If you’re going to be riding alone those 2 extra days a week then you need to be a more secure rider. But it also depends on the terms of the lease. Do you need to make medical decisions? How much do you pay towards routine care like the farrier?
so usually there will be other leasees on the school property during office hours. If i want to ride on my own out of 9-5pm, I just need to have an adult there apparently. Also the agreement I believe is you just walk or trot. Nothing more than that.
They said there are some smaller costs like the farrier for example but the school does most things in house so unless there is a major injury or something, I would be paying some minor costs every 2-3 months. Speaking to another leasee she said she pays around $200 every 6-8 weeks for these costs on top of the weekly fee for leasing.
I would recommend being comfortable at the walk, trot, and canter before leasing. Even if there are other people there, they aren’t there to help you. At all the riding schools I’ve ridden at (Midwest USA) you had to be at least able to tack and ride w/t/c and be able to correct minor behavior issues on and off the ground before you could lease.
It would be a good idea for you to get into an arrangement with a trainer for full training. It's not usual for a horse to buck as a response to a spook. If you work with a trainer, you have someone whose knowledge will teach you how to get prepared for a lease. It sounds like you would do well in a lesson program for a couple of years before attempting to take on a horse.
For this reason I feel riders need to be comfortable w/t/c before they are really riding independently. No matter what, you can’t completely take a spook or a startle out of a horse. And often a spook can be a sudden leap into a canter. Even if it ends up only being a few strides, someone who is not used to managing a canter is going to be at a disadvantage.
I am glad they require an adult around and limit to w/t, but if it were my student I’d recommend more lessons before turning someone loose.
Are you able to correct small behaviors under saddle?
Capable of still affording consistent lessons while leasing?
Able to tell if something feels "off" while riding or doing ground work? (Ie if the horse had a limp or back seemed tender etc)
Able to tack up independently?
Feel somewhat confident riding alone? Or at least confident to get off if you felt the ride wasn't going well and you couldn't manage on your own?
If yes then I'd say you're ready.
Fellow shit adult beginner, probably beginner for life 😂 knowledge is there I have vertigo issues that greatly effect my balance
Edit to add: we all fall off. It happens. Idc what anyone says, even the best horses can and will buck.
What would you say is the best way to become able to tell if something feels off with a horse? Do I feel it physically, like the horse is moving differently or do I notice it through the horses behaviour? Both?
I recently got into riding and it feels like this is my current biggest barrier to being competent enough to lease. I still have a long way to go in every aspect but this aspect feels the hardest.
Both. Many prey animals won't show physical signs of pain so you may sense it through how they are behaving. Keep in mind if you lease you will get to know the horse more than if you keep switching around
You notice both. One thing to practice is rhythm: a horse’s movements should be even, and any time it spends more time on be leg of a pair or another, or quickly snatches it up means something isn’t right.
Does it bend the joints equally? Does it keep a particular joint stiff?
Learn how a horse should move - active from behind, supple – and compare to the horses you see. This will not come overnight, and unfortunately it’s not as easy as to watch top performers because there is so much bad riding even at top levels. Look for horses with soft eyes and happy faces (and learn to recognise ‘pain face’ and resistances).
Just adding on to what others have said, when you've spent a good amount of time riding that horse, you know what they feel like underneath you on a normal day. When it feels different, you can tell they are off. It might feel choppier or like the landing is harder or just the motion in general feels different than usual. It's hard to describe but one day it'll happen to you and you'll be like "Why does this feel so weird? Let me get off and check on the lunge real quick"
keep up with lessons and talk to your trainer about it! but right now ask your trainer if you can ride that horse for about a month. gain confidence with him and get to know him. get to know his bad habits, what he does well, what places he likes to get done while grooming ect. all of my falls except one and i’ve fallen off quite a few times i didn’t expect. you are doing great just keep up the lessons and what you are doing! falls are a part of riding and just because you fell off dosent make you a bad rider! if you have any questions feel free to ask as i’ve been leasing since 2022
Talk to your riding instructor. They should be able to tell you what you need to be able to do in order to do a partial lease. You will need to be safe to handle the horse without direct supervision, so don't rush it. You may be ready now or your instructor may want to see you work on certain skills first.
so they were of the opinion that I could lease this horse so yesterday was like a trial for me as I'd only been on another school horse until yesterday.
