Leasing a horse to hunt

[apydays]

Hello, I currently run a trekking stables and was thinking of diversifying slightly during the winter. Originally I thought I would hire a couple of the horses out. However I have one customer that would like to make it a regular thing (at least twice a month), so I was considering leasing a horse to them? So basically charging them to hunt twice a month for 6 months, I would prepare the horse on the day, keep it fit and deliver the horse to the meet & collect. But I would still be able to use the horse for trekking. So what are your thoughts, please feel free to find any problems with this. TIA

 

[be positive]

It sounds like a good way to increase your turnover, the only negative would be if the horse was injured and the client still expected to hunt another one, which if they pay upfront a lease fee as well as ongoing costs they may feel entitled to especially if it was injured while you were using it, likewise if it suffered a serious injury hunting then you may have a big bill and a lame horse that cannot earn it's keep for some time, as a trekking yard you probably do not have insurance for the individual horses so it may be sensible to insure the one you lease, build it into the fee, just in case what could be a good money maker turns out to be the opposite, otherwise it is a great idea.

 

[Orangehorse]

Sounds like a good idea, there is a yard round here that does many hunt hirelings, I wonder how they manage?

The person taking the horse must have some sort of responsibility for it or they might just ride it into the ground. I suppose if it is leased, they will have a relationship with it and so tend to look after it better than if it is just on hire for a day.

For the person hiring, it is cost effective too as you don't have the initial outlay and upkeep and work of looking after a hunter. (I have seriously thought about it for next season).

 

[Doug]

I'm sure that others can offer far more insight than I can but you need to consider the training required to make the hunter first. Clients will expect a tried and tested horse that will stand quietly at the meet and have good manners for the rest of the day.

If you are buying an expensive ready made hunter then you will have to wait a while before you break even or start making money from the horse.

 

[Isbister]

I rely on hirelings, and I can attest to an acute shortage, at least in the East Midlands, so I think that - rather than a more complicated and onerous leasing arrangement - might be the best way for you to proceed. Assuming, as has been queried already, that your horses are suitable for hunting.

 

[tinker88]

timbertops at wentbridge yorkshrie provide hirelings

 

[rpchristian]

Hello there! I'd certainly be interested in this. What sort of price were you think of?

 

[Houndman]

For taking a tried tested and experinced and schooled horse to the meet and collecting afterwards, around here the going rate is £125 to £150 per day, though some can charge as much as £200. You've got to remember that the horse cannot be doing hard work 7 days a week if hired out this way, the price takes into account wear and tear on the horse and vet bills etc.

It may seem a lot to some but you've got to remember its time out of your day, grooming and plaiting, use of your transport, diesel, wear and tear on your vehicle and trailer, and your insurance cover, so after you take that off, the profit is not fantastic. You also need several horses avialable in case one goes lame and your income stops (and customers leave and go elsewhere, never to return).

If you are providing second horse half way through the day then £200 to £250 is reasonable as they are paying for your time also as you will have to hang around most of the day and bear in mind that its better for two horses to do moderate work than one to do heavy work.