Most of us have had an endless dialogue running through our minds about what that “right thing” is, and finally decided upon a course of action. Seems like that should alleviate any lingering doubts and put our minds at ease, right? Not always.

The bottom line for most horse owners is the welfare of the horse, yet some of us have a difficult time seeing past our own emotions enough to define what constitutes a good life for a horse.

Costly Vet Bills

All horse owners cross their fingers and hope they will never face a vet bill deeper than their pockets. We know the high probability of our horse getting a costly injury, colic scare, or disease, yet we rarely set aside money to cover a medical worst-case scenario. Then when disaster strikes or an injury requires long-term veterinary care, we find ourselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

A horse’s age, health history, prognosis for the current problem, and treatment expense become key determining factors when deciding on the next step. Sometimes the cost of treatment far exceeds an owner’s ability to pay.

Well-intentioned owners may extend the life of an old horse long past the time it should be humanely euthanized, or delay veterinary treatment because of their own inability to face facts. For them, anticipating grief takes precedence over the animal they can’t bear to part with.

Veterinarians are often on the front lines of this type of indecision, and usually help owners by recommending what would be in the best interest of the horse. This can be the clarifying information horse owners need to get past their emotional hesitations. Far too many distraught owners throw caution to the wind and take on substantial debt with no guarantee of a positive outcome.

If the horse is young with a survivable injury, someone may be willing to take on the cost of treatment in exchange for transfer of ownership. Many horses with a career-ending injury for one activity are often suitable for another less physically demanding one, or can live out their lives as companion animals.

If not already overcrowded, many horse rescue organizations are willing to go the extra mile for a horse with a good chance of survival and utility. They may have enough staff and volunteers to support longer recoveries.

If efforts to re-home your horse fail, humane euthanasia is always an option, yet it’s no simple solution, even when fully justified. Owners may find themselves on the defensive with family and friends who don’t understand why such a drastic measure is necessary.

Acceptance comes from knowing all other options have been considered. Animals don’t ponder the future the way we do, thus a life filled with pain is never preferable to a peaceful passing.

Firing Professional Help

Some of us see our horse trainer, riding instructor, and farrier more often than many relatives, and form long-term relationships that seem more like friendships than business acquaintances.

Occasionally, problems arise and you may need to terminate their services. You can take action and feel comfortable with your decision; explain your reasons for the change and keep the conversation from becoming personal.

Dismissing someone is much easier if you feel certain you are doing the right thing for your horse and word it that way.

Selling Your Horse to Save Money

Money is at the root of most horse/owner splits. A family that suddenly loses half of their income due to loss of a job or divorce must make financial sacrifices that cut straight to the heart.

Because horse ownership makes a big dent in everyone’s budget, it is often the most obvious expense to eliminate. Owners who board their horses can sometimes bargain for reduced fees by working as stable help, but boarding stable owners may already have the hired help they need.

Sadly, selling your horse may be the best resolution even though it’s the most emotionally painful. If you’re lucky, you may find a new owner who is amenable to your continuing involvement with your horse by share boarding, where you pay an agreed-upon amount to allow you several days per week of access to your horse. This can be a win-win arrangement with two riders keeping the horse fit and reducing expenses for the new owner.

Most sales, however, require you to cut ties with your horse when the buyer’s trailer heads down the driveway. A goodbye pet on the nose for a horse you’d prefer to keep is crushing.

If you do plan to share-board, always create a written agreement signed by both participants to avoid misunderstandings. Also, make sure boarding stable managers approve of this type of arrangement at their barn. Rules, regulations, and insurance coverage are all factors to understand and agree to before day one of a new share-board arrangement.

Editor’s Note: New grants and programs are helping horse owners faced with sudden financial difficulties so they can safely relinquish or even keep their horse. Learn more about equine safety net programs.

When Health Intervenes

Consider yourself lucky if you’ve never had to alter your riding activities due to your horse’s health or your own. Many competitors have had their dreams crushed the moment their horse took one bad step.

Disappointment is an understatement when you must withdraw from a competition that required years of training. Clearly, the welfare of the horse is paramount and the correct course of action usually obvious, yet emotional fallout is unavoidable.

Your own health may fail due to an accident, illness, surgery, pregnancy, or age-related issue that causes a diminished ability to ride or work safely with horses. Your body dictates what it can and cannot do, and riding may become beyond your physical capabilities.

This is a bitter pill to swallow for most of us, especially if we must rehome a beloved horse. The best way to soften the pain is to find a new owner who will care for your horse as lovingly as you do.

Filling the Horse Void

Owning a horse is not the only way to enjoy a life with them. Leasing or share-boarding provides a great opportunity for you to stay in the game. You’ll still incur costs, but far fewer than being responsible for all of them.

