Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Leasing

At 12:44 PM 9/4/02, Bette Lamore wrote:
> If someone asked me to lease one of mine for the purpose of endurance, 
> frankly, I would not even consider it. [snip] Because of the nature of the 
> sport, the likelihood of injury is high

I disagree.  I think that other equine activities have as much or greater 
likelihood if injury - as you mention, Bette, leasing out a mare for 
breeding (or stallion, for that matter) or think of the injuries possible 
from barrel racing, or jumping, much less polo, or, most deadly of all, 
weekend pleasure riding!  I am leasing out one of my horses to someone for 
the purpose of endurance right now and am very happy so far.  The thought 
of one of my horses, raised on open land, so used to exercise and and 
freedom, being confined to a stall and an arena existence, or "trail work" 
that amounts to walking for a half an hour here and there - or the once a 
week sweaty gallop straight out of the stall and headed for tying up - this 
does not *not* appeal to me!

My own endurance horses have not injured themselves or suffered 
rider-caused or endurance-caused problems any more than the horses I used 
to board that were trail horses or show horses.  Seems to me that my 
endurance horses see the vet less than the others!  In fact, the worst 
injuries to any of them over the last quarter of a century or more has been 
sustained in the pasture on their own.

Of course the horse I've got leased out now was *very carefully* placed, 
and I fully trust the woman leasing my mare or I never would have let her 
go there.  I get regular reports back, I get special reports if there's 
even a hint of problems.  So I'm happy, the mare is happy, the woman 
leasing the mare is happy.
       _________________________________________________
                              Lif Strand * Quemado NM USA
          STRAND ENTERPRISES * www.fasterhorses.com
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