If you've been asking how much it costs to lease a horse, here's my honest answer: it depends on the kind of lease, what the fee covers, and where you live. Prices for board, the farrier, vet care, and everything else vary a lot from place to place, so I don't give sample numbers.
What I can give you is a way to find your own number. It takes a few phone calls, a short list of questions, and a little math. And if you're thinking about buying someday, leasing first is a really smart move. A lease lets you find out what a horse asks of your week, your budget, and your family before you've spent the purchase price.
The kinds of horse leases, in plain words
Owners use these words differently, and terms vary by area, so always ask each owner exactly what she or he means.
Part lease (or half lease). You share the horse with the owner or another rider, usually on set days each week, and you usually share some of the costs.
Full lease. You usually get most or all of the riding, and you usually pay a lease fee plus most or all of the horse's monthly costs.
Free lease (sometimes called a feed lease). There's no lease fee, but you pay the horse's expenses, such as board, feed, the farrier, and the vet. You don't gain ownership of the horse.
On-site or off-site. In an on-site lease, the horse stays where she lives now, and you ride there. In an off-site lease, she moves to a barn you choose, and owners usually want a say in where and how she's kept.
Lease-to-own. Some agreements let you buy the horse later, sometimes with part of your payments going toward the price. It only exists if it's written into the agreement.
Start with who pays for what
The lease fee is only one line. Two leases with the same fee can cost you very different amounts, depending on what that fee covers. So before you compare, go through each cost with the owner:
Board, feed, hay, and supplements
The farrier
Routine vet care, dental, and vaccines
Vet care if he's hurt or sick (for a part lease, ask about your days)
Insurance on the horse, and your own liability coverage
Lessons, if there's a lesson requirement
Tack, blankets, shows, and hauling
For each one, mark whether it's in your lease fee, something you pay extra, something the owner pays, or not sure yet. Anything still "not sure yet" is a question to ask before you agree. The biggest one is who pays if he's hurt or sick.
How to find your real monthly number
Here's the math I use in my guides and in the free Horse Cost Calculator. Fill in only your share. If the owner pays something, write $0 so you know you checked.
Add up the every-month costs. Your lease fee, plus anything else you pay monthly, like board, lessons, or feed that isn't in board.
Add gas. The cost of one round trip times the trips you'll make each month.
Spread out the occasional costs. For the farrier, vet visits, insurance, shows, or a yearly barn fee, take the cost each time, times how many times a year, and divide by 12.
Set aside something for emergencies. Your lease says who pays if he's hurt or sick. Plan for your part.
Those four lines added together are your real monthly lease cost. Keep up-front costs separate: a deposit, a vet exam before the lease if you want one, and any tack, a helmet, or boots you don't have yet, whether that's western boots or paddock boots and half chaps.
Questions to ask on the first call
These will save you a drive, and a few surprises later:
What does the lease cost, and what does that include?
How many days, and which ones?
Who else rides her?
Any soundness or health issues I should know about?
Is there a lesson requirement?
Does the fee pause or drop if she's lame?
What's the deposit, and the minimum length of the lease?
Do you have a written lease agreement?
If an owner says "we don't need a contract," ask for one anyway. Write down the answers, put what you agree to in writing, and have a licensed attorney in your state review the lease before you sign.
Ways to lease for less
If your first number feels big, don't give up. There are more ways to lease than most people realize.
Lease a school horse. Some lesson programs lease a school horse for extra rides each week.
Share a lease. Ask an owner, "Would you consider two part-lessees?" Talk through schedules, riding styles, and what happens if one of you leaves.
Free lease an older or semi-retired horse. Some owners keep paying part of his costs so he stays in light work. Ask what work suits him, and what her vet recommends.
Try a seasonal lease. Lease a horse for a winter or a summer while her owner is away or busy.
If you're ready to start looking, my guide Lease Before You Buy walks you from "I think I want a horse" to a signed lease you understand. It has the first-call and owner interview questions, a trial ride plan, leasing and owning cost worksheets, a lease agreement checklist, and a 90-day review for when you're deciding whether to buy.