Leasing Questions

[wanabe]

My RI has now gotten to the point where she wants me to lease or half-lease my lesson horse. Is this worthwhile? What's the difference between a half and full lease (she's going to email details, but hasn't yet). What's the going rate? Is this a good idea or should I just take more lessons? Why do you think she wants me to do this?

[sancho]

I would say that she thinks you've reached a good level of riding and that you would benefit from leasing this horse and having more time to ride so well done you! :D


Wait for the details and then let us know as leasing/loaning (as it is here) can mean lots of different things, with different levels of work/commitment involved. :)

[wanabe]

So being offered a lease is a sign of progress and not just a money-making scheme? :confused: :rolleyes: :o

I guess I need to decide how much of my lesson fee is for her instruction and how much is for use of the horse during the lesson.

[sancho]

Ah well yes, the more cynical of you would come to that conclusion!!! ;)

Maybe I was just looking through rose tinted glasses but I would definately see what she's offering. I'm presuming she wouldnt want any old rider on her horse (I know I wouldnt) and therefore wouldn't offer her horse if you weren't
living up to her standards - or is this the glasses talking again??? :D

I'd get the details first. x

[Gruntfuttock]

Well, at one level she must think you are a pretty competent rider and have come on well, so as Sancho say, you should be congratulated for this ! Is it common practice at your stables for riders taking lessons to progress to leasing a horse there? Are they not likely to run out of lesson horses if they do this on a regular basis?

[Keket]

Well, I'm going to be half-leasing a horse my RI owns in a few months. I need a horse that's always there for me in order to progress to my Coacher's Level, and trying to to do through lessons is too costly. So for me it makes sense. I guess it depends on what you want and what makes sense from a riding point of view and a financial point of view. :)

[wanabe]

Is it common practice at your stables for riders taking lessons to progress to leasing a horse there? Are they not likely to run out of lesson horses if they do this on a regular basis?

You know, I don't know. As a one lesson a week type rider (heretofore, looks like that's gonna change), I don't know a lot of things about this stable. I DO know that her top riders MOSTLY own there own horses which they keep there. I also know she is a horse trainer also and brings new ones in as lesson horses.

I suppose, when you lease, you only have access to the horse during your lesson and regularly sheduled periods and she is free to use the horse for lessons at other times. :confused:

The one other horse that I know she has leased is to another adult rider. So perhaps it's an adult rider thing.

[Mackinlay]

I agree with the others - your RI must be confident in your abilities to offer you a lease of her horse, and might also think you would benefit from more miles in the saddle, so to speak! This is what my RI told me and I started leasing one of her horses (Kimba) about a month ago. Absolutely the best thing I ever did :D :D My RI knows I would like to get my own horse eventually so thought it would be good for me to get some experience with a quiet, very forgiving little fellow first, and I totally agree. I can learn so much from him, and am confident in doing everything with him myself. So I say go for it :D

Btw - Is your lesson horse a horse you would actually want to lease, or do you sort of feel pushed into it?

[*toHorse&Away*]

LOL! You cynics!!!:D ;)
First thing I thought was wow! How brilliant!

[wanabe]

Btw - Is your lesson horse a horse you would actually want to lease, or do you sort of feel pushed into it?

Those who have followed my story from the beginning, two years ago, know that I was assigned a 17.1 TB ex-race-horse 10 YO gelding who was too much for me. I came off completely 4 times (he tanks) and 2 or 3 other times went up on his neck and kind of fell/let myself down to the ground. I stubbornly wanted to push on with him until I got things right but it was really a blessing-in-disguise that he was leased out from under me.

My new lesson horse is a 24YO 16.1 TB -- well-trained, very experienced, obviously, and yes, I'm delighted to be on him. I'm making so much more progress!

[Mackinlay]

Oh ok the picture is much clearer now :) In that case I would repeat go for it :D Have you found out what the lease entails? Sounds like a match made in heaven to me!!

[wanabe]

I spoke with my RI (stable owner) this morning about details. It's $300/month (151 GBP/month). This entitles me to 1 lesson per week and 2 riding sessions. If the other half is leased (which it currently isn't) then we'd have to come to agreement on the days IF we both ride after work.

I think this is partially financially motivated as the owner is cutting back on her business and so doesn't have lesson takers supporting the costs of her horses.

But I don't care, I think it's a good deal (it cuts my saddle-time rate almost in half) for me. I've also gotten to the stage where I know the basics. I KNOW when I've done something wrong and don't need someone there telling me so. In fact, sometimes I almost feel like paying my RI to just be quiet! ;)

So, I'm half-leasing starting June 1. :)

[sancho]

That sounds great! Im glad it worked out in your favour.

Good luck!! :D