Buy or Lease?

Many horse lovers opt to lease a horse rather than own. Once the cost of owning a horse in LA is considered and the time commitment required, busy Angelinos might find that a half-leased horse is a better choice.

The terms and price of a lease will vary, but in general the lessee pays the owner a set amount each month in exchange for use of their horse on certain days and times. For example, a horse owner makes his horse available to another rider 3-4 days a week in exchange for a portion of the cost of maintaining the horse each month.

The monthly rate of a half-lease will vary depending on the cost of the monthly board and the cost of maintaining the horse's hooves - shoeing or barefoot trimming. The lessee is typically not expected to cover medical expenses or supplements, but this is not always the case.

Rates for a half-lease generally fall somewhere between $200 - $400 per month for 3-4 days per week. It is usually understood that the horse is being shared with only one other person - the owner or another half-lessee. It would be unfair to pay for an overworked horse.

Occasionally, it is possible to find a lease for one or two days a week. When you consider that renting a horse is $25 per hour and rental horses are sent out on the trail as many times per day as business dictates, leasing is pretty attractive.

Finding a lease is the tricky part. A good place to start is at local feed stores like Damoor's and Stephen's. The sales clerks are very knowledgeable about the area and might be able to offer a lead or two. Check for ads on store bulletin boards or post a want ad detailing what you are looking for.

Another good place to look is on the public bulletin board at the end of Mariposa Street near the entrance to the foot bridge that crosses the LA River. Craigslist.org is another good resource.

If riding on a regular basis sounds good to you, but committing to ownership seems intimidating, taking on a half-lease is an excellent place to start. You will need to do a little foot work to find a horse, but it will be worth it to have a privately owned and well maintained horse to ride.

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Hunter/Jumper Show this weekend at the LAEC

This Friday, February 19th through Sunday, February 21, Langer Equestrian Group is presenting the Gold Coast 1 hunter/jumper show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.


Come watch talented equestrians and their equine athletes compete for prizes. Jumpers start in the Equidome on Friday at 8:00 a.m., followed by pony jumpers after 2:00. Hunters will be in the large outdoor oval ring and the east ring at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday's schedule includes more jumpers in the Equidome, and equitation on the flat in the large oval ring. The weather report says we are expecting rain on Saturday, so the Equidome might be a good place to spend the morning and/or afternoon.

The Equestrian Center also has a gift shop and tack store that are great for meandering in between events. Glenroy's gift shop also serves coffee.

Click here for the complete detailed schedule for the weekend. You can also call Langer Equestrian Group directly on (818) 567-7317.

Can you afford a horse in LA?

Horse ownership can be demanding of your wallet and your time, but the rewards are tremendous. What is the real cost of owning a horse in a city like Los Angeles? It might not be as expensive as you think.

First of all, your horse will need a place to live. Unless you live in house that is zoned for horses, like the Burbank Equestrian Rancho, you're going to need to pick a stable where you will board your horse.

You can find stalls starting around $400 per month. That includes hay and mucking. You will need to pay for any extras like turning your horse out in the stables' arena, assuming they have one, and any other supplements you decide to provide.

Secondly, there will be vet bills. If you are lucky, it will only be a twice a year call for vaccinations that will run from about $75-$100, and once a year dental care around $200. You can always lower the cost of the vet by sharing the "call charge," that is the charge of just getting the vet to show up, with other horse owners at your barn.

Should your horse fall ill, vet bills can quickly add up. Making sure your horse is vaccinated on a regular schedule, taking care of his teeth, and maintaining a consistent diet will help keep him healthy.

Your horse will also need hoof care. If you choose to use shoes, find a reputable farrier and have your horse shod every 6 to 8 weeks. If you decide to go barefoot (check with your vet) there are several good barefoot trimmers in the area. Expect to spend at least $100 for a full set of shoes, and $50 for a barefoot trim.

Lastly, you're going to need tack. You can shop locally at LA Saddlery, drive to Broken Horn Saddlery in Baldwin Park, or do your shopping online at Dover Saddlery. You might even try eBay if you know what you're after. For average, every day use tack, complete with saddle and bridle, you can expect to spend $500 to $1,000.

You have to look cool on the trail, so you'll probably want to buy some riding apparel. Including boots and a helmet, you can get a complete outfit for around $300. The tack shops recommended above are a good place to start.

The rough estimate of owning a horse in LA is about $6,000 per year. If this sounds like more than you can chew, consider a half-lease on a horse. Many owners offer leases on their horses to offset costs. You can enjoy the benefits of having a privately owned, well maintained horse to ride without the long-term commitment at less than half of the cost of ownership.


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Yoga For Equestrians: Hips & Hamstrings

There are two areas in the body of equestrians that are bound to get short and tight from hours in the saddle. The hamstrings, which are the large muscle group in the back of the leg, and the hip flexors tend to tighten up from riding. It might seem harmless, but over time it can lead to pain in the lower back and have negative effects on your posture and balance in the saddle.

Seated forward bends stretch the hamstrings, but they can actually do harm if performed too hastily. If your hamstrings are really short and tight, a safer choice is a reclined posture. Start by lying on your back with a yoga strap, or any belt or strap that you have on hand, extend one leg straight on the floor, then loop the strap around the foot of the other leg and extend it straight towards the ceiling with your foot flexed. This posture is called supta padagusthasana, and it is an excellent way to legthen the hamstrings without putting undue strain on the lower back. Take 10 slow, deliberate breaths on both sides.

