Horse ownership

For amateur equestrian riders that have begun to devote more time to the sport, the limitations of using lesson horses are all too clear. Your lesson horse might be carting day riders along the trails when you want to practice your lead-change in the ring. And even if your mount is available, he might not understand your lead-change request. Lesson horses are usually trained in the basic gaits, and attempts to practice your advanced skills might leave him befuddled, and you frustrated. Unless you are content to have reached your riding plateau, horse ownership might be an option to consider. But variations on ownership exist, the two most popular being leasing and full ownership. In order to choose the option that is best, riders must first understand the extent of their commitment.

Full ownership should never be undertaken until the rider understands the awesome responsibility involved. For country dwellers, owning a horse probably means boarding it in your backyard pasture. As the new landlord to your four-legged friend, you’ll be required to feed, water and exercise your mount on a regular basis. Run-in sheds and barn stalls must be kept spotless. Arrangements must be made for regular vet visits, and the farrier will need to stop by to replace damaged shoes. Your new horse will require a lot of attention, and if you are not too exhausted after a week’s worth of barn work, you’ll be rewarded with a nice romp through the countryside. If you are remiss in your duties, however, your horse will not be mountable for that Sunday afternoon hack.

City-bound horse owners will be required to board their horse at a local barn. Arrangements can be made with the barn to feed and shoe your mount on a regular basis. But when stable staff take on these basic duties, expect to pay dearly for the service. Veterinarian visits are still considered the responsibility of the owner, as are those regular grooming and exercise sessions. Most barns will not put a private horse in the ring for a little exercise anymore than the valet will take your car for a spin. Your horse is your property and your responsibility. Although that responsibility is time-consuming, you’ll be rewarded with unrestricted access to a well-trained horse, and the opportunity to bond with your newest family member.

If daily duties at the barn or pasture don’t suit your lifestyle, another option is to lease a horse. In exchange for a monthly (and perhaps hefty) fee, you will have near-exclusive rights to a particular mount. Just how exclusive will depend on the contract with the owner, but most lease arrangements reserve the horse for the leasee’s use, although activities such as cross-country trail riding might be prohibited for insurance reasons. Leasing appeals to the avid horse rider that wants a more advanced mount, but does not necessarily want to devote the time to its upkeep. A rider can literally arrive three or four times a week to ride, leaving the feeding, shoeing, and vetting to the owner. Furthermore, if you find that you’ll be on business or vacation for a few weeks, all you need to do is inform the owner who will be more than happy to keep up with the horse’s regular exercise for no extra fee. The leased horse is not yours, however, and the bonds of ownership are hard to duplicate, knowing that you’ll have to return the horse to its owner when the contract expires.