If riding is out of the question, volunteering at local rescue operations or teaching the basics to those new to horses are options. Sharing your experience and skills with others is often the healing salve for those who would feel lost without a connection to horses.

This article about a horse owner’s most difficult decisions appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Horse Owner’s Most Difficult Decisions appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Because virtually every aspect of horse ownership carries some degree of risk, horse owners should consider the possibility that things can sometimes go wrong and lead to legal issues. In most common cases, the horse does not present the only risk: People who will be interacting with him can cause a multitude of problems, which in a worst-case scenario can land you in court as a horse owner.

Our generally optimistic outlook on life with horses is not often eroded by a fear of being sued. Most of us never expect it from loved ones or horsey friends, yet this precise situation happens with some frequency.

A myriad of hazardous situations involving horses can result in a lawsuit, most too complicated to resolve without an experienced attorney. Yet we offer horseback rides to family members, casually board horses on our properties for extra income, and lend our trailers to friends.

The following should not constitute legal advice—always consult an attorney for that—but these five topics are designed to give you an idea of the common areas of conflict that crop up in horse legal issues and court cases.

1. Buying and Selling

Far too many horse buyers are more emotional than careful when buying a horse, and thus they are amazingly cavalier about documenting the transaction. They fall in love with a horse, sometimes by merely looking at it online, and purchase it sight unseen.

Most buyers and sellers jot a few words on paper about the exchange of money and consider that sufficient to change ownership. It may be for some, but protection in a dispute about ownership is better ensured with a detailed and thorough contract that you can easily find if needed.

If presenting a contract—or signing one already drawn up—seems beyond the needs of the average horse owner, consider how many horse buyers wait for registration papers that never arrive, take possession of an injured horse upon delivery, or discover their new performance horse has a periodic lameness issue related to a previous case of laminitis that the seller neglected to disclose.

Sometimes the seller insists on a “right of first refusal” (see below), yet the buyer sells the horse without informing the former owner. What is the recourse when a sale is made on a proverbial handshake deal?

If hiring an attorney to draw up the specifics of a sale seems like overkill, at least consider using one of the many online equine sales contracts that provide a good starting point for buyers and sellers. Specific details or modifications can be added by either party to strengthen its viability, should a dispute arise.

2. Boarding

Most boarding stable owners are careful enough to require signed documentation from boarders limiting the business’s risk of liability in the event of an accident involving a boarder or their horse. That document typically outlines the rules established by the stable for everything from turning off arena lights to requiring all one-day riders or those test-riding a horse for possible purchase to sign a legal liability waiver.

High-profile boarding stable owners don’t rely on loosely worded boarding contracts with one-size-fits-all contractual language, because they know the cost of an attorney is minuscule compared to a judgment against them in a personal injury lawsuit.

More casual horse boarding operations would be wise to follow suit. Non-paying boarders or those routinely late with payments often present a problem that ends up with the horse as the only bargaining chip. In these situations, frustrated stable owners sometimes overstep legal boundaries.

“Declaring the stable to be the owner of the horse and selling it without following the law or putting the horse in the stable’s lesson program may not be legal,” says Julie Fershtman, a national trial lawyer, legal consultant, and author of two award-winning editions of Equine Law and Horse Sense. Fershtman is widely considered one of the top equine attorneys in the U.S.

“Stable owners of all types and sizes should be aware of their state agister’s lien statutes that give them a security interest in the horse that allows them to enforce the lien after a specified period of time has passed and the stable has performed specific procedures,” she says.

Boarding contracts typically include the Equine Liability Law for the state, and stable owners are also required in many states to post signs in the most visible barn areas to remind everyone of the inherent risk associated with horse activities. Copies of equine activity liability releases (sometimes referred to as waivers) should be on-site, signed and dated by non-boarders.

Some horse owners mistakenly believe equine liability waivers are not successfully defended in court, when the reverse is true. Even so, an equine liability release does not guarantee the stable cannot be held liable for any accident. For instance, a lawsuit can be brought by a boarder who can prove the stable owner has been negligent by failing to perform reasonable measures to protect the safety of boarders and their horses.

“Many in the horse industry misunderstand equine activity liability laws, currently found in 48 states, and wrongly assume that these are ‘zero liability’ laws,” says Fershtman.

“That is not true. Although many of these laws limit the basis for a claim or lawsuit, they typically allow for the possibility of certain types of claims to be brought.”

Horse owners sometimes view boarding contracts as routine paperwork that protects the rights of the stable owner, yet these signed agreements are often relied upon by both parties when a dispute arises.

3. Leasing or Share Boarding

While an arrangement for leasing a horse can be a win-win for both parties, the best way to make sure everyone is on the same page is to write down the terms, fees and exclusions, and require each party to read and sign the contract. Without a written reminder, the lessee may believe her payments are for the purchase of the horse rather than its temporary use.