For a gentle stretch in the hip flexors, find your way to sitting, bend your knees and bring the soles of the feet together in baddha konasana. With your spine extended, let gravity take your knees gently towards the floor. Take 10 more breaths in this posture.

Doing a few simple yoga postures at home before riding is an easy way to find more suppleness in the saddle. If you want to learn more about yoga and take a group class, Yoga at the Village in Glendale has a wide range of classes for all levels. Many teachers will take requests from students. If you tell her you are interested in working on a certain area of the body, she might be able tailor the class to suit your needs.

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Save a horse from slaughter

Recent legislation rendered it illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption in the United States. Unfortunately, there are still many horses being crammed into trailers and shipped across the border to Mexico or Canada to be killed for human consumption overseas. Many of these are healthy, well trained horses, each with their own unlucky tale of how they ended up on a feedlot awaiting an inhumane demise.

Thankfully, there are people out there working tirelessly to save as many as they can. Equine Angel, a non-profit organization run by Shirley Puga, rescues horses directly from feedlots, mostly in Nevada, where the horses are fattened up before long, grueling transport to Canada or Mexico. Horses are carefully hand picked according to their adoptability. Puga then pays the slaughter price for the horse.

Once a horse has been rescued from the feedlot, Valley View Ranch Equine Rescue takes the reigns (so to speak) to place the horse in foster care, or, ideally, in a permanent home. Valley View Ranch is located in King City near Monterey, California, and is run by Marlene Dodge. Both organizations work closely with each other to rescue horses, raise the funds to care for them, and eventually place them in loving homes.

Since the downturn in the economy last year, many people were forced to let their horses go, unable to afford the upkeep. This accounts for a good portion of these horses left for the lions.

Equine Destiny, a documentary film in progress, is also working to raise awareness of this terrible threat, among others, to American horses. According to statistics on their website, 92% of the horses going to slaughter are in sound condition - many of them well trained for riding.

If you have ever considered horse ownership, adopting a horse that has been saved from slaughter could be a really rewarding endeavor. While it is important to remember that owning a horse is a commitment, both financially and timewise, you might find that horse ownership in LA is within your reach. If you have a passion for horses, there is nothing quite like having a horse of your own to love.

Not ready to commit to a horse? Make a tax deductible donation to one of the organizations above and make a big difference in the lives of horses.

Valentine's Day with Corral 38

Looking for something special for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day? Well, if your sweetheart has four hooves, mark your calendar for Griffith Park Equestrians Corral 38's Used Tack and Show Clothing Sale and Fundraiser. Not only can you get some great new/used stuff, but you can get rid of some of your old tack and apparel.

Corral 38 is the local chapter of Equestrian Trails, Inc. ("ETI"). They promote trail rides, horse shows, and various activities, including the annual Christmas caroling on horseback in our community. Tracy M. Smith is the local coordinator for ETI, and can be contacted by email if you want more information on ETI events.

The upcoming tack and apparel sale is on Sunday, February 14, 2010, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Bette Davis Park, located next to Easter Field. Bring your old tack, riding apparel, barn accessories, and all other equine related items to put in the sale. 15% of the profits go to Corral 38, but the rest is yours to keep. Chances are you will spend your new found cash on some great new stuff for you and your horse.

To submit your items for sale, attach a tag to each item to include your name and the price of the item, which should be priced on the dollar. Be sure to deliver the items by 9:00 on the morning of the sale. Donated items are also welcome. Corral 38 personnel will track your sales and provide you with your profits after the sale.

This is the perfect time of year to clean out your tack room and closet. Why not make a little extra cash on all of your outdated goods? As the old saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Come unload your "trash" and find a treasure.

Horse Trainer or Abuser?

Horse training has come a long way since medieval times, but some of the so-called "trainers" lurking in our community are still using barbaric methods from the dark ages. While it is true that it is necessary to be assertive and establish oneself has the horse's leader, strong arm tactics and cruel methods are a red flag that your trainer is an abuser.


Good training takes time and patience. Muscling a horse into submission through fear, pain, and harsh equipment is not training. Just recently a local "trainer" was unhappy with the way his client's horse was behaving on the trail. Rather than working compassionately with the animal in the moment, he chose to tie the horse's head down via a harsh bit and reigns tethered to the horn of the saddle where he instructed the owner to leave the animal to suffer in its stall for an hour. Is this training?

This is clearly abusive behavior, and anyone witnessing this kind of behavior should speak up, if not to the alleged trainer, then to the owner. The method described above is beyond bad horsemanship - it is downright sadistic. This kind of treatment is only good for creating a fearful horse with a sore neck. What has he learned? That his handler causes him pain and should not be trusted.

The attention span of a horse is very short. Just like dogs, they must be corrected in the moment. Any later and they have no idea why you are reprimanding or praising them. When teaching any animal you must act in the moment.

It is not advisable to attack the abuser (verbally or otherwise), but rather firmly and calmly point out that his method is cruel, unnecessary, and unlikely to produce the desired result. Caution must be used when approaching these individuals because at their core they are bullies, and confronting them could easily turn volatile. It is important to keep in mind that the goal is to help the horse, not provoke or humiliate the abuser. It might be a good idea to call an organization like the ASPCA or Peta for advice and support.

There are many good trainers out there that teach horses with patience and compassion. This is the only way to create a well mannered horse that is happy to perform. Sadly there are impostors out there posing as trainers that are nothing more than abusers. Horses need us to be their voice and protect them from such bullies. Please don't turn a blind eye to the abuse. Get involved.