Is it right for your family?
That’s right, for your FAMILY…not just the child who rides! It takes commitment from drivers and budgets to get more time at the barn. However, leasing a horse is a smart decision compared to buying a horse.
Why Lease a Horse?
We are constantly learning from the horses when we are around them. If your goals include higher levels of understanding, improved riding skills, or competing, leasing a horse can be a great investment.
Leasing or owning a horse gives a rider more options of activities to participate in such as clinics, shows and other off-site adventures. Blue Moon will host 2 “in-house” competitions or horse shows as well as multiple group workshop days throughout the year. Everyone will be welcome to participate in these events. However, only riders who ride at least 3 days per week through lessons, leasing or owning a horse may participate with Blue Moon in local shows, clinics, 4-H competitions and larger shows.
Owning a horse is a huge commitment of time and money. We think it’s smart to lease a horse before you buy to make sure that you’re ready for that commitment. Some families will never own a horse and will only lease…and that’s okay!! Leasing allows you to try the horsey lifestyle to see if it fits:
- Leasing is a short-term commitment (usually 3 to 12 months at a time).
- Leasing is far less expensive than owning a horse.
- You can ease into the demands of a horsekeeping schedule.
- You can learn on-the-job if you enroll in our Working Student Program.
- Leasing allows parents to evaluate a child’s commitment to riding and horse care.
- Ending a lease is easier and much less traumatic than having to sell a horse that you no longer want.
Who is eligible to lease?
Our students always have the first option when we have a horse available to lease — but it really comes down to finding the right person for that horse. It’s important to match the personalities of the horse and lessor. We also look for riders with training and experience that are appropriate for the horse’s training and experience.
Horses are complex and needy animals, so we only lease our horses to people with the maturity to be responsible and safe, the ability to handle the physical work around the barn, and the willingness to learn. Keeping horses is a never-ending learning experience! You must be able to demonstrate Beginner Level Horse Management skills and knowledge (or above) to be eligible for a Blue Moon lease.
Parents who lease a horse for their child must also be active participants in helping their child learn and perform horsekeeping chores — leasing is not a drop-off activity! We are unable to supervise your child on her lease days, and expect parents to monitor the child’s activities. As always, no one under the age of 18 is allowed to ride alone.
How much does it cost to lease a Blue Moon horse?
QUARTER LEASE: You pay one low monthly lease fee — and we pay all stabling costs, including feed, hay, shavings, veterinary and farrier care. We usually require a 3-month minimum lease period, which includes a 30-day trial. Most — but not all — of the horses we offer for lease are school horses here at Blue Moon, which means that they’re only available for quarter and half leases. A quarter-lease for $80 per month gives you a horse of your own one day each week, including preferred use of that horse for your riding lessons, camps and clinics. You must still take your regular riding lessons during your lease period, and riding times may be specified as daytime or evening. (To be eligible for off-site competitions you must ride 3 times per week or more, which means you will need to take 2 lessons per week with a quarter lease).
HALF LEASE: For $200 per month you have a horse of your own three days each week, including preferred use of that horse for your riding lessons, camps and clinics. You must still take your regular riding lessons during your lease period, and riding times may be specified as daytime or evening.
FULL LEASE: For $400 per month, you will have full, exclusive use of the horse. Full-leases require that you also pay to the costs of routine farrier and health care, which will vary according to the horse’s needs.
How a typical horse lease works:
Our lease options allow you to spend additional days with your favorite school horse. On lease days, you may groom, do ground training, ride your horse, and just hang out and love on them.
If you’re interested in leasing one of our horses, you should be prepared to pitch in and help with barn chores — that means helping to feed, clean stalls one day a week, and to help keep the place clean and safe. Students must agree to all riding and horse care expectations, and be actively working to expand their unmounted knowledge. We maintain high standards for horse care, and we’ll be happy to teach you; if you have no previous horse care experience, however, we’ll require you to complete our Beginner Level Horse Management or above. You can schedule your work days with Stacy.
To keep you and our horses safe and happy, some restrictions may apply depending upon your level of experience. (For example, we may not let you jump until we’ve taught you to do so safely). Also, by necessity, the additional day(s) of riding must be scheduled with Stacy, when the horse is not already scheduled to work!
In the event that a leased horse becomes lame or otherwise unfit for work, we will provide a substitute ride if possible, but please remember that we cannot guarantee make-up lease days if you skip a day due to inclement weather, holidays or other scheduling conflicts.
The first step, of course, is to contact us to discuss options.
