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A free lease USUALLY just means you don't pay a monthly lease fee, but you are responsible for expenses (so at a boarding barn, you'd have to pay board, for example). Sometimes owners will pick up certain vet bills- all depends on the arrangement.

It's actually a great way to trial a horse, either before buying a particular horse (if the horse available for lease is also available for sale) or at the very least making sure you can handle the financial commitment.

We have made plans to go trail ride one day soon up where the horse is. Found out some new info as well.

So the good thing is that he's a very sound horse, he loves to trail ride, doesnt get barn sour, leads, follows, whatever. He loves to play in water/swim. He currently is not a stable horse. He is not a fan of confined space (but a trailer is ok, go figure), which is actually a pro. Could mean we dont have to dorp 700 bucks to build stalls in the barn. He's never had shoes, so only 6 to 8 week trimming as needed. (and DH trimmed his own horses so he could probably do this after a few runs with the ferrier there.)

But...

He's been abused and has a hard time with males. He takes a saddle fine, but there is scar tissue where the cinch rubs and so he gets pretty persnickity when you try to ride him with a saddle right now (though she says this will not be a long term issue and yes, they actually trail ride him bearback all the time right now). He needs more work, more training but for the most party he is pretty broke.

So as we see it now....

Board - free

Food - free to cheap (he's a grazer with only alf and sweet in the winter months)

Horse itself - free

Utilities at barn - Free

Tack - need help with that, working on donations/consignment shops in the area

Vet - will be getting farm vets phone number on saturday to chat about horse care

Ferrier - talking to horse buddies down here about theirs, and if farm vet doesnt work, who they have as well.

I still think i am more then crazy, but really - you can't beat the deal we are getting. The free lease is amazing for me because if it really doesnt work out, no harm no foul.

Life long horse owner here.

It sounds like you have thought this through. But I am going to give you more to think about.

FREE board is great this may or may not work out. Things change. Farms sell. People die. There are droughts. In either event, don't count on this for the long haul. Horses can live for a LONG time.

I have a horse right now who is 37 years old. Now, let's say 25 years ago if someone pointed to all of my horses and asked "which horse do you think will still be with you in 25 years?" He would have been the LAST one I would have pointed to. He was the oldest at the time. The one who had been the most beaten up. The one who had the most poor health, the most vet bills, the hardest to feed, the one who got hurt the most, the worst feet, you name it, he had the problem.

The most healthy, with the least problems and the youngest have been long dead. Sudden death by aortic rupture. Go figure.

As for choosing a horse. I have almost 50 years of experience raising, breeding, riding and showing. And I STILL take a professional trainer with me when I am buying a horse. Why? Because she knows what I am looking for withOUT the emotion. And she can see through the bullshit. There are SO MANY HORSES out there. Don't settle for a horse that is almost this or almost that and only needs a little of this or that. WAIT and get exactly what you want. It's out there. Believe me.

I have GIVEN AWAY horses that only 5 years ago would have fetched $10,000 or better. So, wait it out. Don't settle for someone else's problem horse who may hurt you.

I had free board too. Big fight in the family. If I was getting something, everyone else should too. Blah, blah. Guess who got the boot? Me.

The other thing to consider is pasture. Even though you plan on pasturing your horses, not ALL horses can tolerate fresh pasture 24/7. They require a rotation schedule or they will founder. I have three horses who can only tolerate 2-3 hours a day in the spring on pasture. After it dries a little, they are ok. But that early lush pasture is a big no-no.

And hay. This year it's a feast. There is hay everywhere. But the last few years hay was scarce and was selling at a premium. Decent, not good horse grade alfalfa was selling for $12.00-14.00 a small square bale. And much of that you had to throw away because of mold. You couldn't get the premium horse quality alfalfa because it just wasn't available.

With all of that being said, and I were you....I would do it in a minute. My horses are my life-blood and can't imagine life without them.

Since my days of free board with family, etc. we now have our own place. It's nice not to have to ask permission about every little thing before you move a gate or a piece baling wire.

And if I were in my 30's again? I wouldn't even think twice!!

For tack and other accessories, go on Craigslist. There is a horse person selling out every day. There are unbelievable bargains on there all the time. I have seen good as new stalls being sold for less than 1/2 price. You go tear them down. You're young! Go for it!

[This message edited by sadtoo at 12:37 PM, July 12th (Friday)]

FREE board is great this may or may not work out. Things change. Farms sell. People die. There are droughts. In either event, don't count on this for the long haul. Horses can live for a LONG time.

Its a family dairy farm, so unless we really blow it, I am actually the 4th in line to inherit the whole shebang after my cousin (who currently runs the dairy) and my step father who would run the dairy if anything happened, or he can send it my way right away after my cousin is done/dies.

As for choosing a horse. I have almost 50 years of experience raising, breeding, riding and showing. And I STILL take a professional trainer with me when I am buying a horse. Why? Because she knows what I am looking for withOUT the emotion. And she can see through the bullshit. There are SO MANY HORSES out there. Don't settle for a horse that is almost this or almost that and only needs a little of this or that. WAIT and get exactly what you want. It's out there. Believe me.

Oh no, i already told DH that unless this horse works for us, then its not happening. We have plans to go up in the next few weekends to trail ride the horse and spend alot of time with him so see his temperment and such.

He is currently owned by a proffessional trainer and rider. She events, dressage, and westerns. She also specializes in rehabilitating abused horses. My other friend graduated with 3 equine degrees and an associate in 3 years and has owned and trained her own horses since she was in high school. K knows me and my abilities and she thinks that we match well in our abilities, it would be personality where it would be the kicker.

The other thing to consider is pasture. Even though you plan on pasturing your horses, not ALL horses can tolerate fresh pasture 24/7.

He's been on full pature with only a little shelter for about 5 years now. She doesnt have a field rotation, only as him out with others on her 6ish acres.

We currently have 2 acres attached to the barn we would use, another 12 acres or so across the road, then another 50 acres (give or take) that the cows are turned out on every night that could easily be reduced via fencing if needed.

We also have 100 acres of crop/alfalfa fields where we get our own, and we can use alf if we need to during the winter. We already have a surplus as it is and we have another 2 or 3 cuts out of each field to go.

....I would do it in a minute.

And this is what i am getting from everyone and it seems like a huge relief. Even my mom make a funky face and then just shruged and said "at least you can give him back if it doesnt work out"

Part of me is scared off my ass, the other part is so excited i could scream...

is that a good thing?

Drum roll please!!!!

Meet Reggie (and me)

And Flash (the paint)

We have work to do, they arrive on Saturday and i am just stupid excited about it.

First order of business is the pecking order. We are not even going to be riding for the next month i would think until they get crap figured out between the two of them.

Flash is a baby sitter, and Reggie seems to be on the docile side, so my best guess is that Flash will be the man in charge.

We are also working on a new name for Flash, cause ever time i hear it i get the Flash Gordan theme song stuck in my head....

FLASH....AH AH...Savior of the Universe!

http://youtu.be/cyIIYerdlUA just incase you need it stuck in your head too lol