That’s merely one of many disagreements that can arise when time passes and memories fail. A written contract can include standard terms, such as duration of the lease, payment schedule, which days are assigned to each rider, and who is authorized to ride the horse.

More detailed contracts can define liability issues, who is responsible for veterinary and farrier care, and whether the lessee has the option to buy the horse during or at the end of the lease. The more specific the contract, the greater the chance of a positive outcome.

4. Trailering

When you own a horse trailer, you can count on someone eventually asking to borrow it, use it in an emergency, or asking you to transport a horse in your trailer for a fee.

In these situations, you need to be aware of what your insurance policy will or will not cover. Those who assume their homeowner’s policy or car insurance will pay an accident claim involving a horse trailer and someone else’s property can live to regret it.

For example, a policy may cover personal use of your truck and trailer, yet consider you a commercial entity if you were paid to transport someone else’s horse. Unfortunately, insurance companies look for holes in your policy that allow them to deny claims. This is why policy holders never want to hear their insurance agent say, “read the fine print” after something goes wrong.

5. Insurance

Commercial horse businesses generally carry extensive insurance because their liability is multiplied by buildings, equipment, employees, boarders and visitors. Always know what your insurance specifically covers before you need it.

Trainers and riding instructors should be especially careful since they are on the “front lines” with more hands-on responsibility for clients and horses. Many carry umbrella policies that cover general liability insurance plus added coverage for care, custody, and control of their clients’ horses. The facility where training and riding instruction is conducted does not typically carry coverage that indemnifies trainers and riding instructors.

Horse owners and those in the horse industry shouldn’t live in continual fear of being sued, but we do live in a litigious society. Covering all bases with solid, detailed contracts, hiring a lawyer to handle complicated but common legal issues, and buying insurance specific to your horse activities is the best way to protect your assets.

This article about common legal issues in the horse world appeared in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Common Legal Issues in the Horse World appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Our generally optimistic outlook on life with horses is not often eroded by a fear of being sued. Most of us never expect it from loved ones or horsey friends, yet this precise situation happens with some frequency.

A myriad of hazardous situations involving horses can result in a lawsuit, most too complicated to resolve without an experienced attorney. Yet we offer horseback rides to family members, casually board horses on our properties for extra income, and lend our trailers to friends.

The following should not constitute legal advice—always consult an attorney for that—but these five topics are designed to give you an idea of the prime areas of conflict that crop up in equine legal disputes and court cases.

1. Legality when Buying and Selling

Far too many horse buyers are more emotional than careful when buying a horse, and thus they are amazingly cavalier about documenting the transaction. They fall in love with a horse, sometimes by merely looking at it online, and purchase it sight unseen.

Most buyers and sellers jot a few words on paper about the exchange of money and consider that sufficient to change ownership. It may be for some, but protection in a dispute about ownership is better ensured with a detailed and thorough contract that you can easily find if needed.

If presenting a contract—or signing one already drawn up—seems beyond the needs of the average horse owner, consider how many horse buyers wait for registration papers that never arrive, take possession of an injured horse upon delivery, or discover their new performance horse has a periodic lameness issue related to a previous case of laminitis that the seller neglected to disclose. Those equine legal issues can be easily prevented with a proper contract.

Sometimes the seller insists on a “right of first refusal” (see sidebar, left), yet the buyer sells the horse without informing the former owner. What is the recourse when a sale is made on a proverbial handshake deal?

If hiring an attorney to draw up the specifics of a sale seems like overkill, at least consider using one of the many online equine sales contracts that provide a good starting point for buyers and sellers. Specific details or modifications can be added by either party to strengthen its viability, should a dispute arise.

2. Equine Legal Issues When Boarding

Most boarding stable owners are careful enough to require signed documentation from boarders limiting the business’s risk of liability in the event of an accident involving a boarder or their horse. That document typically outlines the rules established by the stable for everything from turning off arena lights to requiring all one-day riders or those test-riding a horse for possible purchase to sign a legal liability waiver.

High-profile boarding stable owners don’t rely on loosely worded boarding contracts with one-size-fits-all contractual language, because they know the cost of an attorney is minuscule compared to a judgement against them in a personal injury lawsuit.

More casual horse boarding operations would be wise to follow suit. Non-paying boarders or those routinely late with payments often present a problem that ends up with the horse as the only bargaining chip. In these situations, frustrated stable owners sometimes overstep legal boundaries.

“Declaring the stable to be the owner of the horse and selling it without following the law or putting the horse in the stable’s lesson program may not be legal,” says Julie Fershtman, a national trial lawyer, legal consultant, and author of two award-winning editions of Equine Law and Horse Sense. Fershtman is widely considered one of the top equine attorneys in the U.S.

