Are you interested in finally moving forward after taking lessons at a barn that you love with a trainer that is fantastic?
Leasing:
I always believe you should lease a horse before you buy one. Most barns have leasing options, which means you could come ride the horse more than once a week, which includes lessons. They will have varied types of leases. Some have a quarter, half, full, and open.
A quarter lease means: Being able to ride your horse 2-3 times a week including your lesson.
A half lease means: Riding your horse 3-4 times a week including your lesson.
A full lease means: You can come and ride your horse any day of the week, and it does include a lesson.
An open/free lease means: You are paying for board and being responsible for the upkeep of the horse. It does not include lessons, and you can move the horse to a different barn if you want.
There are barns that off free leasing, meaning you don’t have to pay for the horse monthly, but you do have to pay for board wherever you are taking it. Free, does not mean free.
Leasing will help you grow as a rider and give you more opportunities around the barn. Some barns don’t let you show unless you are leasing a horse. It will also give you an understanding of what type of commitment you want.
If something happens to you in your life, financially or physically, you are not responsible for looking to either sell or pay for the horse.
Quarter – half lease horses may get used for lessons with other people. So, you must communicate with your trainer on what days you plan on riding your horse, so the horse is available at that time and day. You may not be the only one leasing the horse.
If your days are Mondays, and it is showing season. Don’t expect to ride on those days. Since shows are on weekends, usually Sundays, and the horses usually get a day off the next day. So, you may need to switch days with someone or ask for another day that week. Some barns may have you ride someone else that day.
If your horse is hurt, they usually let you ride another horse in the meantime, on your lesson days and off.
Buying:
*Even when buying or rescuing a free horse, it is not free. You are financially responsible for boarding, training, upkeep, and whatever else you want to do with the horse. No horse is free.
The right time to buy a horse depending on if you are financially responsible for it or your parents. You, the rider, are interested in riding almost every day.
You can go anywhere you want and do whatever you want with your horse, with the trainer’s advice or help.
You can have anyone ride your horse or no one ride your horse. It is up to you.
If your horse is hurt and can’t be ridden, some barns don’t let you ride anyone else. So, you may not be able to ride for a while, unless it’s your lesson days. They will let you ride one of their horses.
You get to say you own a horse.
When you feel like the horse can’t grow with you anymore, you can always lease your horse out.
You don’t need to buy a horse for riding if you don’t want to. You can always buy a horse to take care of it and do groundwork. You can do anything you want.
You can buy a horse to train or take to shows and then sell it for more money.
There are many different reasons to buy a horse.
It is a commitment.
They are not cheap. No matter what horse you get and what you want to do with it, they are not cheap, and they are very fragile.
Since horses can’t throw up, when they have a stomachache, it’s called colicing, and it could be so bad that they must get put down or have colic surgery, which can cost a lot.
Colicing is a symptom of belly pain, which can cause horses to have gastrointestinal issues. Unfortunately, horses cannot throw up when they have these symptoms and may die if not treated.
SmartPack has a Colic program: ColiCare™ – Horse Colic Reimbursement Program from SmartPak Equine
You can get horse insurance.
Do your research before buying a horse.