't want to lease - you want the $ and still have complete control of the horse and situation. Look at the restrictions you want in place. Could you honestly accept those terms from someone else if the position were reversed?

If your checkbook can't handle the horse right now, perhaps it would be best to sell or give her to someone who is in a position to do right by her.

The lease is free providing they provide her care and vet bills. Shots i will do i dont expect someone else to cover that its my horse. But if the horse is injured in thier care they pay for it. I can handle her board but i feel terrible she is sitting there and not being rode because i can no longer ride. I wont collect any money what so ever on her lease. I wouldnt expect anyone to pay me for a lease thats unreal.

And yes if it was reversed i would do it. I would allow anyone to come anytime and watch me work thier horse.

She has so much potential but came from an abusive past and her and i have a tight bond. But if i can ride lets say in a few years and my health is better i will have this older horse that was never finished and have to start all over again.

I do understand that some are trying to help but it should be worded differently to the point that your not cutting the other person down.



Help me fix my lease so i can get her leased out. But i do want full access to my horse and it will be in the contract that i can terminate the lease as i feel needed. I sent her to a trainer once and she came back to me not knowing how to lead. She would stop and start shaking. I dont know what the trainer did but it took me 3 months to get her to lead next to me again.

I dont want her hurt. She came to me with whip markings all over her face and body and that was when she was 6months old. She is now 5yrs old and finally trusts other people and will let anyone catch and lead her.
 
#22 ·
I don't think anyone was trying to critique you on how you feel about your horse. Just pointing out that your expectations may be a little unrealistic. Visitation sure, 24/7, no thanks.
 
#23 ·
You don't want to lease - you want the $ and still have complete control of the horse and situation. Look at the restrictions you want in place. Could you honestly accept those terms from someone else if the position were reversed?

If your checkbook can't handle the horse right now, perhaps it would be best to sell or give her to someone who is in a position to do right by her.
In total agreement with mls.

Your expectations are unrealistic and it is highly doubtful that you will find anyone who wants to bind themselves to the agreement you have in mind.
 
#26 ·
Unfortunately, the biggest turn off for me would be the whole 24/7 visitation thing. If I was leasing a horse I would have absolutely no problem with the owner calling me sometimes and saying "hey do you mind if I pop in?" but any lease that states the owner has the right to walk on to my property at any time? I don't think so.

The way I see it if you know and love this horse as much as you do even a visit once every couple of weeks would be enough to tip you off as soon as something was different about your horse. I assume you know the ins and outs of her and therefore it wouldn't be hard to spot when something was wrong.

As far as terminating the lease, I think that is a pretty standard clause in most agreements, but only if the conditions of the lease aren't met. And seeings as your conditions are pretty far up there, I think you'd be terminating the lease rather quickly.

I can understand you're concern for jumping if she has a previous hip injury. HOWEVER, cantering a 5 year old shouldn't be an issue at all. And if I were you I would do yourself a favour and have her vetted for soundness before you went any further. I'm thinking she would at least be cleared for light jumping.

I don't mean to come off harsh, I am merely doing as you asked and trying to help you tweak your lease.
 
#31 ·
Unfortunately, the biggest turn off for me would be the whole 24/7 visitation thing. If I was leasing a horse I would have absolutely no problem with the owner calling me sometimes and saying "hey do you mind if I pop in?" but any lease that states the owner has the right to walk on to my property at any time? I don't think so.

The way I see it if you know and love this horse as much as you do even a visit once every couple of weeks would be enough to tip you off as soon as something was different about your horse. I assume you know the ins and outs of her and therefore it wouldn't be hard to spot when something was wrong.

As far as terminating the lease, I think that is a pretty standard clause in most agreements, but only if the conditions of the lease aren't met. And seeings as your conditions are pretty far up there, I think you'd be terminating the lease rather quickly.

I can understand you're concern for jumping if she has a previous hip injury. HOWEVER, cantering a 5 year old shouldn't be an issue at all. And if I were you I would do yourself a favour and have her vetted for soundness before you went any further. I'm thinking she would at least be cleared for light jumping.

I don't mean to come off harsh, I am merely doing as you asked and trying to help you tweak your lease.

I didnt even think of it being a problem as to coming on someones property. I was thinking of boarding as i am. I do see that as a problem if they are on thier own property or even boarding and someone not being there and i just show up.