“Stable owners of all types and sizes should be aware of their state agister’s lien statutes that give them a security interest in the horse that allows them to enforce the lien after a specified period of time has passed and the stable has performed specific procedures,” she says.

Boarding contracts typically include the Equine Liability Law for the state, and stable owners are also required in many states to post signs in the most visible barn areas to remind everyone of the inherent risk associated with horse activities. Copies of equine activity liability releases (sometimes referred to as waivers) should be on-site, signed and dated by non-boarders.

Some horse owners mistakenly believe equine liability waivers are not successfully defended in court, when the reverse is true. Even so, an equine liability release does not guarantee the stable cannot be held liable for any accident. For instance, equine legal issues may arise if a boarder can prove the stable owner has been negligent by failing to perform reasonable measures to protect the safety of boarders and their horses.

“Many in the horse industry misunderstand equine activity liability laws, currently found in 48 states, and wrongly assume that these are ‘zero liability’ laws,” says Fershtman.
“That is not true. Although many of these laws limit the basis for a claim or lawsuit, they typically allow for the possibility of certain types of claims to be brought.”

Horse owners sometimes view boarding contracts as routine paperwork that protects the rights of the stable owner, yet these signed agreements are often relied upon by both parties when a dispute arises.

3. Equine Legal Issues when Leasing

While an arrangement for leasing a horse can be a win-win for both parties, the best way to make sure everyone is on the same page is to write down the terms, fees and exclusions, and require each party to read and sign the contract. Without a written reminder, the lessee may believe her payments are for the purchase of the horse rather than its temporary use—and that’s a recipe for equine legal issues.

That’s merely one of many disagreements that can arise when time passes and memories fail. A written contract can include standard terms, such as duration of the lease, payment schedule, which days are assigned to each rider, and who is authorized to ride the horse.

More detailed contracts can define liability issues, who is responsible for veterinary and farrier care, and whether the lessee has the option to buy the horse during or at the end of the lease. The more specific the contract, the greater the chance of a positive outcome.

4. Equine Legal Issues when Trailering

When you own a horse trailer, you can count on someone eventually asking to borrow it, use it in an emergency, or asking you to transport a horse in your trailer for a fee. All of those situations can lead to potential equine legal issues, if you don’t take the right preventative steps.

First, you need to be aware of what your insurance policy will or will not cover. Those who assume their homeowner’s policy or car insurance will pay an accident claim involving a horse trailer and someone else’s property can live to regret it.

For example, a policy may cover personal use of your truck and trailer, yet consider you a commercial entity if you were paid to transport someone else’s horse. Unfortunately, insurance companies look for holes in your policy that allow them to deny claims. This is why policy holders never want to hear their insurance agent say, “read the fine print” after something goes wrong.

5. Equine Legal Insurance

Commercial horse businesses generally carry extensive insurance because their liability is multiplied by buildings, equipment, employees, boarders and visitors. Always know what your insurance specifically covers before you need it.

Trainers and riding instructors should be especially careful since they are on the “front lines” with more hands-on responsibility for clients and horses. Many carry umbrella policies that cover general liability insurance plus added coverage for care, custody, and control of their clients’ horses. The facility where training and riding instruction is conducted does not typically carry coverage that indemnifies trainers and riding instructors.

Horse owners and those in the horse industry shouldn’t live in continual fear of being sued, but we do live in a litigious society. Covering all bases with solid, detailed contracts, hiring a lawyer to handle complicated issues, and buying insurance specific to your horse activities is the best way to protect your assets.

The post Avoiding Equine Legal Issues appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

We’ve all got to-do lists, dirty dishes in our sinks, loads of laundry to do, unwashed cars, errands to run and groceries to get. Each and every one of us have 168 hours in a week to manage everything in our time-consuming lives. Our basic survival tasks alone can drain our time and energy banks, making life difficult. Add family drama and schedules, work commitments and stress, friends and relationship highs and lows, and the time time-challenged equestrians have left—if any—is ours to use in the most meaningful, efficient way possible.

Develop a Routine

As equestrians, we should know how to stay on top of things, but sometimes we find ourselves stranded at the mounting block with not enough time to ride. Our horses don’t understand why our time for them is inconsiderately interrupted or pushed aside.

Our bond with our horse is built on patience and trust and in providing proper care. We either nurture the bond with time and consistency or deplete its value with a lack of effort and rushed care-taking. Being pulled into different directions can weigh on riders.

To combat this, set up some time rules to follow once you finally make it to the barn. Developing a routine and sticking to it will help keep you in control. Then you can make fast work out of the most time-consuming tasks and avoid wasteful steps and distractions. Here are some tips for when you’re short on time.

