Conference noted::equitation

    When you lease a horse, I believe you are responsible for returning
    the beast in the same condition as you borrowed it.  You are
    responsible for the animals well being whether you care for it 
    yourself or have someone do it for you.  If something unexpected
    should happen, you should offer to cover the costs, buy the horse,
    etc.  Or you should carry insurance.
    
    Borrowing a critter can really ruin a friendship.  Make sure you
    get all the details straight up front and in writing.  Include things
    like the value of the horse, it's present state of health, where
    it will be stabled, who will ride it, who will train it, how to
    trips away from the boarding facility will be handled (i.e. are
    you allowed to show), who the vet/farrier will be, etc.  You also
    might want to include how long you will borrow this critter and
    how termination of the lease will be handled.  It's not much fun
    to have you horse returned to you with no notice, nor is it fun
    to loose a good horse in the middle of show season. A statement
    of how unplanned disasters will be handled is also appropriate.
    
    Hope this helps!
    
    -maureen
    

    
    I think you *should* have the talk.  get everything out on the table
    upfrount..so just incase somthing happens you know where you will
    stand.  If I was going to lease a horse and somthing terrible happend
    and I was partly to blame then I would feel I would be totaly
    responsible for everything (large vet bills) but if it was the horse,
    then I tend to feel that it would be a different stroy..they do get
    them selves into alot of trouble from time to time..mabye you could
    split thoes kinds of vet bills...
    
    if it is a freind and you know the hores then you probelly allready
    know what to expect from him?  anythin can happen..you should talk to
    her and work it out..I leased a horse and I signed a agreement that if
    I got hurt I was the only one lilable..and if the horse got hurt then
    they were lilable..it seemed fair...everything will be different for
    someone eles..so TALK to her..jsut bring it up casually..if she is
    freind she will understand that you only want to do the best
    
    I hope I was of *some* help
    
    LKP

    I lease out one of my mares and I feel and the way I handle it is:
    
    You the leasing party is getting a horse without buying one. Granted
    the animal is still owned by the owner but you are basicly getting
    the ownership of the animal with out buying it.
    
    I try to be fair about it. I feel the leasing party is responsible
    for all you have listed. They are not responsible if the horse shoud
    drop dead in my pasture (the mare usually stays at my barn) or if
    by my mistake the horse gets hurt. Then I pay for it. But if the
    horse should get hurt while they are using her or by their neglect
    then the total bill is theirs. I also set an amount before hand
    of the total value I feel the horse is worth incase of death then
    we both know what the leasing party owes up front. I also put a
    ceiling on the vet bill. This is incase of major surgery. I do not
    feel the vet bill should be more the the cost of the horse. I am
    some what practical in that I will not spent 2,000.00 on colic surgery
    on a horse that I feel is only valued at 1,500.00......You see what
    I am saying. 
    
    You should return the animal in the same condition as taking it.
    I know the animal is older but you as a horse person know how to
    take care of an animal...I hope....
    
    And I agree with the others....this could put a real strain on your
    friendship. You may think it will not but I know from experence
    it can.
    
    good luck....
    
    
    

Hi!

I was looking thru the notesfile for ride-away-vacations and noticed a few
notes that discussed leasing.  You may want to refer to them.  Good-luck.

   NOTE #                                 Replies  TOPICS
    11                        3-MAR-1986   181  Horses 4 Sale/Lease/Wanted/Stud svs.
   268  HUDSON::WILLIAMSON    8-MAY-1987     4  Leasing Liability
   372  BAUCIS::MATTHEWS     19-AUG-1987     3  leasing out horses.
   422  NRADM4::PELUSO        7-OCT-1987     5  leasing\
   603  OFFPLS::PRESTIDGE    26-MAY-1988     3  Legalities of Leasing
   717                       15-SEP-1988    28  Lease/Riding Situation Wanted
   779     FHQ::SCULL        15-NOV-1988     8  Questions on leasing a horse
   984  TOMCAT::MURPHY       27-JUN-1989     0  Lease or pay to ride deal anyone ?
  1051   AIMHI::DANIELS       8-SEP-1989     1  Leases?

    1)  PUT ANY AGREEMENTS IN WRITING.
    
    2)  Doing business with friends can (will) possibly end the
        friendship if something happens.
    
    3)  As the horse will be on your property, my opinion would be
        that YOU are 100% responsible for the horse.
    
    .1,.2,.3 have some good details to put in the agreement.
    
    Discuss this thoroughly with your horse owner friend.
    
    Good luck-
    
    Lynne
    
    

    We have leased many horses to both friends and hopefully new friends
    and knock on wood we have been fortunate.  Each lease has been
    different; all off our property; we have the right to remove the horse
    if we feel it is being mistreated and we aren't fanatics about it; we
    do visit and keep track of what is going on.
    
    The contract we have reads that you are totally responsible for the
    horse and its care within reason...certainly not major surgery unless
    it was VERY apparant that it was neglect.
    
    The folks we have leased to have been animal people and the majority
    horse people but not all.
    
    Good luck...I believe a lot of it comes down to knowing the people you
    are dealing with.
    

    Well I have a nice 4 year old paint to lease till......  I think I know
    what to write/ask.....But do any of you leasees or leasors (SP?) have a 
    written document which covers all of it?
    
    Michele
    
    

    
    
    	I'm leasing my horse off the property. Does anyone have a 
    	lease agreement which covers the liability,care etc.  I have a 
    	one covering lease on the property and can adapt it, but 
    	ready-made sure would be helpful.
    
        I'm on Luner::Deplante and certainly would appreciate any
    	help on this.
    
    				thanks, lora

    Lora, I'm sending you under separate cover a lease agreement I had, in
    which I leased a horse under the circumstances you describe.  My notes
    are from the Lessee's point of view, but I'm sure you'll understand.
    
    Last few issues of Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar may have had columns about
    what to put in a lease.
    
    Regards,
    
    Jennie