She is deemed sound but i am over worried about the hip. I even do stretches with her before she does any kind of work. I dont even walk her without stretching. And as for showing up every once in a while and knowing something is off your right. I am just so paranoid about leasing her out i am over thinking. I can tell how the horse hurts and she tells me where if i simply ask.

It will however be off property lease as i board and having someone come ride her where i board wouldnt work as the boarders are strict and dont even want visitors unless they sign a waiver. I am in the process of moving her in the next couple of weeks.



MuleWrangler that is an awesome idea but i live in a big college town. So all those deals are gone. I have talked to 3 stables about that.



I do however have a lady interested. Her daughter shows and is getting bored with her blue ribbon push button horses and her daughter trains as well. She was just talking to her mom about buying another horse for project. So they are looking at my mare. I dont have a problem with my mare cantering providing the person riding knows how to ride and can help her.

I had a person email me wanting to put a 6yr old child on. I cant even believe people would want to do that on a green broke horse.


I dont mind how she is rode i dont want her ground work to go backwards.

Thank you guys i hadnt realized i had made it that bad.
 
#28 ·
How about instead of a lease you just have someone ride her on occasion any you supervise, or have someone at the barn watch them. Thats what I usually do if I want someone to ride my mare.

I understand wanting to keep control, it is your horse, but thats going to turn alot of leasees off. I wouldnt call it a lease, just that your looking for someone to ride her. I dont like any off farm leases because then you have a whole nother set of issues, like how shes being taken care of, and whats actually going on.
 
#30 ·
I totally understand what you want to do for your horse you care for very much, but please understand from the viewpoint of a serious leasee, that it looks like all you are doing is to get free training for your horse (which, indeed, you are). We recently had a VERY similar ad posted here on CL (I actually thought it was you, but it's a different horse) and the poster has been really blasted about it by people saying the same thing and ridiculing the poster for trying to get free training.

I really doubt you will find what you are looking for. Is there any way you can barter something for a trainer to take her and work with her? I traded two mules to a top mule trainer to train my third mule, because it would have been hard for me to pay him. I asked him if he would be willing to work that deal and he agreed! Can you do anything that would be of benefit to a trainer (accounting, website design, babysitting, etc.) that you could barter? It may take them more time, where they work your horse in around paying customers, but that looks like it would be to your advantage right now.

Good luck! I hope you find a situation that works for you and her both.
 
#32 ·
Would this be any better?


White paint 5yr old mare she is actually a faded grey medicine hat framed overo but very faded. Standing at 15.1 possibly taller have not measured in 6 months. I am offering a free lease only. She is green broke to ride but hasnt been rode over the winter. Leads, ties, stands, trims, loads, bathes, lunges free and on line. Jumps free and on line(never jumped undersaddle). Was beat by a man or men when she was a weanling so doesnt take to aggressive men. Can pick up all four feet and clean and stretch her legs. Easy to catch.

She would make a great halter horse or trail horse or pretty much anything but only light jumping. Would like her to stay in 30 miles of wooster/lakeville area but further is ok. She is a free lease if leasee provides, trims, care, food, and vet(for injuries). She has recent coggins, recent trim and shots due next month.

Please email if you would like to come and meet her

Do request that there is visitation allowed.
 
#34 ·
I do have to laugh at myself. I sound like an emotional 10yr old. Its been stressfull here and chasing two children down and dealing with a mother in law. Thank you for the critique now that things are quiet and my head is on i do appreciate it. Thank you for putting up with another emotional woman and helping me out on my lease.

I never saw the lease as a problem. But its so much thinking to do with it. I just moved state and so not knowing anyone around here has really put a damper on my plans for my little pony.

What are some good sites i could post her lease on? Any suggestions on the clausing and contract itself? I am sure i will make a mess of that like i did on a simple lease. Any other horse that i used to have wouldnt of bothered me on the training. But this horse is the only one that i have had that wasnt finished.
 
#35 ·
I have no idea about sites to post on, as I am in Australia! haha.

I think the best advice I can give you as far as the actual contract would be to try and get it looked at by a lawyer or other professional. But of course that is an expense! Otherwise maybe do an online search for example lease contracts and build from that?
 
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