◆ Be polite to Chatty Cathy barn buddies and explain you only have a short time to ride. Suggest a coffee date to catch up instead of spending precious barn time chatting.
◆ To keep the pace and not get stuck on certain jobs, set an alarm on your cell phone to indicate when you should be done grooming and tacking up.
◆ Keep all your tack and grooming supplies organized. Having spares of easily lost items like scissors, hoof picks and duct tape will cut down on time lost searching for items.
◆ Faithfully return items to their rightful place every time you use them.
◆ Clean your tack—but not after every single ride. A simple wipe-down will suffice until you have the time to properly clean it.
◆ Make sure to wet and clean your horse’s bit every time you use it. You’ll end up having to spend more time soaking and scrubbing dried and caked-on food particles than if you rinse right away.
◆ If it’s cool enough, put a sheet or blanket on your horse to help him stay cleaner and reduce grooming time. Make sure it fits well and all the leg straps and buckles are safely adjusted.
◆ Invest in the right tools needed for the job. A heavy metal pitchfork and plastic muck tub aren’t going to make stall cleaning easier or faster. Lightweight but sturdy manure forks and an oversized wheelbarrow are the best for this job.
◆ Only start a task if you have enough time to finish it completely. When cleaning a sheath, treating fungus or thrush, disinfecting a wound, or giving a bath, it’s best to give yourself ample time. Leaving jobs like this halfway finished isn’t the healthiest for your horse.

Beware of Skipping on Training

No horse lover wants to cut back on their time in the saddle riding and training their horse. Time constrictions usually force new techniques or skip significant steps with our horses and end up damaging the training process. It may feel like you’re getting ahead in the short term, but in reality you aren’t doing yourself or your horse any favors.

When you hit a wall and the learning stops, the time you thought you saved by rushing through some basic set-up steps will leave holes in your horse’s training, and you’ll have to go back and fill in those holes with the experience that was left out. You may need a professional trainer to step in, which can become very costly.

It’s better to actively teach your horse in 15-20 minutes (after warming up) than to drill on things for an hour. A shorter ride or exercise time makes it easier for your horse to stay engaged. Reviewing the basics in more time-condensed rides serves as a good reset and refreshes foundational skills. Save the introduction of any new skills for when you have more time and patience to start things off right.

Never end your ride frustrated or on the defensive. It will create negative experiences and reinforce bad habits for both you and your horse. It’s not important to win every single battle, and compromising can turn any training situation into a more neutral situation.

Focus on riding from a position of positive rewards to make sure you’re always making progress towards the final goal of becoming a happy, successful horse-and-rider team.

Time-Challenged Equestrians Get Help

When time is lacking, take advantage of quick barn visits and work smarter. You may need to stay flexible when it comes to your horse’s ever-changing needs. In spite of our best intentions, very few of us are able to handle everything that our horses need without help from others. It’s a huge relief to have someone you trust to be able to step in and give your horse attention and care when you can’t make it to the barn.

If you’re at a boarding facility, finding someone to lend a hand should be fairly easy and affordable. Barn employees, trainers and even capable older lesson students can ease your workload. Trading responsibilities and taking turns with chores and other barn duties with others can be the answer to time-related problems for your horse’s daily regimen.

If you’re at a boarding facility, finding someone to lend a hand should be fairly easy and affordable. Barn employees, trainers and even capable older lesson students can ease your workload.

How can you split up grooming, longeing, blanketing, and medical treatments? Put your heads together to create a barn calendar that covers everyone’s schedules, vacations and emergencies that seem to come up last minute.

Leasing Your Horse

If your daily routine is still a struggle and unmanageable, you may consider leasing out your horse. A simple contract can be drafted to set up guidelines for a full or partial lease, offering the shared privilege of riding and caring for your horse.

Leases can have time- and money-saving benefits for you, and in return you’re giving someone the experience of horse ownership, without all the risks. This is a win-win situation if all parties agree to the rules and terms of the lease. Every lease should come with a breakdown of responsibilities with clear expectations for everyone involved, including the price of the lease; bills from veterinarians, farriers and trainers; riding availability; off-site usage; and other liabilities.

Barn and horse time should always feel rewarding, and if you are one of the time-challenged equestrians and aren’t enjoying every dirty and dusty minute with your horse, then it may be time for you to take a step back and look at your priorities. Overworking ourselves, spreading ourselves too thin and pleasing other people needs to be replaced with delegating, asking for help, and putting things on the back burner until there is sufficient time.

Ryan Blair, an American author and entrepreneur once said, “If you want something bad enough, you will find a way; if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”

If your horse time is of the essence, you’ll find a way to make that time.

This article on time-challenged equestrians appeared in the January 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Time-Challenged Equestrians at the Barn appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Riding Lessons

For most urban and suburban riders, formal riding lessons are the most obvious choice when it comes to getting saddle time. Lessons go beyond the superficial experience of a pony ride or tourist trail excursion by teaching you the hows and whys of communicating with a horse under saddle. Typically, students ride once per week, but many instructors will allow you to take more lessons if you’re eager to progress, or fewer if you need to stretch your budget.

