That is the question, right? This is a MUCH asked question and it can be challenging to find perspective when it comes to leasing a pony vs. buying. There are plenty of opinions on the subject - some we have collected here in this post for insight and what some wish they had known before making the decision either way. BONUS STORY - we included ours at the bottom of this post!
Buying the Pony
I have heard MANY people say that they bought their pony without help from their trainer and made a rash decision based on emotion - ending in the purchase of the "wrong" pony for them and their child.
Our boy - Action Jackson.
"Don’t get distracted by all the flashy upgrades, keep focused on what you need. Too many people buy way more horse than they can handle because they get lost in the potential and their wants."
"Just don’t settle. If you have a trainer helping you that’s great, and their experience really matters!"
"I think having a really good understanding of what your goals are—do you plan to resell the horse in a few years, or is this a lifetime partner, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse?"
I have also heard MANY people say that they went with their gut, let their heart be their guide and bought the pony without regrets.
"I bought my first horse almost 2 years ago and have zero regrets. My only advice is to take advice from lots of people, but in the end follow your heart."
"I bought our pony at an auction, saved her from the killpen, and she has been the best pony for my kids! I knew when I saw her I had to save her and bring her home."
"We bought from a video and I knew it was the pony for us the moment I saw him!"
Thinking of buying?
Now, here comes the advice part...And these are 100% time-tested truths that MUST be followed to the best of your ability.
Don't Hunt Alone...Even if you have experience!
Help yourself out here and take some of the emotion out of the equation by getting a second (or third) pair of eyes when looking at a pony for lameness and behavioral issues. So much goes in to determining if this is the right pony for you and your child - easy for you or your child to learn on, has a smooth trot and canter, stands nicely for grooming, leads well, is brave to fences, etc. If you have a trainer, work with them. They can keep you from making an emotional decision and present the facts of the situation.
Don’t Expect Sellers to Be Honest
Sad, but true. And the truth is I know people who bought a pony that was not right for them, turned around and sold it to someone else while knowing that this pony wasn't going to be right for them either. The bottom line here is that people will sell you anything and will tell you a pony is what you’re looking for when they KNOW it is completely unsuitable. And at the prices they are getting for quality mounts right now they will even charge you MORE! DO NOT TRUST that others have your best interests at heart or care about the safety of your child. There are honest horse sellers out there, but they are not the norm and you shouldn’t take any information given to you at face value. Always ask for a trail - most sellers will reject a trial as it's a risky proposition for them, but some will be amenable and it never hurts to ask.
No Trial?
Usually, sellers are only willing to consider a trial if they have an existing relationship with your trainer and are familiar with the barn where your horse will be boarded. It is not always because they know something that is not being disclosed. It’s because sending a horse off to trial is risky for the seller as they won’t have control over how the horse is handled or what it experiences. If the seller says “no” to a trial then go visit the horse more than a few times. Go at different times of day, show up earlier than the seller expects, and don’t skip doing a pre-purchase examination (PPE). Take someone objective with you each time you see the horse so they can help you assess all the information you have gathered without letting your emotions do the decision-making.
Know What Your Looking For
When evaluating a pony go into it knowing what your non-negotiables are.
Consider:
Gelding/Mare
Coloring
Height
Age
Ground manners
Training - solid W/T/C (Walk/Trot/Canter)
Calm demeanor
Experience with beginners + child riders
Deal breakers - A pony should be immediately ruled out if it has any of the following:
Eye/lung/heart issues
History of Lyme H
History of bolting/bucking/spooking/rearing/ biting
Lameness issues or has navicular hooves
Don’t Settle
This process takes time! It is tempting to overlook your non-negotiables and just settle for a pony that has most of what you want. These things take time, can be emotionally draining, and can be expensive if you are traveling or doing multiple PPEs. Always be thinking "down the road..." and the long-term cost of a pony that comes back unsound/lame on the PPE but has a good personality and is adorable with the kids...Are you willing to take the chance that that the pony may be completely un-rideable within a year or two? (And therefore near impossible to sell or find a new home for.)
Use Your Network
If you know local horse people, use your network! If someone suggests a pony to you, discretely ask your contacts whether they know this pony and think it would be a suitable match given your current needs and riding abilities. BE AWARE that the same community that can put you in touch with a seller can also be the community that helps you discover that the pony might not be for you and your rider. he horse either had medical issues or was too sensitive/forward for a beginner rider.
