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Del
Camino offers intermediate and advanced riders the option of leasing, so
they may enjoy the benefits of horse ownership, and practice horsemanship
as well as their equitation, without the long-term commitment or variable
expense.
Horse ownership is a major
long-term commitment and we encourage anyone who wants to own a horse to learn as much as they can in a safe
educational environment before taking the plunge. That is Del Camino
Equestrian Academy's primary mission. Leasing enables would-be horse
owners to experience the many facets of the lifestyle, acquire the
necessary tools and skills, which extend far beyond merely riding.
Buying a horse is easy. Buying the wrong horse is even easier.
Selling a horse can be difficult, and can take a long time. Anyone
who has the opportunity to lease for a few months before shopping for a
horse of their own should take advantage of the option to "get your
feet wet.". Over the years, many of our students who have other
demands on their time have found that leasing is even a better long-term
option for them.
At Del Camino, full, half, and quarter leases are available all
year, and for periods as brief as one month. For example, a rider may
wish to half lease for a month while on vacation one of the horses he has
been riding during his lessons.
How it Works
All Del Camino leases require
you to take at least one lesson per week with a Del Camino
instructor. This enables us to ensure the horse's training and
condition is maintained, and that you know what skills to hone during your
self-directed practice sessions. Your time spent with the horse
outside of lessons should be enjoyable and be good for both you and the horse.
All Del Camino leases include
the horse's bridle and bit, and if necessary, a girth, and any corrective
saddle pad we deem advisable to ensure that your saddle fits the horse
correctly. We do not expect you to purchase anything that must fit
that particular horse. The basic lease does not include rental of a
saddle. Most riders who are ready to lease a horse own a saddle that
fits the rider well and will fit most horses. In the rare event that
the rider does not have a saddle, a school saddle may be rented for an
additional fee, so long as this does not conflict with the needs of the
Lesson Program.
Except for horses in full lease
for competition, none of the Del Camino horses may leave the property,
either hand walked, ridden, or trailered. While many of the horses
have trail experience, we have not accustomed them to the routes in our
area, many of which are now undesirable footing or unsafe due to
construction or traffic. There are ample bridle paths and a
quarter-mile exercise track on the 20-acre ranch, so a relaxing
"hack" or "trail ride" is possible without going out
the gate.
The lease is a set fee
calculated from the cost of maintaining the specific horse for the year,
including all its normal expenses. These are then pro-rated into a
monthly average. Normal expenses include board, supplements, an
annual veterinary check-up, annual dental care, Spring and Fall
vaccinations, hoof trimming and shoeing approximately every five weeks,
bridle path clipping every two weeks, and insurance. These vary
because some horses live in stalls that cost more than outdoor pens, some
wear shoes on all four feet while others are shod only in front, some need
more supplements or more frequent dental care, some are trace or body
clipped and/or blanketed in the winter.
One of the benefits of leasing
is that should the horse throw a shoe, or be unrideable due to illness or
injury, Del Camino transfers the lease to another suitable horse in the
meantime. This enables the student to continue riding, whereas a
person who privately owned a horse would have no mount until their horse
recovered.
Del Camino
students are encouraged to enjoy their time with the horse to gain
invaluable groundwork experience, not just saddle time. We set aside
the morning or the afternoon on its schedule, so that you can practice
bathing, leg wrapping, lungeing, presenting the horse in hand, grazing,
equine massage, taking vital signs, body condition scoring, blanketing, and
a myriad of other skills anyone who wishes to ultimately own their own
horse should be comfortable doing. We teach these skills as part of
the Lesson Program Intermediate and Advanced curriculums, and in the Adult
Horsemanship Class series. In the unlikely event a lessee does not
know how to do one of these tasks, and needs to do so for the leased horse,
a Del Camino trainer or instructor will teach you before you are authorized
to do it unsupervised.
Remember: this is a Safety
First HorsemanshipSM
program, and enthusiasm, while wonderful, is not a substitute for
knowledge.
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A full lease entitles
the student to exclusive use of the horse on a normal work regimen, approximately
six rides or training sessions per week. This option is appropriate
for someone preparing to compete at rated horse shows. A horse that
has been fully body clipped for competition must be blanketed and live in
the barn until the coat grows out. Lesson or training fees are
charged separately. Leased horses may only be shown under Del
Camino's supervision.
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A half lease entitles
the student to partial use of the horse on a normal work regimen,
approximately three rides per week, not including their weekly
lesson. This is the most popular lease for people who are seriously
considering their own horse, and want to lease for six months to a year
before taking the plunge. Missed rides can be made up during
the month, coordinated with the Del Camino office. Half leases are
available for a single month, or on a month-to-month basis.
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The times set aside for the student are scheduled as
mornings or afternoons on specific days. For example: Monday
and Friday mornings and Saturday afternoons. This enables Del Camino
to schedule the horse's remaining three lessons with other appropriate
riders to maintain its condition and regular routine. We strongly recommend
that would-be horse owners use this time to modify their personal schedules
to include this much "horse time"; acquire the necessary grooming
tools, miscellaneous tack, lungeing equipment, first aid supplies, and
hands-on experience with stalls, shoeing, feeding, minor wound care, and so
on.
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A quarter lease is the
same as a half lease, except that it is for a two-week period
(half-month.) These are ideal for school age students on Winter or
Spring Break.
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Certain horses are very popular with the Intermediate
Level riders for quarter leases during the holidays, so we suggest ,making
reservations for this option at least one month in advance.
Interested in leasing one of
our schoolmasters? Please discuss this with Joe or Barbara when you
come for a lesson. We can advise you which horse(s) would be
suitable, and check the lease reservation schedule.
Other Resources
The Lease Program brochure
(available in the Del Camino office) details the program, current prices,
and the equipment you need besides your riding attire. It also gives
helpful information about other kinds of horse leases, and what you should
know before entering into a lease agreement for a horse with a
friend, acquaintance, or trainer.
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