Monday, November 9, 2009

Bad ways to lease your horse

Well, I was browsing ads, passively looking for a new mare, and came across this ad:

"I was wondering if anyone out there would be interested in leasing my 12 year old Palomino Quarter Horse mare? She needs an experinced rider, I am looking for someone who can get her back into shape and keep her in shape and ride her lots, as I currently am trying to sell her....
She is out by ---- so super close to the city!
I am asking $110 a month for leasing.
"

Um...not to point out the obvious here, but does this not sound like someone asking to be paid to have someone fine-tune their horse for them? Isn't that something a trainer would do, y'know, for something we like to call...money?

Okay, so here's a couple tips and a re-write that won't rub potential leasees the wrong way and that will give you a better chance at getting your horse leased:

12yo (height?) palomino Quarter Horse mare for lease. Needs an experienced rider and has not been ridden in (time?), so is a little out-of-shape. $110/month. Located near ----; super close to the city.

Noting the mare's accomplishments or riding history would be helpful as well. Also, post a quality photo or two (or offer it upon contact at least). Rather than telling potential lessees the mare is to be sold and you're looking for a "trainer" to pay to train your horse, just simply set it up as a short-term lease. Then, if/when you decide to sell your mare, go ahead and sell (just set up some sort of fair arrangement with the lessee - either a pre-determined lease length or a specific length of time for "notice"). If you're looking for someone to actually train or fine-tune your horse though, either do it yourself, or pay a trainer. It is not fair to pawn an unfit, rusty horse off onto some unsuspecting individual looking for a project horse to learn from and work on, then snatch that horse away to make a profit off of as soon as all the hard work is done... unless all is presented upfront.

1 comment:

GoLightly said...

They've listened to Dire Straits too much.

Money for nothin', and your training for free.