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Pros: One of the top advantages to owning your own pony is that the pony is yours to do with what you like for as long as you like. There are no restrictions on training, showing, or breeding.
You can even enlist the pony to generate income by leasing it out or using it for riding lessons.
Another big pro is that if you own a young pony, you won’t be inheriting other riders’ mistakes. You can train the horse how you prefer and avoid undue phobias or undesirable behaviors.
Cons: The downside of owning a horse is obvious...the cost.
Not only do you incur the expense of purchasing the pony, but you need to cover veterinary care, farrier, dentistry, feed, equipment, and stalling.
Prior to buying the pony, you may also need to pay for a PPE with lab work and imaging, as well as possibly transport from a previous owner or breeder.
The same ability to control the training of a younger or “green broke” pony means you have to put more work into training the pony or hire a professional to do so. You may have to wait years until your pony is ready to ride. STORY TIME! See end of this post for my story here!
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Consider Leasing
"Leasing is brilliant. You’re not stuck with paying for a pony to retire but you pay for that privilege."
While it’s true that the pony won’t be truly yours if you lease and could be sold when your lease is up, leasing a pony enables you to ride a suitable pony for your skillset right now.
Fictional scenario to prove point: Right now we need a pony that my kid can safely learn how to trot & canter on and that is not too big. Next year I expect we will have learned how to trot/canter and might be interested in exploring more advanced skills. If a leased pony can’t accommodate those interests, we can choose to lease a different pony. Additionally, if my child becomes too tall for the leased pony we can look in to a bigger mount. True we still have to search for the right lease, but the hassle of selling a pony before finding a new mount is no longer an obstacle.
So, how do you lease a pony?
Much of leasing a pony is similar to buying a pony. So, you have read the beginning of this post and you have done your research on a pony that is well-suited to your childs abilities, you are ready to ask important questions, take test rides, and negotiate the details of the arrangement. NOTE: While this can be an intimidating process, it is not nearly as stressful as purchasing a horse.
What does a lease mean?
When you are leasing a pony, you are paying a set fee for the ability and privilege of additional riding time on that particular pony, and for many equestrians and horse lovers, leasing a pony is a great step towards eventual ownership and learning everything that goes into their care.
The Process of Leasing a Pony
Because you will be signing a legally binding contract, it is important to approach this process seriously. It is always better to put in additional work on the front end of your lease to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.
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Common Horse Lease Arrangements (we're going to use Horse here)
There are countless reasons why a horse owner may lease their horse to other riders, as well as a variety of horse lease arrangements. It is important to familiarize yourself with the various horse lease arrangements that may be available as you begin your search for a horse to lease. Two of the most common types of horse lease arrangements include partial and full leases.
Partial Lease Arrangement
A partial lease arrangement, also known as a half lease, usually provides you with the ability to ride the horse you are leasing during certain days of the week. In a partial lease, you will be sharing the horse with another rider or the owner. Because of this, the horse must remain on the premise instead of moving to another location.
In most partial lease arrangements, you can ride the horse three or four times a week for a fixed monthly payment. Because you are sharing the lease with another individual, you may also share some of the expenses such as vet or farrier costs although this is not always the case.
While you may be tempted to jump feet first into a full lease arrangement, a partial lease is a great option as you determine your needs and preferences. Because most partial leases are on a month-to-month basis, you are not locked into a long-term contract as you may be with a full lease.
Full Lease Arrangement
In a full lease arrangement, you are the only equestrian riding the horse. One of the greatest benefits of this type of lease is that there are fewer restrictions on when, and how often, you can ride!
Some full lease arrangements allow you to keep the horse in a different location such as your personal barn while others require the horse to remain on the premises. There are often many more responsibilities and costs associated with a full lease arrangement. You may be required to pay for vet or farrier fees, and the owner may request that you invest in horse insurance.
A full lease arrangement is the closest experience to owning a horse of your own without the responsibility of making important decisions regarding the horse’s long-term health or wellbeing. While the idea of a full lease may be tempting, it is important to gauge if you are truly ready for this level of commitment.
