Leasing and Practice Rides

Red Gate Farm has horses available for short and long-term leases, as well as those available for practice rides (hacks). This offers our riders the opportunity to spend extra time with a horse appropriate to their riding level, strengthening grooming, tacking and riding skills. Some horses may be available for sale to current students also. Please contact us with inquiries.

A lease means that you commit to renting a specific horse on the same days every week to ride ON SITE without an instructor. The purpose of the lease is to ride more often with one horse in order to practice skills learned in lessons and to build a partnership over time.

A practice ride (hack) is a 45 minute on-site ride on a horse at the student’s riding level, assigned by an instructor or barn manager based on availability on that day. Practice rides are only available for students who can ride and tack up independently. Practice rides are available pre-planned for $45 each. No jumping allowed in hacks and riders must stay in the arena.

Rules of Lease and Practice Rides

• Arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis and only for students currently enrolled in lessons
• If the assigned or leased horse is unavailable for any reason, including injury, a replacement horse at the rider’s level will be assigned at the barn manager’s discretion
• Rides do not include jumping
• Rides must be supervised by an adult
• Riders are responsible for care of the horse before and after riding (thorough grooming, tacking up, warm up period, cool down, putting tack away properly)
• Leasing and practice rides are a privilege which can be revoked if not treated as such
• Riders and parent(s) must read and sign the rules.

Lease Rules

To make arrangements for a lease, please contact us directly. Specifics of a lease are determined on a case-by-case basis, but most lease arrangements follow the guidelines below:

• Requires a commitment to take a minimum of 4 lessons per month.
• Lease terms must be pre-paid and are for contiguous months
• Leases include shoes, board, and veterinary care at no additional fee
• Lease prices can be higher if horse or pony has a higher value than an average schoolhorse.
• If your leased horse is ill or unavailable for any reason, a replacement mount will be assigned until the leased horse returns for duty
• Lessees are not financially responsible if the horse becomes ill or is injured during an on-site ride
• Payment is due at the beginning of the month or at the beginning of the term for longer leases (6-months, 1 year)
• Requests for a change in leased horse are granted at the discretion of the owner or barn manager
• Leases are not guaranteed to be renewed at the end of the term and can be cancelled by the lessee or barn owner with 30-day notice

Lease Hack Scheduling

The days and times must be set for the lease term and the rider MUST stick to those assigned practice rides (hack) times.  The practice rides/hacks do not accrue and cannot be rescheduled.  

Hacks are use it or lose it. The only way a hack may be rescheduled is if the farm had use of the horse at your appointed hack time. If you choose to ride your horse in a lesson or competition the day of your hack, that hack cannot be made up.

Horse Usage & Showing 

To encourage showing, ONE free benefit Horse usage fee will be included per month for a hunter or jumper show (no cross country, not able to be upgraded, not able to be carried from month to month).  Additional  horse usage fees will still apply for extra shows/outings when a rider leases a horse. Lease fees cover hacks on site, but not lessons or additional horse usage fees for external activities. Any show fees (transportation, off-site or full-day extra usage fees, accommodations) are additional to the lease cost. Reservations for outside rides and shows must be made separate from the lease – DO NOT ASSUME your leased horse will be available for shows/outings.  Inquire and reserve early.

Lease Types and Fees

The term “horse” below applies to both horses and ponies.  One of the chosen days, the lease horse is to be ridden in a lesson (at additional cost), and the additional days the horse is ridden for a practice ride.

Competition Lease (required for jumping 2′ to 2’7″): Lessee can ride 4 days of the week based on the schedule established in the lease. Horses in Competition leases will still be used as school horses, but in no more than 2 lessons per day outside of the lease arrangement. Lease costs $625 per month.  (Extra cost for a few select horses of high value) To be actively competing, 4 days riding per week are required, with 2 of those recommended to be lessons (minimum of one lesson per week).

Half Lease (schoolhorse): Lessee can ride 3 days per week based on the schedule established in the lease. Only one weekend day is allowed for this lease type, whether that is a lesson day or not. Lease costs $500 per month. (Extra cost for a few select horses of high value)

Third Lease (schoolhorse): Lessee can ride 2 days per week based on the schedule established in the lease. Only one weekend day is allowed for this lease type, whether that is a lesson day or not. Lease  costs $300 per month. (Extra cost for a few select horses of high value)

General Lease ( Half or Third, schoolhorse):  No specific horse is chosen, but the lessee can instead ride a variety of appropriate horses.   Requires coordination with daily schedule.

A 5% discount is given for a 6 month lease; 10% discount for a 1 year lease.  Pre-paid for entire length of lease.

Note:  30 days notice for cancellation of a lease is required. (or you will be charged)

AVAILABLE HORSES/PONIES:

Payment secures your spot, and is due at or near the time of service.  Red Gate Farm does not offer in-house financing or monthly billing.