Buying vs. Leasing a Horse
Here I will share some of my thoughts on buying vs. leasing a horse for hunter jumper riding. I have owned and leased horses multiple times and there are advantages and disadvantages to both setups. Let's discuss!
Buying a Horse
When it comes to buying vs leasing a horse, most people end up buying. The advantage of buying is that you have total control over the horse and what you decide to do with him. If you ever need to recoup some or all of your investment into the horse, you can sell him again. Of course, purchasing a good hunter jumper horse to suit your needs often costs anywhere from $7000 to $100,000. You will also be responsible for the horse's board, care and all expenses. How to buy a suitable horse and what you realistically need to pay for such a horse is another very involved issue. It is standard in the industry to pay either a flat fee or 10% of the price of the horse you purchase to a professional trainer for assistance in choosing a suitable horse. Unless you are a very experienced horse person, it is extremely important to seek professional help in finding a horse that is right for you. Buying a horse is a huge commitment and it is worth it to pay a fee upfront to reduce the risk of purchasing an unsuitable horse.
Leasing a Horse
When it comes to buying vs leasing a horse, leasing is a much ignored option. There are two basic types of lease, the partial and the full. Full leases are common in the show community with valuable horses that an owner may not wish to sell. Typically the leaser would pay a percent of the horse's value to the owner (as high as 30%)in exchange for using the horse for a period of time, usually a year. In addition to paying the owner, the leaser is usually responsible for all of the horse's expenses during the lease period and can typically keep the horse at a barn of their choosing (not the owner's barn). Financially full leases can be more expensive than owning since costs cannot be recouped through sale of the horse. The leaser does assume less risk because if something happens to the horse t ultimately impacts the owner. This type of lease can give the leaser access to excellent horses that she may not otherwise have the means to purchase.
Full leases are sometimes done as free leases. This is where the leaser assumes all expenses for the horse in exchange for use of the horse during the lease period. Some owners do this if they do not want to sell the horse but are notusign the horse themselves and wish to defray expenses.
The final type of lease is the partial or half lease. This is a great option for riders who do not have the time or money to own a horse. In this situation, a second rider shares riding time with the owner in in exchange for paying half or part of the horse's expenses. Some riders do this for long periods of time, but it also might be a good way to determine if you are ready to own a horse.
How to Find a Lease
Leasing a suitable horse can be more difficult than buying one because horses for lease are not usually as well advertised as horses for sale. A good place to start is to let your trainer know you are interested in leasing and to find out if they know of any available horses. If you don't have a trainer you can call local barns to inquire with the trainers there. They can put the feelers out with their student to see who may be interested. Some websites advertise horses for lease (below) but again, lease horses aren't as heavily advertised as sale horses. Word of mouth is the surest way to look for a lease. http://www.bigeq.com/ http://www.dreamhorse.com/ http://www.equine.com/
Buying a Horse
When it comes to buying vs leasing a horse, most people end up buying. The advantage of buying is that you have total control over the horse and what you decide to do with him. If you ever need to recoup some or all of your investment into the horse, you can sell him again. Of course, purchasing a good hunter jumper horse to suit your needs often costs anywhere from $7000 to $100,000. You will also be responsible for the horse's board, care and all expenses. How to buy a suitable horse and what you realistically need to pay for such a horse is another very involved issue. It is standard in the industry to pay either a flat fee or 10% of the price of the horse you purchase to a professional trainer for assistance in choosing a suitable horse. Unless you are a very experienced horse person, it is extremely important to seek professional help in finding a horse that is right for you. Buying a horse is a huge commitment and it is worth it to pay a fee upfront to reduce the risk of purchasing an unsuitable horse.
Leasing a Horse
When it comes to buying vs leasing a horse, leasing is a much ignored option. There are two basic types of lease, the partial and the full. Full leases are common in the show community with valuable horses that an owner may not wish to sell. Typically the leaser would pay a percent of the horse's value to the owner (as high as 30%)in exchange for using the horse for a period of time, usually a year. In addition to paying the owner, the leaser is usually responsible for all of the horse's expenses during the lease period and can typically keep the horse at a barn of their choosing (not the owner's barn). Financially full leases can be more expensive than owning since costs cannot be recouped through sale of the horse. The leaser does assume less risk because if something happens to the horse t ultimately impacts the owner. This type of lease can give the leaser access to excellent horses that she may not otherwise have the means to purchase.
Full leases are sometimes done as free leases. This is where the leaser assumes all expenses for the horse in exchange for use of the horse during the lease period. Some owners do this if they do not want to sell the horse but are notusign the horse themselves and wish to defray expenses.
The final type of lease is the partial or half lease. This is a great option for riders who do not have the time or money to own a horse. In this situation, a second rider shares riding time with the owner in in exchange for paying half or part of the horse's expenses. Some riders do this for long periods of time, but it also might be a good way to determine if you are ready to own a horse.
How to Find a Lease
Leasing a suitable horse can be more difficult than buying one because horses for lease are not usually as well advertised as horses for sale. A good place to start is to let your trainer know you are interested in leasing and to find out if they know of any available horses. If you don't have a trainer you can call local barns to inquire with the trainers there. They can put the feelers out with their student to see who may be interested. Some websites advertise horses for lease (below) but again, lease horses aren't as heavily advertised as sale horses. Word of mouth is the surest way to look for a lease. http://www.bigeq.com/ http://www.dreamhorse.com/ http://www.equine.com/
