Leasing A Horse

Leasing A HorseSo we have all heard of leasing a car, leasing kitchen supplies, office supplies, but who knew we could lease a horse? Leasing a horse is a great way to save money and still enjoy your passion for horses. Leasing can be confusing, but there are a few rules to be followed when creating a contract that can make leasing easy and rewarding. When drawing up a contract it is important to consider the following: Shoeing – Is the owner or lessee responsible for payment? Veterinary Care – The contract should specify all vets authorized to care for the horse, including dental, lameness, general care, homeopathic care, and several vets for emergencies. Supplements – The contract should outline what supplements the horse is supposed to be on and specify a check-in every three months with the designated vet in case something changes. Body Work – Especially for performance horses, frequency and designated practitioners for equine massage and chiropractic care should be specified in the contract. Equipment – The contract should list what equipment is provided and stipulate the type of tack and equipment to be used on the horse. Injury – Each party’s responsibilities in case of injury should be specified. The lessee should not be expected to spend a bunch of money right off the bat on dental and various other veterinary costs; it’s the owner’s job to have the horse in good shape prior to beginning the lease. On the other hand, the owner should not be expected to pay for rehabilitation necessitated by lessee negligence. Termination – Typical leases may include a termination clause requiring 30-day notice on either side, or possibly some additional responsibilities in case of termination. Work – The type of work the horse is allowed to do should be clear. Housing and Transport – For horses housed on the owner’s property, conditions under which the horses are allowed to leave and what is required when they do should be specified. Training – The owner may specify a trainer or list of approved trainers for the horse. Riders – Often, only specific riders are allowed on a leased horse. If a family is leasing a horse, each family member who is allowed on the horse should be listed. The contract will likely state that no one except the person or people listed is allowed to ride the horse outside of a lesson environment. Liability – If the contract has a “hold harmless” clause, make sure it is clearly defined.
With these few guidelines, you can set up a contract and get that horse you have been dreaming of! Remember to be firm with your requests and this will be the best lease you could ever have.

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