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| Satisfy Your Horse Cravings Without Owning One |
Riding and caring for horses brings joy to so many people. However, not everyone has the means to own their own pony or make it to the barn as often as they would like. If you find yourself horse-crazy but horseless, there are still plenty of ways to get your equine fix. Read on for tips on making the most out of lessons, leasing, summer camps, and more.
Learn Through Lessons
Taking riding lessons is one of the best ways to quench your horse thirst when you don't have one of your own. Riding a variety of school horses under the guidance of a qualified instructor allows you to improve your skills exponentially.
Accelerate Your Horsemanship
Switching between lesson horses is hugely beneficial for advancing quickly as an equestrian. School horses have vastly different personalities and way of going. Learning to adapt your aids to suit each new mount teaches you to become a versatile, skilled rider.
McKenzie takes weekly dressage lessons in Pennsylvania and gets to ride all kinds of horses with her trainer. One lesson she might be on a 16 hand Thoroughbred, and the next she could be riding a 14 hand pony. The diversity of horses available to McKenzie through her lesson program is rapidly accelerating her feel and skillset.
"When I started riding, I just rode one pony. I got really good at riding him. When I rode another horse, it was so different!" says McKenzie. Having an expert trainer on hand to coach her through challenging moments with new horses has been invaluable.
Trying many different horses also helps you determine your preferences when it comes time to buy or lease your own horse. You might think you want a hot, tall horse only to discover through various lesson mounts that you actually prefer a steady, smaller ride.
Find Lessons In Your Area
Check out barns in your area to see if they offer lessons, especially on school horses. Many lesson barns allow you to take private lessons, while others offer an affordable group format. The latter is a great way to make horsey friends if you are horseless!
If there are no lesson barns near you, consider reaching out to local horse owners advertising leases. Sometimes lease agreements will include one lesson per week with the owner or trainer. This helps ensure you continue progressing with your new equine partner.
When searching for lessons, make sure the instructor is certified through an organization like the Certified Horsemanship Association. Finding a competent, qualified teacher is key to getting the most out of your investment in lessons.
Enjoy Consistent Riding Through Leasing
Leasing a horse allows you to form a partnership and compete without the full commitment of ownership. Unlike sporadic lessons, you get to ride the same horse consistently.
Bond With Your Buddy
Leasing creates an opportunity to really get to know one special horse. You establish communication, trust, and harmony as you tune into his needs.
Riding one horse frequently allows you to become intimately familiar with his gaits, personality quirks, likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. You accommodate one another and form a treasured bond during your lease period.
Understand the Different Types of Leases
Horse leases come in all shapes and sizes. The most common are:
- Full Lease - You are the sole rider of the horse for a designated period of time, typically 6 months to a year. You pay all board, farrier, vet bills, etc.
- Half Lease - You split riding days and horse expenses with the owner or other leaser. Typically get 2-3 days per week.
- Free Lease - No payment, just ride! Usually the owner needs help riding or caring for the horse.
Before entering a lease, understand terms like:
- Required riding frequency
- Financial responsibilities
- Whether shows and trails are allowed
- If lessons/training are included
- Length of commitment
Ask tons of questions upfront so no surprises pop up! Let the owner know your goals and experience level to ensure the lease horse suits you.
McKenzie's Leasing Journey
13 year old McKenzie has outgrown her lesson horses skills-wise. She's ready to move up the levels but doesn't want the full commitment of owning her own horse.
Her trainer connected McKenzie with the owner of Rico, a 16 year old Paint gelding currently showing 2'9 hunters. After an introduction ride and a ton of questions for his owner, McKenzie decided Rico would be the perfect first lease.
She plans to do a half lease, getting 3 rides plus 1 lesson each week on Rico. Her goals are to move up to the 3 foot division showing locally while developing her partnership with Rico through consistent work.
After a year she will reassess if she wants to extend the lease, lease an upper level horse, or purchase her own mount. This incremental approach makes the process financially and practically attainable as a horseless rider.
