Compensation for Using Boarders Horse For Lesson?

[katie16]

I know things can vary wildly, but wondering what those of you who have been owners or trainers who have used a boarders horse for lessons gave/received for compensation? Not talking about a full lease type situation, rather simply using the horse for once a week or twice a week lesson.

[Sadie*Bear]

I have recieved anywhere from $10-$15 per lesson of the use of my horse, the lessons cost the rider $40, so the coach makes $30-25 per lesson.

[CHF]

I have one pony, who used to be my lesson pony, who now has a forever home with one of my young riders. She can't get out to the barn more than a few times a week, so I have permission to use her in walk/trot beginner lessons if I need to.

Those lessons are $25 for a 1/2 hour and I credit the pony account $5 each time I borrow her. She only gets ridden by lesson kids 1-2 times per week at an additional 1/2 hour each, so it is actually beneficial for the pony.

In our case it is a win-win situation.

I have done it in the past as well on different horses/ponies and it was usually a good situation, but it definitely depends on the horse and their needs. Very important that the number of rides/lessons per week are laid out and that it doesn't interrupt your own ride times.

In today's economy, though, as a horse owner it could work in your favor by getting your horse worked and knocking a bit off the monthly bill too!

[1faith]

I use certain horse for lessons and dont off any compensation. The reason is I make sure these horses are ridden by advanced student and actually get some good "training" , if I use them for a beginner lesson I am sure to put an advanced rider on them too. I find it works for both of us, the horses get exercise and "free" training it seems to be a good situation for all of us. I have boarders who really want me to use their horses , but their horses may not be suitable as a lesson horse. I think every situation is different. In the past I allowed my trainer to use my horse for lessons and did not expect or receive any compensation.

[Carnelian]

My trainer pays the owner $10 per ride. She tacks the amount onto her usual fee so those who ride horses they don't own pay more for the lessons than horse owners.

On one horse that is especially suited for beginners, the trainer has an agreement with the owner that she "guarantees" 10 lessons per month ($100). She basically pays a $100 partial lease but also has to pay the $10 for any lessons over the 10. If she only teaches 8 lessons on the horse one month, she still has to pay $100.

The trainer pays the owner directly. The student doesn't pay two separate people.

[findeight]

The reality is I have offered use of mine for free but only to advanced (as in 3'6" Juniors) and then only to hack. No lessons unless there are extenuating circumstances.

I had problems with some of the kids and their parents assuming that, since they used the horse in a lesson, they were entitled to use of it as they pleased and at the show-actually pulled one off once when I showed up unexpectedly to ride. They had told the trainer it was OK with me.:no:

If I did want to lend it out, I'd want what the barn charges for use of a school horse. If no school horses, then 35 to 50% of the lesson fee because mine are alot nicer then a schoolie and much better ride.

[EAY]

My trainer uses my son's pony for lessons twice a week and gives me a nearly 50% discount on his board. It has worked out well so far since my son is not really interested in riding more than a few times a week anyway and the pony still gets worked regularly. Also it would be difficult for us to afford the pony if we had to pay full board.

[Come Shine]

We were offered $5 to use our pony for an hour lesson. It cost $13 a day to board the pony, which does not include farrier, vet, tack, etc. The coach was charging $25. I thought the coach should, at least, cover the daily cost of the pony for the days she was using her. I have to pay the same $25 for the lessons PLUS the board, why shouldn't someone else?

[IrishWillow]

I generally request $10 a lesson to use one of my horses for a lesson. I think that is fair.

[katie16]

Thanks everyone for the input so far. I must say that costs came in much LOWER than I expected! I was thinking more like 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost of the lesson . . .

[DuffyAgain]

When our old pony was used, trainer charged a "lesson lease fee" of $20.00, which she passed on to us. The person taking the lesson was charged the regular lesson fee as well. It was a win win win for all three involved parties.

[PolymerChem]

At two barns I've been at:

Barn 1 - Had horses with all board waived that were used in unlimited lessons. These were generally suitable horses that the owner no longer rode at all (off at college, moved up, etc.) but didn't want to see. Had hoses with half board waived that were used in 3 lessons week. Lessons ranged from beginners to about 2'6" depending on the horse.

Barn 2 - Horses used in 2-3 lessons per week get half board off. Lessons range from beginners to about 2' depending on the horse.

I have also looked at barns that had a flat fee of $10-15 added to a lesson for using a horse other than your own.

[minnie]

The cases I've known of split 50/50

[FAW]

$15

[redkat]

As the student I paid the horse owner $10/ride. She appreciated knowing who was riding her horse.

[cnvh]

I've seriously considered offering my horse for lessons a couple times a week to save some $$ (since I only get down to ride 3 days a week), but I just can't bring myself to do it... he's an OTTB, only 5, and he's the first horse I've really brought along all by myself. He's sweet as can be and I can't bear the thought of him getting sour/confused from being ridden by multiple riders-- he's still in the "track horse to normal horse" phase, but he's VERY quiet and would be fine for an intermediate rider... but I just don't want to risk it.

