Leasing an Event Horse

[n2dressage]

I am currently trying to get back into eventing. My current horse (who did event before I got him) and I have just been focusing on dressage with and he is now schooling 3rd level. I took him out in the field last week to try to hop a few itty bitty xc fences he had a bit of a meltdown... which doesn't seem that its going to be getting any better unless I go through it over and over and over again (which I'm kinda unwilling to do b/c i'm a WIMP!) I think I've now decided that ultimately I'm going to sell him and find something I can do both dressage on respectfully and take to horse trials and do some BN and N on safely. In the mean time, I have been thinking of perhaps leasing a packer if I can find one. I would prefer a care lease since I have no $$ until my horse sells and a horse that knows his job and could jump xc with a blind fold on!

Does anyone have any suggestions on where I should look to find such a wonderful horsey?

[GotSpots]

Friends of friends. These horses are definitely out there (though the meaning of the word "packer" is a bit different in event-world), but hardly ever advertised. One usually finds this horse through a kid that's gone off to college or an adult who has gotten busy or had some financial issues, or maybe a horse that hasn't sold for awhile. Look at pony club websites, talk to your coach/trainer, and spread the word around that you are looking. I found a wonderful horse for novice/training who I had the ride on for a couple of years this way: folks knew we were looking for the right one, and they knew someone who had one sitting in the backyard. Just make sure to do your homework up front and be prepared to offer a great set-up, professional care, etc. Also, depending on how nice the horse is, be prepared to pay for insurance as well as the horse's expenses, and make sure you put the lease contract in writing (who takes care of the horse if he breaks, what happens if the horse is up for sale, etc).

[goingplaces]

I agree with Gotspots. I've got exactly what you are looking for, and I am pregnant now and plan on stopping jumping in May. :D Although I am looking for someone to compete my girl BN/N for the rest of the season, I won't advertise her and will keep looking through friends of friends.

[LisaB]

Yup, I was going to lease my horse when we were preggers. I still will when we try again. BUT, I only went through my instructor. And my ideal situation would have been that he stays with her and with a student of hers. The main reason to stay at her place is that she and crew know his many quirks on the ground. And then to train with her, she already knows him and knows how to ride him. He is, after all, a tank crossed with a worm. Can be quite a ride.
And I would be more inclined to say I need a horse that will save my butt when I screw up rather than a packer. You can't just sit there and do nothing like a hunter packer.
So, my suggestion is to ride with an instructor that you like. They can help even with your current horse. You can still learn a lot with a ground pole about eventing. Then it's all word of mouth from there.

[n2dressage]

My trainer and I are trying to get the word out. She actually knows of an old horse that she competed up to Intermediate that is now possibly for sale at age 22 that has been taking people N/T the past few years. I am waiting to hear something back on him and if the price is cheap enough that I can afford I would even buy him and retire him after a year or so of doing a few more BN and N shows. I do have a lot to offer the horse/owner. The facility I board at is excellent with big grassy fields and nice roomy stalls with fans for the summer months and a fly spray system and blanketing services for the winter months. My trainer has competed Advanced eventing and PSG dressage. I myself have trained my horse to schooling 3rd level dressage (everything is good but the changes! waiting on him to settle into those...) so I can offer whatever horse I lease a good dressage foundation to improve on what they already know. Yes, I just need to find someone whose kid has gone off to college or somebody that is having a baby and needs their horse tended to while they are out of commission! I'm sure this lovely packer horse is out there.... And yes eventers do have a different idea of what packer is. My idea is that I don't mind if the horse is somewhat difficult in dressage b/c that is my strong area, I'm ok stadium confidence wise; i just want a horse that doesn't spook at nonsense and won't make me kick him to the fences or that won't completely run away with me XC. Age; breed; sex; size doesn't really matter to me. I know this horse has to be out there somewhere!

[NeverTime]

N2dressage, just looking at where you are from, is it possible that the former Intermediate horse you are thinking of is my old friend Harvey? Seems like the age would fit, and I used to know a neat horse named Harvey who competed at prelim and intermediate w/ a young rider.

[Lori B]

Any chance a trainer could help the horse you are riding now get through his meltdowns out of doors? Or even a more experience XC rider who has brought along a horse or two themselves?