Other
There are, of course, several other types of horse lease arrangements including lesson leases, quarter leases, and more. If you are unsure of the type of lease that would be best suited to your needs and preferences, your trainer or an experienced equestrian will be able to provide additional insight!
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So much to consider, right!? It's actually pretty simple...Said no one, ever!
Pros: Leasing a pony is nearly always less expensive than buying one.
It’s a relatively low-cost option between owning a pony outright and using a rotating carousel of school horses at the stables. You get the consistency of riding one pony without much of the expense.
There’s significantly less commitment involved in leasing a pony than in buying one. That means this choice is better for kids who may or not stick with riding, rapidly growing children, and riders who may be moving house in the near future. There are no retirement, selling, or end-of-life issues to contend with either.
Cons: Building a long-term relationship with a horse is one of the most wonderful things one can experience.
We love these animals and many owners enjoy establishing a forever friendship. A pony can become a part of the family, and matters such as ensuring healthcare are something many owners actually want to be responsible for.
Like renting a house versus buying one, leasing a pony is not an investment. You won’t be able to sell the pony or generate income from it. The money you spend on the lease and upkeep are gone once it leaves your hands.
Leasing a pony can be an incredible experience! However, for most first-time lessors, it can be quite intimidating. With ample research and the guidance of an experienced equestrian, you will be ready to successfully take this next exciting step in your equine journey!
OUR STORY: We bought the pony from a video online and did a PPE via facetime with the veterinarian. Yup - you heard that right! Not only that, but I bought while in an emotional state, trying to find the "gem" for my 6 year old daughter, with very little little input from our then barn family and network. To top it off, the pony we bought was just 6 years old and very green. But, he looked brave to fences, sane, loaded well on a trailer, stood like a gentleman in the crossties for grooming, didn't seem bothered by distractions in/out of the ring, hacked-out alone or in a group, and was...adorable. Plus, the price was right. We were not, at the time, in the market for a five-figure pony.
Here is Jackson's original sales video:
We bought.
We paid via PayPal.
We shipped from MD to MA.
We bought 2 saddles, one for me and one for my daughter, and we got Jackson ready to start his career with my daughter in the Hunter/Jumpers and Pony Club.
Now, Jackson was VERY green so we had to get him in training and opted for a "board and train" program - Want to know what that is? Read our post "Pony Boarding: What You Need to Know"
So, like THIS post eludes to, you spend a little to then spend a LOT in training and lessons.
But, I have to say that my instincts served me well. Jackson has been a fantastic mount for my daughter, has taught her A LOT about horsemanship, patience, determination, and friendship - She LOVES that fuzzy boy! And he loves her back - takes good care of her.
I do not subscribe to "bombproof" and "no spook" because no horse or pony can guarantee that! Jackson has his moments, baby brain, and my daughter calls it his "skedaddle" when he sometimes sees something in "the corner of death" in the ring, but my daughter goes right into "starfish" mode - clings to him with all she's got and with her now legs of steel! At 14h it's not a far fall, but they have been few and far between and Jackson has thrived in his training program - beautiful transitions and so close to his flying changes.
The relationship between my daughter and her pony has been a journey - She is not a perfect rider at age 8 and he is not a perfect pony at age 8, but they work hard and they work on it together.
Alta and Jackson - Both as scruffy as you can get! He had JUST come to us, January 2021...The journey begins...
Alta and Jackson today training for show season 2023 with Jordan Lee Performance Horses, where Jackson gets structure and experience via their training
Did we luck out? Yes.
Did I ask a lot of questions? Yes.
Did I ask for a trial? Yes. (no go on the trial)
Did I use my network? Yes.
Ultimately I looked up the sellers reputation online (it was pretty good!) and I corresponded with the trainer in the sale video - we are still friends to this day! She loves watching Jackson progress and get so spoiled.
No regrets. Jackson is a gem and everything they said he was, but this is not always the case.
Have questions about our process?
How we did it and who we talked to?
We are available to answer all your questions - reach out!
Remember: There are a lot of opinions about this choice - buy vs. lease. Follow these guidelines and interject what is best for you and your child. Seek help - you don't have to go it alone and you SHOULDN'T. There are no awards for doing it yourself...I know. I asked. *wink*
Share you purchase or lease experience! We all want to hear the story!
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