[Chasin Ponies]

The fact that this is a friend makes it even more important to have a clear, detailed, written agreement. And don't forget to specify that it can be cancelled at any time, for any reason by either party. Make sure that she also signs an injury waiver so that you and your insurance company don't get stuck with her medical bills should something happen! Many a good friendship has been ruined by casual verbal agreements-you will see this a lot if you browse around on this Forum.

Go to Equine.com and check out all of the free legal forms (including Lease agreements) they have available for download. Google also has a lot of free forms for more specific situations. You can modify, detail and add anything you want on most of them.

Leases can be fantastic, or horrible and everything in between. With clear detailed agreements, no one is left with anything to fight about!;-)

 

[KristenTyler]

The fact that this is a friend makes it even more important to have a clear, detailed, written agreement. And don't forget to specify that it can be cancelled at any time, for any reason by either party. Make sure that she also signs an injury waiver so that you and your insurance company don't get stuck with her medical bills should something happen! Many a good friendship has been ruined by casual verbal agreements-you will see this a lot if you browse around on this Forum.

Go to Equine.com and check out all of the free legal forms (including Lease agreements) they have available for download. Google also has a lot of free forms for more specific situations. You can modify, detail and add anything you want on most of them.

Leases can be fantastic, or horrible and everything in between. With clear detailed agreements, no one is left with anything to fight about!;-)

I completely agree. I'm a huge fan of contracts, even between friends. I've been burned in the past and I'm taking NO risks or chances with my beloved horse.

Thank you SO MUCH for that link to the forms!! That's wonderful, I was hoping there was something already online so I didn't have to have an attorney draft one for me

 

[PaisleysMom]

If you have someone that can look over a contract for you that would be helpful. Details are so important - even with friends. You don't want to get caught up in a situation and nothing to cover you or your horse.

I'd suggest a monthly payment and giving her set days and make sure you stick to those days as well. Certainly it is your horse, but I've found that at my barn on beautiful, dry, 70 degree and sunny days everyone wants to take a ride after work/school and there tends to be some clashing with owners/leasers!

I'd also recommend making sure you are extremely clear in what is expected of your leaser on her visits as well as the farm rules. Does she just come and ride the horse? Is she also responsible for her feeding, stall, bringing in/out of the pasture? Should she change the blanket before leaving? How do you like your tack to be stored? This is now shared equipment - if she leaves a wet, sweaty saddle pad on your nice leather saddle you could see some damage to your stuff. Again - from experience watching people at my barn (all self-care), leasers aren't always aware of our farm's turnout rules, or that they are responsible for the horse going out after they are done and usually during those first few weeks of leasing there are days the horse gets left inside/outside or a skipped meal. Little quirks about the barn too also helps a leaser be comfortable in the new place. We like our manure pile a certain way, one horse will pull cross ties if he can reach them and set horses free, riding from 5p-8p in the winter guarantees a super crowded indoor arena and we are not allowed to have jumps out if there are more than 4 riders as a courtesy. Again I don't know what your farm provides/requires - but little details like that are not always communicated to a new leaser! You want her to have a good experience even outside of saddle time! I know some of our long-time boarders get really short with new leasers because no one communicated to them and it's not their fault, but someone has to take responsibility to show them the ropes!