Leasing can be great, but it's possible your current horse isn't a lost cause yet. ????

[n2dressage]

The horse I have in mind is Gramps, or Grandpa's Cadillac. Debi Crowley, my friend/trainer had him a million years ago and competed him to Intermediate and then he went thru a few more owners after her packing people to Prelim and the last girl that had him (which I think is still his current owner) just did BN/N. He did run training just a couple of years ago with the owner before that though. I think it would be just too neat if his life could come full circle back to Debi's where his eventing career started and help me with my confidence. If he is for sale and I can afford to buy him I'm prepared to be the last owner and give him his much deserved retirement in a lush grassy field with buckets of carrots.

One additional note for my previous post: I would just just FABULOUS if I can find a horse to lease that wears a narrow tree saddle since I *JUST* got a Black Country Wexford jump saddle that I adore in a narrow tree!! :eek:

[LisaB]

Sounds like a wonderful place.
But if my instructor doesn't know them and I don't know them, I'm not going to put horse with them. Even if they are great and wonderful in dressage and did eventing, their methods may be not what would work for my horse and I wouldn't be willing to risk it. This is my one and only horse and a horse that is special to me. So, to send him out and not break all ties by selling him and then bringing him back and having to deal with a possible issue is not worth leasing him out. Does that make sense?
Like let's say you and your dr trainer kick ass. But behind the scenes you do all the rollkur stuff (just an example, I have no idea about it but it seems to be a huge controversy) and I don't know about it and my horse would not do well with it, then he comes back and I would have to re-train him or he may come back completely ruined.
Not that it would happen with you but for someone like me who doesn't know you, I wouldn't send my horse to you regardless unless you get vouched for that it would work out by an eventing person that knows my horse and really knows you guys.
So, that's why I said to go to an eventing instructor. Get 'in'.
Or, buy what sounds like a really nice old gentleman :D

[n2dressage]

My current horse ran training with my trainer before I bought him. He's not necessarily a "lost cause" but we and I have definitely gone thru the wringer together in our relationship. I originally bought him just for dressage b/c he's a fabulous mover. I did have the intent of maybe one day eventing again. He has meltdowns at horse shows in warm up and we have mostly conquered them at dressage shows now. I had originally planned to keep him so he could be be my "screw up" horse (the horse that I got to learn and the dressage moves on and learn how to teach them correctly since we have been learning them together) and that he would be talented enough to get me to Grand Prix, which he is. I now desperately want to event again. My trainer isn't particularly willing to get him eventing again b/c he was difficult the first go around. He's spooky and quick. We deal with that even on the flat. His real talent is going to be for the dressage. I'm willing to give up some of his talent for a horse that is a little more solid and dependable. I want a horse that I can take on a gallop with friends and not die. He's definitely never going to be that horse. He can't handle being that close to other horses. There is always the possibility though that if I found a horse to lease to event that I would keep my current horse and keep going with the dressage like we have been. At this point I just want a horse that I don't have to work so hard for everything on and go thru my mental breakdowns of "i can't ride this horse!". Sigh...

[TBKate]

Your best bet is word of mouth via your trainer. My trainer has arranged several event horse leases, including one for me. I agree with earlier posts--unless it's a "trainer knows trainer" thing, you'll have a rough time of it. Expect to pay insurance on the horse and get everything in writing. Good luck! Hope you find a fun one to go play with :)

[foxhavenfarm]

n2dressage,

Sent you a pm! :)

[n2dressage]

LisaB: I completely understand your view. I would be under your view if I was on the owner's side as well been to some horse trials and dressage shows and seeing other people's random view on what dressage should be like that is very creepy and scary! My trainer is a very respected eventing trainer in my area with a good reputation for starting young horses. But that's neither here nor there. This post was really something to see if anyone had noticed any ads anywhere or had an idea of where I should look for someone that has already come up with the idea that they wanted to lease their horse to someone away from their facility while they were unable to ride.

[scubed]

What about the other older horse for lease at Debi's? You usually have to lease from someone who knows you or your trainer because most people are not willing to send their lovely, trained horses to situations where they don't know the person who will be riding them.