balfanz@ihlpg.UUCP (Balfanz) (01/23/86)
At the stable I ride at (in Oswego, Illinois), I know a lot of riders that lease horses (not hourly leasing). Some of the horses are owned by the stable. But there are some horses whose owner wants to share the costs of keeping the horse. There is one horse I know of whose owner got pregnant and was under doctor's orders not to ride. So, she reluctantly decided to sell the horse. There were two riders interested in purchasing the horse, but neither one could afford it. So, one of the riding instructors brought up the subject of leasing the horse. Well, the owner hesitated at first, and then, became delighted with the idea (she would still have the horse after the baby was born, but he wouldn't be sitting in his stall the whole time). And, the two riders were delighted because they wouldn't have the full cost of owning a horse. Also, the two riders are at different levels of riding, so their riding lessons could be on different days and they weren't likely to want to show in the same classes at the horse shows. I hope this helps shed some light on the subject. I'm not sure of all of the details (leasing fee, etc.). But, I can say that leasing (time-sharing) does exist, and has for quite a few years (I remember trying to talk my parents into letting me lease a horse about thirteen years ago). Pat Balfanz ihlpg!balfanz