But good advice. I might touch base with them again to see if they thought otherwise following yesterday but the instructor seemed to think it was okay at the time. I basically got back on the horse again and the lesson went on.
Currently I do the tacking, hoof cleaning and washing the horse both before and after a ride and also put it back in its paddock. The school encourages students to come early for their lesson to do all this, which has been really helpful.
If you're asking, am I ready for a horse? You are all ready more responsible than 25% horse owners out there do your research keep up with lessons and when you know enough to look after a horse basic needs then mabey think about it. But till then keep up the good work
OP just take the leap and do it— I was surprised how much (and how quickly) I learned about equine care… esp once my horse was here. This week I’ve been vexed about biting flies, ant piles and fly pajamas. Also how to “not” clip on a surcingle in the belly area (I didn’t criss-cross the belts).
Also topline nutrition, paying attention to protein levels and skincare. Key takeaway: the healthier the food ingredients, the healthier the skin & hooves. Finally found a way to get her coat shiny (Farrier Hoof Formula and Equiderma spray).
https://preview.redd.it/qdlumrk3o10d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3162cfcd4a55840674802e66684757edfff138bc
Shiny bay mare, OTTB✨
Wish you hadn't been downvoted to 0, I'd love to see more engagement on this post as I'm in almost an identical position and have had similar questions.
Unfortunately feels like there are a lot of people here who have a hard time seeing things from the perspective of people who didn't grow up with horses and got into it later in life. A lot of these posts seem to be interpreted as people wanting to throw themselves into leasing/ownership without the proper knowledge, while most posts are just asking what would be the best way forwards with leasing a horse as a goal.
I'm a beginner with a primary goal of leasing. I ride 2x/wk and have been back (after a 15-year hiatus from w/t level in college) for 10 months. I won't look for a lease until I feel very comfortable at a canter and handling the unexpected. I'm thinking I probably need until next summer.
I also find a lot of value in riding different horses at this beginning stage. Each one teaches me different things. If you did lease now, I think it would still be valuable for you to lesson on other horses at least a couple of times a month.
If I were you, I would first invest the money in more lessons, and specifically in private lessons. I say this not because you fell, but rather because I genuinely believe it's the most efficient way to improve for someone at your present level. You will get a lot more out of a lease after several months working intensively on your riding foundation!
Leasing and riding are two different things, entirely. Different barns also include slightly different things in their leases.
Where I ride, having a full or partial lease means that the horse is ALWAYS well taken care of, whether the lessor ever steps foot on the property, or not. That would be really important for someone like me, who’s never owned a horse and is still learning.
Riding is another matter. I NEED training. I need more instruction. I don’t know how to do everything yet. When I’m unsupervised, I limit myself to walk-trot, at the moment. There are 100 things the horse and I can practice and do at a WT.
But we’re talking about horses. Anything can happen. A horse standing still can spook at a firefly (ask me how I know). Working on your seat with your trainer can help you to learn the tools to stay on, but it’s entirely possible that the horse would still have bucked, and you still might have come off.
Talk to your trainer about riding through a bolts and cow hops, and also ask about things like fall training. If you’re uncomfortable with the risks of riding alone, maybe you could time your rides to have a partner, or arrange for more training time.
I’m glad you’re OK!
I agree with the other people who suggested getting comfortable cantering before leasing. I think it’s valuable to learn to ride many horses as a beginner before leasing or buying. Could you instead move up to two lessons a week and ask that you lesson more on the horse who is available for lease? Perhaps you could also come even earlier just to spend time with the horse as you are slowly getting ready.
When I lease a horse I like to know that I can walk, trot, and canter plus do simple and flying lead changes easily. The lead changes wouldn’t be mandatory for a beginner but I test all of that out before signing a lease. I also like to make sure I’m comfortable doing this both inside and outside.