Immerse Yourself at Summer Camp
Horse summer camps offer the ultimate equestrian immersion experience. You get to live and breathe horses for days, weeks, or months alongside new horsey besties.
Daily Equine Immersion
At summer camp you'll be riding different horses each day under supervision during mounted lessons. Tend to their care in hands-on stable management sessions, expanding your horse IQ.
Bond with all the camp lesson horses while determining your riding preferences. Do you like forward or steady? Small or tall? Gaited or traditional? You’ll find out!
In your free time hang in the barn aisle or hand graze new furry pals. Each moment fuels your horse addiction. No parents rushing you out to drive home; you actually get to sleep in the barn if they allow it!
Learn Horsemanship Skills
Julia attends her sleepaway camp for 2 weeks every summer since she turned 8 years old. Now 11, she’s gleaned a wealth of knowledge from daily stable lessons.
She’s handled foals, learned to braid for hunter shows, sat in on vet appointments, and helped administer medications. Julia has a grasp of equine first aid and can evaluate hay quality and check vital signs.
“Camp is teaching me to be really responsible with horses,” says Julia. “Someday when I’m older and have my own horse, I’ll know what to do since I learned it all early on at camp!”
The immersive equestrian education empowers horse-crazy youth to confidently pursue horse ownership later. They gain a solid foundation of horse husbandry skills many adult owners lack.
Forge New Friendships
Julia’s favorite aspect of camp is spending 24/7 with fellow horse fanatics. She stays connected year-round with her tight knit group texting and posting photos nonstop.
“We have so much in common it’s like we’ve been friends forever!” says Julia. “I can’t imagine not having their support as I work toward getting my own pony.”
The bonds horse kids form sustains them during school months away from the barn. Talking through lease decisions, lesson horse drama, and future horse ownership dreams with besties who wholeheartedly understand keeps spirits up.
Expand Your Horizons
In addition to equine activities, summer camps offer kids a chance to try new things like watersports, ropes courses, and wilderness skills. Julia went lake kayaking, rappelled down a 50 foot wall, and identified local wildlife tracks.
“I was scared at first but the camp counselors made me feel so confident! Now I can’t wait to conquer my next challenge,” Julia exclaims. Facing fears and moving outside comfort zones empowers personal growth.
Don’t limit yourself to only attending an equine camp either. Consider exploring a traditional summer camp offering horseback riding as one of many adventure activities. This way you get the perfect blend of equine and human self discovery.
Immerse Yourself in Books, Videos & Magazines
When you aren’t riding, soaking up equestrian books, magazines and online videos fills idle horsey time productively. Armchair education prepares you for future hands-on horse interactions.
Hit the Books
Visit your local library or bookstore to fill your shelf with horse books spanning fiction novels to breed encyclopedias. Here are some top picks to fuel your obsession:
Horse Breeds: The Ultimate Horse Book for Kids | Training: 101 Arena Exercises for Horse and Rider
Fiction: Misty of Chincoteague series | Showing: Horse Showing For Kids
Anatomy: The Horse Anatomy Workbook | Fiction: The Saddle Club series
Libraries allow you to borrow tons of books free! Having your own collection lets you highlight and notate your faves. Reference them anytime.
Get Visual
Beyond reading, online videos offer demonstrations perfect for visual learners. YouTube houses tutorials on every horse topic imaginable.
Here are some channels great for kids and teens trying to fill the horseless void:
Young Equestrians: demos on horse care, riding, showing | Horse Network: pro trainers teaching all disciplines
Pony Club: official Pony Club instructional videos | HorseTV: on demand riding demonstrations
Just beware of misinformation from unofficial sources. Seek respected channels offering sound training techniques only. Always have an adult preview videos before replicating anything shown.
Peruse Equine Magazines
Horsey magazines like Young Rider provide current content to keep your horse obsession fed every month. Horse Illustrated, Equus, Horse & Rider and Practical Horseman also supply endless equine entertainment through feature stories and columns.
Here's a taste of what these kid-friendly mags offer:
Training tips from top riders | DIY barn projects | Latest horse gear