Free Leases

[Michelle]

Has anyone ever free leased a horse? How did it go ? I don't want to buy a horse yet w/me going to nursing school and my daughter still a newbie at riding. I have rode for 24 yrs so I know my way around a horses and such. Any input would be helpful! Thanks! Michelle

[Nina Kraus]

I think it depends on how well you know the person and the motivation behind the free lease. Is the person just looking for someone to take over the bills for a while? Is it that the person doesn't have time to ride the horse right now and wants to make sure it stays in shape? If you know the person well enough, it could work.

[Michelle]

Hum That's thing i s I don't know the one person at all and the other horse I was looking at is great and belongs to a good friend of mine. But has White Line in his hoofs. I am not familiar w/that kind of hoof disorder. I know of people that lease horses to show in certain division through the year. I might need to do that. Id love to have a horse that needs to get in shape! LOL I need to get back into "ridding condition" I don't know many people out in this part of Ohio cause we are not from here. As a matter a fact there aren't many horse barns just cattle! I could start ridding cows!LOL

[Nina Kraus]

I had a horse with white line. It all depends on how severe it is. Sometimes, they have to carve away part of the foot. Sometimes the horses has to be laid up to recoup. I would make sure to get a vet's opinion before you make a decision. If you lease, you will be responsible for all the bills including the vet bills unless you draw up some sort of contract that says otherwise.

I know a lot of people who have leased horses like you said for the show season or just leased in general. I, personally, have never been comfortable with it because I would always wonder if the horse got hurt and couldn't be used anymore, if I would be held responsible. I think most leases come with some sort of written contract to address these issues.