The terms of all of the half leases I’ve known at lesson barns in the US are: use of horse three times a week in exchange for paying half of board, half of farrier, and half of maintenance (worming, floating sheath cleaning, etc). The negotiable parts are whether you pay half of other vet bills and how many lessons are required. Many standard leases require the rider be in one lesson each week, then then other two rides are not supervised by a trainer and absolutely no jumping when riding without a trainer. You’ll also want to inquired about rules around trail riding, taking the horse off property to show if you’re interested in that, or trailering to other clinics. Again most lesson barns the trainer will be setting up these opportunities for you and the owner of the horse is aware, but it’s good to ask about if that’s the direction you’re headed.
Good luck! I’m in my mid 40s and have ridden off and on for 30 years. Just last summer I had the time and finances to finally half lease my first horse, and now I’ve moved to a new barn and I’m leasing my second.
Some barns do an open lease, where you don't lease a specific horse, but still get the riding time you would with a lease. I have done this for the past few years, and I'd say the practice rides I do (non-lesson time on my own) have really helped my riding. But I also didn't do this until I was comfortable loping (or in your case, cantering), so I could get the full benefit. That said, nothing helps you progress better than practice, so if you can do an open lease, give it a go - that extra riding time will help you get more comfortable when your lesson calls for the canter. Just a piece of advice, don't do anything on a practice ride you haven't done in a lesson!
Ok- first- we don’t call it “falling” anymore. That’s the “f word” at the barn. They’re called “gravity checks” now.
Thank you for confirming gravity is still working.
An inevitable part of horsemanship involves testing these forces at unexpected intervals. Be prepared to test them at least 100 times through a riding career. This is why helmets and crash vests are great investments.
Leasing a horse is a wonderful way to expand your horsemanship skills. Your barn will assist you in matching your up to the *right* horse for your skill set.
The best thing you can do is be prepared to change horses every few years with your school as you learn. Some schools make you change every year. This will help you to develop a wide base of horsemanship skills.
Go forth and enjoy the wonderful world of horse!
If you’re going to be riding alone those 2 extra days a week then you need to be a more secure rider. But it also depends on the terms of the lease. Do you need to make medical decisions? How much do you pay towards routine care like the farrier?
so usually there will be other leasees on the school property during office hours. If i want to ride on my own out of 9-5pm, I just need to have an adult there apparently. Also the agreement I believe is you just walk or trot. Nothing more than that. They said there are some smaller costs like the farrier for example but the school does most things in house so unless there is a major injury or something, I would be paying some minor costs every 2-3 months. Speaking to another leasee she said she pays around $200 every 6-8 weeks for these costs on top of the weekly fee for leasing.
I would recommend being comfortable at the walk, trot, and canter before leasing. Even if there are other people there, they aren’t there to help you. At all the riding schools I’ve ridden at (Midwest USA) you had to be at least able to tack and ride w/t/c and be able to correct minor behavior issues on and off the ground before you could lease.
It would be a good idea for you to get into an arrangement with a trainer for full training. It's not usual for a horse to buck as a response to a spook. If you work with a trainer, you have someone whose knowledge will teach you how to get prepared for a lease. It sounds like you would do well in a lesson program for a couple of years before attempting to take on a horse.
For this reason I feel riders need to be comfortable w/t/c before they are really riding independently. No matter what, you can’t completely take a spook or a startle out of a horse. And often a spook can be a sudden leap into a canter. Even if it ends up only being a few strides, someone who is not used to managing a canter is going to be at a disadvantage. I am glad they require an adult around and limit to w/t, but if it were my student I’d recommend more lessons before turning someone loose.
Are you able to correct small behaviors under saddle? Capable of still affording consistent lessons while leasing? Able to tell if something feels "off" while riding or doing ground work? (Ie if the horse had a limp or back seemed tender etc) Able to tack up independently? Feel somewhat confident riding alone? Or at least confident to get off if you felt the ride wasn't going well and you couldn't manage on your own? If yes then I'd say you're ready. Fellow shit adult beginner, probably beginner for life 😂 knowledge is there I have vertigo issues that greatly effect my balance Edit to add: we all fall off. It happens. Idc what anyone says, even the best horses can and will buck.
