If you live in a town, county, or city where people make use of horses for different purposes, then you may want to consider reading this article. There are different reasons why people would want to make use of horses, and one of the ways to get to use a horse as you so wish is to either own one or lease one.
Horses are used as a means of transportation, riding for fun and entertainment, farming or transporting farming goods, and some people even keep horses as pets and for companionship. In this article, we will be looking at the whole concept of leasing a horse or rather how horse leasing work.
How Does Leasing a Horse Work?
Horse leasing, like any other leasing business model, is all about paying a specific fee to the owner of a horse in a bid to have unrestricted access to the horse for the period of time the lease agreement covers. It could be for some days or a month or even longer.
Some horse lease agreements could be either full lease agreements, half lease agreements, or even free lease agreements.
1. Full Horse Lease Agreement
A full horse lease agreement is a lease agreement that gives the person leasing the horse full ownership and responsibility within the period of the lease agreement.
Under a full horse lease agreement, the person leasing the horse will pay the full fee of the lease agreement and still ensure that the horse is properly taken care of within the period the horse is with him or her. It is advisable to enter into a full horse lease agreement if you know how to take care of a horse.
2. Half Horse Lease Agreement
Under half horse lease agreement, the person leasing the horse may be required to pay a certain fee which is usually less than what he or she is expected to pay under a full-horse lease agreement.
Under half horse lease agreement, the person leasing the horse may not have unrestricted access to the horse and together with the owner of the horse, they will be sharing the responsibility of taking care of the horse within the period of the lease agreement. This type of lease agreement is ideal for someone who is not experienced with taking care of horses.
3. Free Horse Lease Agreement
As the name implies, a free lease agreement is a lease agreement in which the person leasing the horse will not be required to pay any fee for having unrestricted access to the horse within a certain period as covered in the lease agreement.
The reason why horse owners allow free horse lease agreements is to look for someone who can take care of their horse while they are away or when the horse is idle. Under a free horse lease agreement, the person leasing the horse is responsible for taking care of the horse within the period the lease agreement covers.
Questions to Ask When Leasing a Horse
If you are interested in leasing a horse, it is important that you conduct your due diligence before leasing a horse. Doing so will ensure your safety and of course the safety of the horse you want to lease hence you should be able to ask some questions before going ahead to lease the horse.
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What Does the Lease Agreement Cover
Before going ahead to lease a horse, one of the first questions you should consider asking is to know what the horse lease agreement covers. Trust me, a lease agreement may put some responsibility on you that you do not bargain for. You may want to know if there are any accidents with the horse what will be your responsibility?
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How Often Does the Horse Eat and What is the Horse’s Favorite Food?
Trust me, there are horses that eat far more than normal, and if you are leasing a horse, you are responsible for feeding the horse throughout the period that the lease agreement covers. So, asking to know how often the horse eats and the favorite food of the horse will help you prepare. Remember aside from pasture grass and hay, horses also eat grains and concentrate mixes et al.
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Is the Horse Friendly or Aggressive?
Another question you may want to ask if you are planning to lease a horse is to know if the horse is friendly or aggressive. As simple as this question is, it will determine whether you will enjoy your horse lease agreement or not.
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Is the Horse Currently on Any Medication?
You may also want to know if the horse is currently on any medication and if there will be a need to take the horse to see a vet doctor within the period it will be under your care. This will save you from over-laboring a horse that is not fully fit.
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When Last Was the Horse Leased and For How Long?
Lastly, in order to determine how fit the horse is and if the horse will be able to perform, you should ask when was the last time the horse was leased and for how long was it leased. If the horse has not been leased recently, you may want to probe further to know the daily routine of the horse. This is important because leasing an inactive horse may not be what you want to do.
Pros and Cons of Leasing a Horse
Pros of Leasing a Horse
One of the major advantages of leasing a horse is that it will give you the opportunity of learning how to own a horse. This is so because when you lease a horse, it will give you unrestricted access to the horse. You will be responsible for feeding, bathing, and taking care of the horse within the period of the lease agreement.
So, if you are looking to buy a horse and you are not sure of what to expect, then you may want to try leasing a horse first before making your decision whether to buy a horse or not.
Another advantage of leasing a horse is that it gives you the opportunity of using a horse for a period of time without full ownership of the horse. This is so because leasing a horse is different from owning a horse, you will be free from some responsibility even within the lease period. You won’t have to bother with what happens next when you are done with the horse.
Cons of Leasing a Horse
One of the major disadvantages of leasing a horse is that you might not get what you bargained for. For example, if you didn’t conduct your due diligence before leasing a horse, you might be left with an uncooperative and unfriendly horse that might frustrate your plans or the reasons why you leased the horse in the first place.
That is why it is important to ask the right questions and perhaps go on a test ride with a horse before signing the lease agreement.
Another disadvantage of leasing a horse is that you might pay more than you bargained for. For example, if after leasing a horse and the horse falls sick within the period that you leased it, you will be responsible for treating the horse and paying its medical bills.
Some horses are under health insurance though, and you may be free from such a burden if that is the case with the horse you leased.
In conclusion,
Leasing a horse is just the way to go for horse owners who may want to make extra income or for horse owners who are not always around to give their horses the needed attention and care. So also, leasing a horse is a good way to understand how to take care of horses for those who intend to someday own a horse of their own.