[meupatdoes]

When I went away for eight months to go to school, I allowed my trainers to use my horse in lessons and to let the barn kids hack him.

He is made enough that he needed like, five pro rides that whole time (which conveniently were scheduled for times when he was being demoed for lease customers).

I did not get any reimbursement on board for the use of the horse in lessons.

Then again,
a.) my trainers did not give me some spiel that he 'needed pro rides' when it was sufficient for him to get a little exercise from the other customers
b.) more importantly, my trainers let me hack, lesson and show their sale horses without paying toward those horses' care. I pay lesson fees and entries, of course, but right there is a string of nice horses I get to ride that I don't have to shoe, feed, or vet.

I think that people who would ask for a cut of the lesson price should assess whether they get to ride horses they aren't paying care bills on.

If at your barn you ONLY ride horses that are on your tab, then yes, ask for a cut.
But if at your barn your trainer lets you ride horses that OTHER people (ie the trainer, customers that are cool with it) are paying the tab on, what goes around comes around.

[Nikki^]

When my horse was being used in lessons my board rate was cut half. I think that is the best option.:D

They used him 3 days a week. He was excellent for the beginners and many of them would ask to ride him when they showed up for lessons.

[vxf111]

I'm at a barn where it's all boarders. The trainer has one lesson pony that is exclusively for lessons. There are no real "sale horses" or "lesson horses," all the other horses belong to boarders.

My pony is "reserved" for three lessons per week. I get 1/2 off board regardless of whether he's used 3x/week or not. He doesn't get used more than that, and it's a set 3 days per week so I can plan around his lessons. He's bombproof, safe, a perfect teacher (packs the wee ones but makes you ask "correctly" once the rider starts developing skills), and fancy enough to show-- I don't think it's that easy to find a lesson pony like him. I woudn't be thrilled at letting him be used for $5/ride etc. His time is more "valuable" and these lessons don't give me any "training" on him-- he's as broke as broke can be and doesn't need any training.

[DudMarv]

So out of pure curiousity, have any of you discussed or written up contracts about the unfortunate incedence that something might happen like the horse getting hurt?
I think that would be the thing that would worry me the most about lending my horse out.

[vxf111]

I have. I use a modified form of the "half lease agreement" that I use when I half lease the pony.

Luckily, the pony is such a saint-- he's being used for tiny kids who can barely trot a lap-- so it's unlikely that he's doing strenous work in lessons that would cause an injury to him. But you're right, better safe than sorry and bizarre accidents happen. A clear, well written agreement is always a good idea.

Everyone who rides at the barn signs a release, as well.

[TwoDreamRides]

Same as Veronica's Stoney Pony. My old man was essentially half-leased by the barn, so I received 1/2 off board. My horse was tall/strudy enough for beginner adults, gentle/quiet enough for young kids, and advanced enough for riders up to 3'. The barn had use of him 3x a week, he was generally used once in the morning for an adult lesson, and once in the evening for a beginner lesson on those days.

My current horse was allowed by a former trainer to use him in lessons while I was on vacation, at the discretion of the trainer. For every lesson he was used in, I got a free "tune up" while I was gone, which got him excersized 2 times a week regularly. It also got me an offer for him, for 5x what I paid for him!

[411]

Do any of you who allow your horses to be used in lessons worry about possible liability should the student be injured riding? I'm toying with the idea of letting my trainer use my gelding for select clients but am concerned about the possibility -- however unlikely -- that someone could be injured.

[huntjumpguy]

I use some of my clients horses for my lessons and if i have to use their horse, they get $10 toward the end of the month fees. However if the people do not buy a horse after the first year,(which is in our contract) they are charged the additional $10 per ride which takes their lesson from $65 to $75/ half hour.

[laves81]

I don't think anyone has brought up the topic of liability. I had a horse that was briefly used in a handful of lessons at my old barn. I asked the barn owner if I would be liable at all, if a rider in a lesson were hurt while on my horse. I was told that yes, indeed I could be liable, provided the lesson taker was aware that the horse was not owned by the barn. Shortly thereafter I found a lessor. Said horse hasn't been in lessons since. I had a discount in my board while the horse was in the lesson program.

Furthermore, I think compensation depends very much on what kind of lessons your horse is doing. Beginning riders are very hard on a horse.

(woops, someone did bring up liability- I just didn't see the post when I wrote mine!)

[Maril]

A lot depends on circumstance. I have a very good pony boarded with me, I use her in lessons, walk-trot, x-rails, and occasionally with more experienced riders to tune her up in dressage and jumping. Usually 3 times a week, sometimes 4. She is young and sound and energetic. Her young owner only rides once a week in his lesson, and the Mom occasionally hacks her out on Sundays. I consider it a half lease, so credit them for half her board. If she goes to a show, I give the owner half the horse use fee. They are covered by my professional liability. They take the same risk I do with my own school horses as far as injury, in order to substantially save on board. If I don't use the pony, they still get the discount. On a horse less useful, or when there's no real need, I would credit the owner $10, the difference between the $25 class fee on one's own horse, and the $35 class fee for using a school horse. When you're talking about percentages, that's quite fair, as you must take into account that the instructor (at least in my case, as owner) also must factor in the enormous cost of maintaining a 200 acre farm, stables, arenas, jumps, cross country, power(+7 halogens), tractor, implements, truck, trailers, tack, etc. - right down to the toilet paper. I just tell people they are paying to use my horse and the facility, the instruction is free - to protect my horses. :lol:

[GryffinLuvr4Evr]

a boarders horse that is used for lessons at my barn gives the owner a discount on boarding

[sa11yb]

Currently, I allow my horse to be used for lessons full time in leiu of paying board. On average he is only working 2-3 times a week. I do however, pay the vet and farrier since he still is my horse. I am unable to ride due to injury at this time.