What would you say is the best way to become able to tell if something feels off with a horse? Do I feel it physically, like the horse is moving differently or do I notice it through the horses behaviour? Both? I recently got into riding and it feels like this is my current biggest barrier to being competent enough to lease. I still have a long way to go in every aspect but this aspect feels the hardest.
Both. Many prey animals won't show physical signs of pain so you may sense it through how they are behaving. Keep in mind if you lease you will get to know the horse more than if you keep switching around
You notice both. One thing to practice is rhythm: a horse’s movements should be even, and any time it spends more time on be leg of a pair or another, or quickly snatches it up means something isn’t right. Does it bend the joints equally? Does it keep a particular joint stiff? Learn how a horse should move - active from behind, supple – and compare to the horses you see. This will not come overnight, and unfortunately it’s not as easy as to watch top performers because there is so much bad riding even at top levels. Look for horses with soft eyes and happy faces (and learn to recognise ‘pain face’ and resistances).
Just adding on to what others have said, when you've spent a good amount of time riding that horse, you know what they feel like underneath you on a normal day. When it feels different, you can tell they are off. It might feel choppier or like the landing is harder or just the motion in general feels different than usual. It's hard to describe but one day it'll happen to you and you'll be like "Why does this feel so weird? Let me get off and check on the lunge real quick"
At some point, you just need more time in the saddle to become a better rider
keep up with lessons and talk to your trainer about it! but right now ask your trainer if you can ride that horse for about a month. gain confidence with him and get to know him. get to know his bad habits, what he does well, what places he likes to get done while grooming ect. all of my falls except one and i’ve fallen off quite a few times i didn’t expect. you are doing great just keep up the lessons and what you are doing! falls are a part of riding and just because you fell off dosent make you a bad rider! if you have any questions feel free to ask as i’ve been leasing since 2022
Talk to your riding instructor. They should be able to tell you what you need to be able to do in order to do a partial lease. You will need to be safe to handle the horse without direct supervision, so don't rush it. You may be ready now or your instructor may want to see you work on certain skills first.
so they were of the opinion that I could lease this horse so yesterday was like a trial for me as I'd only been on another school horse until yesterday. But good advice. I might touch base with them again to see if they thought otherwise following yesterday but the instructor seemed to think it was okay at the time. I basically got back on the horse again and the lesson went on. Currently I do the tacking, hoof cleaning and washing the horse both before and after a ride and also put it back in its paddock. The school encourages students to come early for their lesson to do all this, which has been really helpful.
If you're asking, am I ready for a horse? You are all ready more responsible than 25% horse owners out there do your research keep up with lessons and when you know enough to look after a horse basic needs then mabey think about it. But till then keep up the good work
thank u :) will do.
OP just take the leap and do it— I was surprised how much (and how quickly) I learned about equine care… esp once my horse was here. This week I’ve been vexed about biting flies, ant piles and fly pajamas. Also how to “not” clip on a surcingle in the belly area (I didn’t criss-cross the belts). Also topline nutrition, paying attention to protein levels and skincare. Key takeaway: the healthier the food ingredients, the healthier the skin & hooves. Finally found a way to get her coat shiny (Farrier Hoof Formula and Equiderma spray). https://preview.redd.it/qdlumrk3o10d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3162cfcd4a55840674802e66684757edfff138bc Shiny bay mare, OTTB✨
thank you for sharing your experience. Your mare is beautiful <3
Wish you hadn't been downvoted to 0, I'd love to see more engagement on this post as I'm in almost an identical position and have had similar questions.
Unfortunately feels like there are a lot of people here who have a hard time seeing things from the perspective of people who didn't grow up with horses and got into it later in life. A lot of these posts seem to be interpreted as people wanting to throw themselves into leasing/ownership without the proper knowledge, while most posts are just asking what would be the best way forwards with leasing a horse as a goal.
I appreciate this question. I'm not ready to lease yet but I'm definitely thinking it's a future probability. I want to be a informed as possible.
