Is it better to own or share a lease on a horse for my daughter who is just still schooling in dressage?

Question

We don't have lots of money but my daughter is a natural what are my choices to give her the best schooling experience?

Answer 1

Well, to begin with you can just start her out schooling her on various other horses with some lessons, or if she really wants you can always buy a horse and she can sort of self-teach with an occasional teacher. If you have an available teacher, though, I'd suggest getting the lessons on teaching her how to go through the levels with a horse. You should be able to find a decently talented horse for a free-lease, just find a trainer and talk to them about her getting lessons.

I'd definately consider getting her a horse after she's discoverd whether this is really what she wants to do. I got an old horse when I was 7 and taught myself, then I began to progress by buying problem horses (300 dollar horses lol) and riding them up to dressage levels, now however I finally (After 10 years of riding) have a horse that can do grand prix, she isn't trained however, but it'll be no problem for us to get there in 3-5 years. As soon as I get past her crazy issues and fears, she'll work fine.

Basically, if you have the resources train her through schooling horses (do NOT buy a school master right off because she'll only learn how to push buttons, not how to train or recorrect horses) however, when she does get more advanced, buying a school master so she can graduate from, lets say, 4th level to grand prix isn't a bad idea. So she could get the young rider scores, assuming she wants to show.

Good luck, if you need any more help feel free to email me at [e-mail] I know how hard it is to start sometimes, especially without help. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

Leasing is a good option especially if the owner gives you the option to buy that way later if your daughter really is serious you can buy the horses. I know a lot of girls that kind of lost interest though. I was one of the girls that never did.

Answer 3

Share a lease.  Debbie McDonald, the world's greatest dressage rider, doesn't own Brettany, her Hanover mare.

Answer 4

i would really suggest JUST leasing a horse.  dont get a lease with the possibility of buying.  it is just gonna feel like you are gonna have to buy this horse and if you dont buy him then he will be sold to someone else.  i leased my first horse without an option to buy him and it worked really well.  with the last horse i leased however i leased with an option to buy (this is the first horse i owned) and when the lease was up it felt like i had to buy him which turned out to be a really bad decision.  so bad that i finally had to put him down last may.  he was lame and unridable, hated other horses, couldnt be caught, (just to name a few problems)

just lease a horse without an option to buy for your daughter.  

good luck

Answer 5

If I were you, I would lease first.  When you lease, you get more of the feeling of owning your own horse, before you actually get one.  If you lease and your daughter ends up not wanting to ride, then you just have to end the lease.  I would lease a horse one or twice to make sure your daughter is going to stick with it, and then I would buy a horse if she is still interested.

Answer 6

I would just lease until you know that your daughter is really committed to riding and that she isn't going to one day decide that she doesn't want a horse anymore. You have to know that she understands the responsibility, and if she has multiple interests like dance, soccer, etc.. then just lease because a horse is a full time commitment that you should see and check on at least 3 or 4 times a week. The schooling experience will be the same because she will build a relationship with the horse that she is leasing, and if she loses interest you don't have to find a new home for a horse that you bought. Only if she is absolutely horse crazy and going to the barn is just exciting to her each time she goes then you could consider buying her a horse.

Answer 7

Lease a well-schooled Dressage horse that can teach her the basics. Then one day when she wants to become more serious in riding and competing. Buy her a horse. Or maybe still continue to lease other horses for her to ride. Then when she is older and is more experienced, then she can start training her own horse (with the help of a trainer of course).

Answer 8

If you are going to share a lease on a horse, talk to some people (besides the owner/friends of the owner), about leasing and the things that go into a lease. Like, who takes care of vet bills, farrier bills, insurance, who is responsible if the horse is injured. Find out if the horse has any medical issues that you would be responsible for.

I was almost talked into a lease once, until I found out from someone else in the barn, that the horse had severe dermatological problems and needed very expensive vet care and medication - which I would have been responsible for.