Leases are available to approved riders that demonstrate proficiency at safely collecting, grooming, tacking, and riding. Leases are for one rider/one horse and may not be shared with family members or friends. Below are the rules for leasing an RTS horse. All riders and their parents must sign a Lease Agreement prior to finalizing their lease.
1. Riders under 16 will have an adult stay with them at the stable while they are with their horse on their lease day.
2. Riders under 13 will not ride out of site of a responsible adult when riding alone. The adult must be within seeing and hearing distance of the lone youth rider.
3. Return your horse to the same pasture/stall/paddock that you collected it from unless stable has requested differently.
4. Secure the gates properly when removing and returning horses.
5. Groom your horse before riding. Riders 12 and older pick hooves.
6. You may use all riding areas during your lease time including: round pens, dressage arena, riding arena, and trails. You may not use a pasture that has loose horses.
7. Do not jump your horse during lease time without stable permission. You may go over ground poles and cavalletti IF you know the proper spacing for your horse's stride.
8. No excessive cantering, jumping, turning/circling that might injure your horse.
9. Wear a body protection vest to practice cross country jumping (Must have stable approval to go cross country on lease days). This does NOT apply to regular trail riding.
10. Do not ride beyond your comfort zone or attempt skills that have not been presented in your lessons.
11. Cool your horse completely after your ride. In hotter weather this may include sponging off or hosing. If weather permits you may hose your horse and shampoo weekly.
12. You may use all stable tack and supplies. Wipe your tack/helmet after each use and return it to its proper location. Rinse synthetic bridles and girths. Wipe off your leather tack. Wipe off your bit. Run up your stirrups up on English saddles. Secure your bridle on its hook.
13. Put your name on any supplies that you will leave at the barn. You will be assigned a halter rack and shelf space for your items (applies to riders leasing for more than 3 months).
14. Once a month, clean and condition all tack that you use on your horse (both stable tack and your tack). You may either use stable leather products or provide your own.
15. Clean any grooming tools that you used - knock off accumulated dust/dirt before you return them to a caddy or organizer.
16. Hang stable-owned sweaty saddle pads/blankets on the stall rail to dry (soiled side up). If your saddle pad has become very soiled, rinse it off with the hose and hang to dry. Hang your personally owned saddle pads behind stall #5.
17. Turn off all lights before you leave. Turn off any water spigot that you used.
18. Remove your horse's manure from the stall/barn area.
19. Sweep the barn aisle before you leave.
20. Check the dry erase board for notes from the stable - leave any notes you feel are important to the stable.
21. Riding time is sunrise to 9:00 p.m. However, riders 16 and older may hang out in the barn after 9:00 p.m. for grooming, cleaning tack, etc. You may use the arena and parking lights (switch is on the middle pole). Turn the arena lights off as soon as you leave the arena or at 9:00 p.m. (whichever comes first).
22. If you arrive at feeding time, you will need to wait 1 hour before you exercise your horse. You need to wait 15 minutes after graining before you remove your horse from its stable location (ensures horse hydrates). Do not disturb your horse for the 15 minutes after graining! If you are riding during feeding time, you will be responsible for feeding your horse after your horse has cooled. Stable will notify you where/how to feed your horse with a message on the dry erase board.
23. The lease fee for your horse(s) is $110/month for one day each week or $30/day. You may only lease on your scheduled day. Rider or stable may discontinue the lease at end of each month. You will not be reimbursed for unused lease time if you do not ride/visit on your lease day.
24. Supervised Lease Day for youth and beginner riders is on Thursdays from 4:00-8:00. Cost for supervised lease is $125/month or $35/day. Parents of youth may drop off youth riders for up to 2.5 hours. RTS staff will be available during this time to provide assistance with collecting and tacking. Riders will be required to follow safety instructions provided by staff.
25. Leases are for individual riders only. Your lease horse may not be shared with friends or family on your lease day.
Note: A leaser is held to a higher standard than a rider that simply takes a lesson. You have made a commitment to be an integral part of the stable and partake in a horse's well being. Your lease fee is for the horse/day listed above. You are not responsible for any other fees or expenses pertaining to the care of your leased horse. The horse will be available for your exclusive use on that day. In some instances your horse may not be available on your lease day due to injury, illness, training, showing, or special events. You will be offered another suitable horse for that day.