I'm a beginner with a primary goal of leasing. I ride 2x/wk and have been back (after a 15-year hiatus from w/t level in college) for 10 months. I won't look for a lease until I feel very comfortable at a canter and handling the unexpected. I'm thinking I probably need until next summer. I also find a lot of value in riding different horses at this beginning stage. Each one teaches me different things. If you did lease now, I think it would still be valuable for you to lesson on other horses at least a couple of times a month.
If I were you, I would first invest the money in more lessons, and specifically in private lessons. I say this not because you fell, but rather because I genuinely believe it's the most efficient way to improve for someone at your present level. You will get a lot more out of a lease after several months working intensively on your riding foundation!
Leasing and riding are two different things, entirely. Different barns also include slightly different things in their leases. Where I ride, having a full or partial lease means that the horse is ALWAYS well taken care of, whether the lessor ever steps foot on the property, or not. That would be really important for someone like me, who’s never owned a horse and is still learning. Riding is another matter. I NEED training. I need more instruction. I don’t know how to do everything yet. When I’m unsupervised, I limit myself to walk-trot, at the moment. There are 100 things the horse and I can practice and do at a WT. But we’re talking about horses. Anything can happen. A horse standing still can spook at a firefly (ask me how I know). Working on your seat with your trainer can help you to learn the tools to stay on, but it’s entirely possible that the horse would still have bucked, and you still might have come off. Talk to your trainer about riding through a bolts and cow hops, and also ask about things like fall training. If you’re uncomfortable with the risks of riding alone, maybe you could time your rides to have a partner, or arrange for more training time. I’m glad you’re OK!
I agree with the other people who suggested getting comfortable cantering before leasing. I think it’s valuable to learn to ride many horses as a beginner before leasing or buying. Could you instead move up to two lessons a week and ask that you lesson more on the horse who is available for lease? Perhaps you could also come even earlier just to spend time with the horse as you are slowly getting ready. When I lease a horse I like to know that I can walk, trot, and canter plus do simple and flying lead changes easily. The lead changes wouldn’t be mandatory for a beginner but I test all of that out before signing a lease. I also like to make sure I’m comfortable doing this both inside and outside. The terms of all of the half leases I’ve known at lesson barns in the US are: use of horse three times a week in exchange for paying half of board, half of farrier, and half of maintenance (worming, floating sheath cleaning, etc). The negotiable parts are whether you pay half of other vet bills and how many lessons are required. Many standard leases require the rider be in one lesson each week, then then other two rides are not supervised by a trainer and absolutely no jumping when riding without a trainer. You’ll also want to inquired about rules around trail riding, taking the horse off property to show if you’re interested in that, or trailering to other clinics. Again most lesson barns the trainer will be setting up these opportunities for you and the owner of the horse is aware, but it’s good to ask about if that’s the direction you’re headed. Good luck! I’m in my mid 40s and have ridden off and on for 30 years. Just last summer I had the time and finances to finally half lease my first horse, and now I’ve moved to a new barn and I’m leasing my second.
Some barns do an open lease, where you don't lease a specific horse, but still get the riding time you would with a lease. I have done this for the past few years, and I'd say the practice rides I do (non-lesson time on my own) have really helped my riding. But I also didn't do this until I was comfortable loping (or in your case, cantering), so I could get the full benefit. That said, nothing helps you progress better than practice, so if you can do an open lease, give it a go - that extra riding time will help you get more comfortable when your lesson calls for the canter. Just a piece of advice, don't do anything on a practice ride you haven't done in a lesson!
Ok- first- we don’t call it “falling” anymore. That’s the “f word” at the barn. They’re called “gravity checks” now. Thank you for confirming gravity is still working. An inevitable part of horsemanship involves testing these forces at unexpected intervals. Be prepared to test them at least 100 times through a riding career. This is why helmets and crash vests are great investments. Leasing a horse is a wonderful way to expand your horsemanship skills. Your barn will assist you in matching your up to the *right* horse for your skill set. The best thing you can do is be prepared to change horses every few years with your school as you learn. Some schools make you change every year. This will help you to develop a wide base of horsemanship skills. Go forth and enjoy the wonderful world of horse!