Another place I boarded at used him 2-3 times a week in lessons and I received 100.00 off of my board bill.

I think it depends on what you and your trainer feel is fair. Make sure if it isn't a full time situation, you schedule days for you to ride and for the horse to have a day off.

[eqrider1234]

I use some of my clients horses for my lessons and if i have to use their horse, they get $10 toward the end of the month fees. However if the people do not buy a horse after the first year,(which is in our contract) they are charged the additional $10 per ride which takes their lesson from $65 to $75/ half hour.

i dont understamd this.... you expect your clients to buy a horse, and if they dont you charge them more?

[HHG-N]

I only use my boarders' horses for lessons if they don't come out and ride them enough. If the kid only shows up once a week, I will use their animal in lessons so it behaves when said child has a lesson. I don't give them any money because it saves them from having to pay me to ride the animal...

[Jumper6252]

When I got my first pony my mom half leased it back to the barn and we payed 1/2 board a month

[Krortman08]

I would say $15 is definatley fair. That's what I charged.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I think the trainer charges $10, and that is passed on to the horse owner. I don't do this with my horse, as it is generally the really beginner horses that people want to use (and I can think of about 2 people at the barn I would let ride my horse anyway). Everyone else has their own horse at our barn (training/lesson barn).

[miss girl]

I've seriously considered offering my horse for lessons a couple times a week to save some $$ (since I only get down to ride 3 days a week), but I just can't bring myself to do it... he's an OTTB, only 5, and he's the first horse I've really brought along all by myself. He's sweet as can be and I can't bear the thought of him getting sour/confused from being ridden by multiple riders-- he's still in the "track horse to normal horse" phase, but he's VERY quiet and would be fine for an intermediate rider... but I just don't want to risk it.

I wouldn't do it if I were you. He seems to be at a too vulnerable stage right now. I worked with my horse before I bought her and she had been used as a school horse. She's a sensitive 1/2 TB and she had so many knots that I worked for a long time to undo. She was very confused by so many different intermediate riders. JMHO :winkgrin:

[Montanas_Girl]

When I have allowed a trainer to use my horse in lessons, I've never asked for any kind of compensation. Usually, I'm asking the trainer to use him because (1) I'm out of town or busy for an extended period of time and he needs work, (2) I'm injured and cannot ride for whatever reason, or (3) he's being a fruitloop and needs a second good school over fences on a given week - I can only afford to lesson once a week on a regular basis, so when we hit a rough patch this summer, my trainer used him in one of her advanced students' lessons to get some additional schooling rides on him. It has worked out well for me.

[GGsuperpony]

I think it depends on the situation. When I have loaned mine out for lessons because the trainer needed a very dependable beginners' horse, I got compensated more than when I just wanted a horse in lessons because I wanted the money/free exercise/whatever.

In the first scenario, we did a partial lease. In the second, it was something like $5-10 per lesson.

It worked out kinda like the "who pays entry fees" question - whoever benefits more from the ride.

[Slewdledo]

CNVH, your horse would've been ridden by many, many different people at the track.

[December]

Personally, I think it would only be fair to pay the "day rate" for what board costs, based on a horse being ridden 6 times a week. I think that lesson riders in a riding school should not expect to ride a higher quality horse for only $10. That works out to only $240 a month for the owner, a really bad deal for all the risk and expense involved in horse ownership...

If I was the school rider I would love that $10-$15 horse rental fee... as a horse owner, not so much...

[ponygirl]

I get $20 for use of a particular horse of mine but they are also using my tack, my fences, my property, etc, etc.

[pattnic]

I use some of my clients horses for my lessons and if i have to use their horse, they get $10 toward the end of the month fees. However if the people do not buy a horse after the first year,(which is in our contract) they are charged the additional $10 per ride which takes their lesson from $65 to $75/ half hour.

i dont understamd this.... you expect your clients to buy a horse, and if they dont you charge them more?

I'm not surprised... this is the same guy that only allows GPAs in his barn (see Fashion Trends of 2009 thread) :rolleyes:

[magnolia73]

What a bargain. I estimated it costs $700 to maintain my horse- board, shoes, vet stuff. Each week, 6 days of work for the horse. An average month is 4.3 weeks, so 4.3x6=26 rides a month. So.... you are looking at a cost of $26 per ride just to maintain the horse. I'd think you should at least cover costs on the animal for that working day.