Some programs offer several different disciplines so that you can learn the basics before deciding which equestrian sport interests you most. But if you’ve already got a discipline in mind, look for a barn that specializes in your sport.

Pros:

While it’s possible to learn to ride without formal instruction, a qualified instructor will be able to guide you through the process and help you avoid newbie mistakes that could be dangerous to you or the horse you ride.

You’ll also have the opportunity to ride different lesson horses, and that will make you a more well-rounded, adaptable rider. As you get better, you’ll be able to move from the beginner horses to more advanced mounts so that you continue to improve your skills. Riding lessons aren’t just for beginners; even Olympic-level riders have coaches. Although many riders aspire to own a horse one day, you could spend your entire career from beginner to advanced riding school horses without ever really missing out.

Once you’ve learned the basics in a one-on-one setting, group lessons are a fun way to get to know other riders. You can learn by watching one another, and riding classmates may ask questions you didn’t even know you had. If your barn participates in schooling shows, having your fellow riders around can add a feeling of camaraderie to what is usually a solo sport.

From a practical standpoint, lessons are the ideal option for horse lovers who are on a budget. The costs are much lower than those required to own or lease a horse, and they’re consistent. You’ll pay the same from week to week with no surprise vet expenses to worry about. And if your lesson horse has to take a break due to injury or illness, your instructor will have another horse for you to ride. Making the commitment to ride once a week is more realistic than going out to the barn to tend to your own horse every day. If you have a busy work schedule or home life, or have other hobbies that you don’t want to give up, a weekly riding lesson offers horse time without much sacrifice.

Cons:

Typically, your time with a lesson horse will be spent grooming, tacking up, riding and untacking. While this is enough to improve your riding skills, you rarely get the opportunity to spend leisurely time with your equine friend because he’s got other students to attend to. When you arrive at the barn for your lesson, you will be expected to adhere to whatever your instructor has planned; you can’t decide to skip your schooling time in favor of a gallop across the fields on a whim.

As a riding lesson student, you also have to be selective in your choice of an instructor. In every state in the U.S. except for Massachusetts, there is no certification process for riding instructors, which means anyone can advertise themselves as a qualified trainer. It’s up to you to do some research to make sure the one you choose will be able to help you reach your goals, even if those goals are just to have fun with horses. Ask for recommendations from other equestrians, and call to see if you can observe a few lessons before signing up.

A great instructor can make your entrance into the horse world a joyous one, but a bad one can sour you on the entire equestrian experience. In order to make the most of your time as a riding student, you’ll need the courage to graciously move on if you find that you’re incompatible with your instructor.

To find a certified instructor, try the Certified Horsemanship Association or American Riding Instructors Association, or your particular breed or sport’s association; the American Quarter Horse Association, United States Hunter Jumper Association, United States Eventing Association, and United States Dressage Federation all certify instructors.

Leasing a Horse

Lease arrangements provide an experience similar to horse ownership without the initial cost or lifelong obligation. Typically, the lessee will be responsible for all or most of the horse’s routine expenses, such as board and farrier bills, in exchange for the ability to ride as much as they want. In a partial lease, the lessee covers part of the regular expenses in exchange for the opportunity to ride a few days a week. Some lesson programs will offer partial leases of lesson horses for students.

Pros:

Leasing is truly a best-of-both-worlds situation for riders who have graduated from basic horsemanship and riding lessons. You have the chance to ride more frequently and in an unstructured environment. You get more time to bond with a horse, and you may be able to take him to shows or other events. A full or partial lease provides the opportunity to experience horse ownership without committing to it until you’re sure you are able to devote the time, energy and money required.

If you find that you’re not able to get out to the barn as much as you thought you would when you signed up for a lease, you can back out (often with a pre-determined notice period). You don’t have to worry about financially supporting the horse and going through the process of finding him a more suitable home because he already has an owner.

Cons:

Most of the potential pitfalls in leasing are the result of poor communication or mismatched expectations between lessor and lessee. It’s imperative to make the lease terms clear, put them in writing and have both parties sign and keep a copy. As the lessee, are you allowed to ride as much as you want, or is there a limit? Can you transport the horse off the property? Who will be responsible for the vet bills if he injures himself in the pasture? What if he injures himself while you’re riding him? Make sure all of this is in the lease agreement.

Although leasing offers a close approximation of the horse-ownership experience, there are limits. You may not be able to take the horse to an out-of-state show or an overnight camping trip. If you want to move him to a different boarding stable, you’ll have to sell the horse’s owner on the idea. In the case of a lesson-horse lease, you may have to schedule your time around your mount’s lesson obligations.

