West Wind Stables

Why Lease?

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Leasing involves “renting” a horse for a specified time period for a set amount of money. Leases can range from paying full board and upkeep for the horse to paying a negotiated fee for the horse under the terms of a contract. Owners will often lease out their horses if they are unable to meet the time commitments, or have chosen to retain ownership rather than selling them.

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Leasing makes sense if you are new to riding and/or showing and are unsure if you (or your child) is going to stick with riding long term. Leasing also makes sense when you want a well-trained, experienced show horse for a beginner rider that may be outside of your price range. It might even make sense to lease a horse for a short while to achieve specific show objectives or to increase experience through a slump in a rider’s career.

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There are two basic types of leases, full leases and part leases.  Full leases are common in the show community with valuable horses that an owner may not wish to sell. Typically, the lessee would pay a percent of the horse’s value to the owner in exchange for using the horse for a set period of time, usually one year. In addition to paying the owner, the lessee is usually responsible for all of the horse’s expenses during the lease period. The lessee does assume less risk because if something happens to the horse, it ultimately impacts the owner. This type of lease can give the lessee access to excellent horses that she/he may not otherwise have the means to purchase.

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A part lease is a great option for riders who do not have the time or funds to own a horse. In this situation, the lessee shares riding time with the owner in exchange for paying half of the horse’s expenses. Some riders do this for long periods of time, but it is also a great way to determine if you are ready to own a horse. When leasing, a contract is recommended with simple rules and guidelines that suit your needs and the needs of the lessee and that protect both parties.

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Lease Options

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At West Wind Stables we offer 4 different lease options: 

• Part lease non-competitive

• Part lease competitive

• Full lease non-competitive

• Full lease competitive

 

The difference of a non-competitive lease to a competitive lease is the level of the horse and their experience, along with what the owner will allow you to do with the horse. A competitive level horse is one who has competition experience, may be champions in their field and the owner would like them to carry on with that career path. A non-competitive horse, may be a horse leading into retirement, is no longer able to compete in the field they are used to, or they may not have the experience or training to compete.

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What's Included

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In the typical half lease, the lessee will be responsible for half of the board, feed, farrier, and veterinarian costs for the horse.  The usage guidelines will depend if the lease is competitive or non-competitive.  An average monthly cost is about $500-800, depending on the level of the horse, their care expenses, and the number of lessons taken. You also need to consider if you own your own tack or if the owner will allow you to use theirs, they may charge a small fee for this.

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For more information about Leasing please Contact Us!

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