Has a trainer or friend recently suggested that you lease a horse? Leasing a horse can be a great opportunity for many reasons. Here are the top five reasons why you might want to consider leasing a horse.
An Affordable Option
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Leasing a horse is generally more affordable than owning a horse. When you lease a horse, you typically choose between a half or a full lease. Depending on how the lease contract is written, the horse's owner may contribute toward costs like veterinary and farrier bills. This may make horseback riding accessible to people who otherwise couldn't afford a horse.
Scheduling Flexibility
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One great part of leasing is that you often have scheduling flexibility. If you half-lease a horse, you'll only be responsible for a few rides per week. This means that you'll have plenty of time to keep up with schoolwork, jobs, and other duties that might make owning a horse outright a challenge.
A Regular Mount
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Leasing a horse means that you'll be able to ride that same horse multiple times each week. This can be very beneficial, especially if you're working towards a goal, like a successful horse show season. When you ride the same horse, you'll get to know the horse's quirks, and you'll also learn how to best communicate and work with that horse. You may find that you become a more confident rider, and that you enjoy riding even more when you focus your work on a single horse.
Trial for Horse Ownership
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Many trainers advise their clients to lease a horse before taking the step of buying a horse of their own. When you lease a horse, you can get an idea of the financial and time responsibilities involved in owning a horse. You may decide that horse ownership is for you, or you may find that leasing a horse is enough and that you don't want to take that big step into actually owning a horse.
Temporary Situation
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One benefit of leasing a horse is that the situation is temporary. If you outgrow the horse, the horse becomes injured, or you and the horse aren't a great match, you can usually end the lease with little trouble. This is a much easier option than you would have if you owned the horse outright and had to deal with selling the horse.
Leases can be great situations for all involved, but make sure that you carefully read and understand the lease contract before you sign it.
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