Horse Ownership

Having a horse of your own seems like the ultimate goal when you begin your riding career. The concept is simple: You find a horse to buy or adopt, sign a purchase contract, write a big check, and then live happily ever after with your new equine best friend. At least, that’s the plan.

Pros:

You don’t need to own a horse to develop a deep bond, but it certainly helps. You’ll be the one who spends the most time with him, both in and out of the saddle. You’ll get to know your horse in a way other arrangements don’t always permit. When ownership is at its best, there’s nothing like it.

With your own horse, you have complete freedom of choice when it comes to his care and keeping. Want to move to a new barn, follow the regional show circuit all summer, or dye his mane and tail blue in honor of your favorite sports team? You get to make those decisions. And while a horse’s owner may terminate a lease agreement for any reason and your instructor could move you off your favorite lesson horse or sell him out of the barn, your horse is yours. You are together for life if you choose to be.

Cons:

All of the pros listed above are dependent on your ability to afford them, and that’s the big roadblock to horse ownership for many would-be owners. The initial purchase price doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find horses for free if you look for them, although the wider your price range, the more likely you are to find a horse that suits your needs. Regardless of what you pay to bring your new horse home, the real financial question is whether you are equipped to handle the commitment you’ve just made. As a horse owner, you’re on the hook for board, feed, farrier and vet bills, and more. Unlike a lease situation, you can’t back out when money gets tight. Even if you make the decision to sell your horse, he might remain on the market for months or even years, and he’s on your payroll during that time.

By the same token, you may find that your equestrian interests change or your abilities as a rider improve and the horse you’ve purchased no longer meets your needs. For example, you may have started out thinking the show-ring was your destiny but later discovered that trail riding was your true passion. If your horse proves to be unsuitable for your new activity, are you willing to pay his costs until you can match him up with a new rider?

In addition to financial resources, horses consume a lot of time. Between work, family and other activities, it can be a challenge to find adequate time to devote to your horse. As an owner, there isn’t automatically someone else in your horse’s life to pick up the slack when you simply can’t spend a lot of time at the barn.

There are a variety of ways to bring horses into your life. Take an honest assessment of your riding skills, finances and schedule, and you’ll find the right arrangement for you.

This article originally appeared in the 2015 edition of Your New Horse

The post Riding Lessons, Leasing or Owning a Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Horses are leased for a variety of purposes.  One owner may lease a trail horse of “nominal” monetary value to a friend, while another may lease a valuable Grand Prix Jumper prospect to a junior or amateur rider wanting to enter the international arena of show jumping. Yet another person may lease an Arabian western pleasure horse for both the exposure of the horses’ bloodlines at the Arabian shows in hopes of selling offspring of that sire and for the exposure of the horse in increasing its value for sale purposes.

The reasons run the gamut, as do the ranges in values of the horse, from a $1000 trail horse to a $250,000 Grand Prix prospect to millions of dollars in investments in both a horse and potential sales of siblings of that horse.  The scope of a lease and the relationship between the parties may take that into consideration, but the “guts” of a lease should always be present and in writing.

As a general rule, the days of a handshake or a one-page lease that says “A” leases to “B” a horse named “XYZ” should be over.  Unfortunately for many, those practices still exist.  While the equine industry has become more sophisticated in recent years, the old ways die hard.  An insufficient lease may lead to expensive litigation if a problem arises.  So, you may want to spend a little money on an attorney at the outset, rather than face expensive litigation.

Make sure that you have a written lease that covers all bases.  Your horse is a financial and emotional asset.  Many form leases or leases that are thrown together by the parties so that the lessee can take or keep possession quickly fail to take into account matters that you may take for granted.  As a horse owner, take nothing for granted.

Consider the following:

• Who is the lessee?  Make sure it is not a minor who does not have the legal capacity to sign a contract.  Are you in “community property” state?  If so, then you need to take into account the marital status of the lessee and whether you are able to reach community assets if necessary.
• What is the term – the length of time – for the lease?  Can the lease be renewed; if so, how?
• Is there an option to purchase the horse?
• How much is the lease and how often is it to be paid?  Should the lease be paid by check or by wire transfer?  If lesee has an option to purchase, does all or some of the paid lease apply to the purchase price?
• Show sufficient identification for the horse:  breed, registry, height, color, sex, registration numbers and name.  If the horse is a stallion or mare, can the lessee use it for breeding?  What are the stipulations?  Will you have a separate breeding contract?
• Get the home address and emergency contact numbers for the lessee.
• Get the name and address of the facility where the horse will be kept, along with the name, address and phone number of the trainer (and, in some cases, the barn manager).
• If your horse is insured, consult with your insurance agent before the lease is signed and before the horse is transferred.  Your agent will need information on the lessee and the horse facility.  Also determine who is going to pay the premium for the insurance.  Will the lessee pay during the term?  If so, have the lessee pay you as owner up front, then you can pay the insurance premium.
• The lessee should be responsible for “routine” maintenance (veterinarian, ferrier.) As owner, you may want to set a schedule or speak with the trainer about the schedule.  Discuss what is considered “routine” for that particular horse.  Determine who is responsible and who makes decisions regarding serious illness of or injury to the horse.  Do you as owner want the right to approve the vet or farrier?
• Make sure that the facility is well-maintained and that your horse will get the kind of care and board it deserves.  Determine how often the horse is fed and what it is fed, and outline any special needs the horse may have.
• Who is authorized to ride the horse – just the lessee or the lessee’s family, the trainer and the trainers’ assistants?  Who is authorized to show the horse?
• Lessee should be responsible for all horse show expenses and for appropriate hauling to and from the shows, unless agreed otherwise.
• What types of shows can the horse go to; in what disciplines and at what levels?  You may negotiate this again during the lease term as the horse progresses (or regresses).
• Make sure you have adequate release and indemnity language.
• Will you require liability insurance?
• What happens if the lessee defaults under the lease?  What are your remedies as owner?
• Set up a procedure for notices to each other and the trainer.
• What state law governs the lease?  What venue and jurisdiction?

The above list of considerations is not exhaustive, but should get you as an owner thinking of all of the possibilities – the combinations and permutations of what can happen when you let go of possession of your horse. 

Your horse, regardless of discipline or breed, is important to you, your family, and, perhaps, your business.  Make sure that through a well crafted lease you give your horse the consideration needed for its comfort, health and training and that you give yourself and your family or business the consideration you need for your protection and financial and emotional well-being.

Read more on leasing a horse >>

Sharon Oscar is the Equine Law Practice chair for Fennemore Craig, Arizona’s oldest and second largest law firm. She handles a variety of equine-related contracts, including training and management contracts, releases and indemnities, horse show-related contracts, the sale and leasing of horses, as well as the sale, acquisition and leasing of horse properties. www.fennemorecraig.com .

The post Leasing Your Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

First off, you have to know where to look to find a horse to lease! Check your local papers. There are ads (especially on Sundays) in the livestock section that will say if anyone has horses for lease. If there is a phone number listed, have your parents call and ask details about the horse or pony. Be sure that you discuss potential ponies with your trainer as well. She may be able to rule out some ponies without you even having to see them-a big timesaver for your parents!

You can also look in your local tackshops. There is usually a board with people’s business cards and horses for sale/lease somewhere in the shop. Also, ask your trainer if she know of any ponies for lease. Most likely, she knows a lot of people and can start asking around. Finally, tell your friends! Once you get the word out that you are looking for a horse, people will start calling you with potential ponies.

When leasing a horse, you need to keep in mind some of the same things you would if you were buying a horse. When you go to ride the pony for the first time, make sure that your trainer or another knowledgeable horse person is with you.  Ask to see the owner ride him first so you can see how the pony is for her. Be honest about your riding ability. If the horse you are looking at is an off-the-track Thoroughbred and you have only ridden a school pony, realize that this horse may not be the one for you. There are plenty of horses out there; you don’t have to love the first one you see!

Make sure that the horse you are looking to lease is schooled in the areas you want to ride. You don’t need a show-quality hunter if you only want to trail ride. Alternately, you’re not looking for a horse trained only to barrel race if you want her to be a dressage horse. Try to ride the horse you want to lease more than once. You want a real idea of how the horse acts before you decide you want to lease him!

Realize that you, and your parents, will be responsible for the pony. You will have to feed him, provide his vet care, pay for his worming, shots and shoes or trims. If the horse gets hurt, it will most likely be up to you to pay for his medical needs. Understand that this can be a large expense. Ask the owner for an average of how much this will cost a month. Then you’ll have a better idea of whether or not you and your parents can afford it.

You might be able to half lease a horse at a barn, maybe even from your trainer. In a half-lease, you may be responsible for only a portion of the pony’s care. The tradeoff is that you may only be able to ride on certain days of the week. The pony would have lessons or be ridden by his owner on the other days. Some leases, especially from training barns, require that you take lessons, which may be an additional expense. Make sure you ask before agreeing to a lease.

Both you and your parents need to sign a formal lease agreement if you decide to lease the pony. A handshake is not enough! The lease needs to answer certain questions, such as:

Leasing a horse is a great way to try horse ownership without all the responsibility. It is a true test to see if you have the time and dedication to own one all by yourself. If you can prove to your parents that you have the determination, you’ll be one step closer to convincing them you’re ready to own a horse all your own!

The post Leasing a Horse or Pony appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.