Re: The Leasing Game

[WSAbg@t-online.de (Wolfgang Schwingenheuer)]

Corry, Lynda H. wrote:

>   As both the owner and the trainer, you know that horse backwards and
> forwards, inside and out.
> You know when you need to hold him back, and you know when you can let him
> go.  You can almost read his mind.  Unfortunately, your lessee cannot --
> ESPECIALLY if he does not KNOW you or your horse.  If you are not planning
> on accompanying your lessee every step of the way during a 100-mile event,
> think about Baskhari before you lease your friend and trail partner to an
> unknown.  ...If that doesn't work, think about a $7,000 vet bill.  ...And
> yes, it CAN happen to you.

  Hi Lynda and all the others,

now, I have one experience with leasing a horse.
I leased mine to the United Arabian Emirates at the CEI Kat. A (100
miles) at
Lenzburg/Switzerland last weekend. The Emirates brought 14 riders there
to
qualify for the World Championship at Dubai. Because there are not
enough french
horses, they are looking around in Germany. I got an offer and join the
challenge. The rider was a young man with some experience as a jockey
and only
did 60 km (37,5 miles) endurance before!!! He came with absolutely new
boots,
chaps and trousers. We agreed that I should tell him how to ride and he
did well
enough to the first vet. The next phase he should go slower but he
didn't.
Actually he was faster than on the first lap. Also I told him at every
grooming-point he just keep going with the others. I have to say that my
horse
is an anglo-arab with an excellent trot and the other riders had arabian
horses.
They like to canter nearly all the time but my horse was trotting! The
third
phase he had to go alone and of course was slowing down. The speed there
was
acceptable and the horse had a good recovery at the vet. But then the
next phase
he completely brought the horse out of rhythm. All the course was very
hilly
except that phase which is going near a river for more than 10 miles.
Excellent
for making up some time. But what did the rider do? He was letting the
horse
walking all the way... The next-to-last vet-check was the last for us.
At the
re-check the horse had 56 before the ridgeway-trot and 70 after coming
back! The vet,
Dr. Saudemont from France had given us 15 minutes to lower the pulse,
because we
feed the horse just 2 minutes before going to the re-check. But he also
was a
bit tired and dehydrated so we retire him.
The rider could easily be third at that race and with a little bit of
luck he
could win there. So now Sheik Rashid bin Mohamed Al Maktoum from the UAE
was the
winner in 10 hours and 31 minutes, just 20 seconds ahead of Sergio
Tommasi.
Sergio was riding Ramegwa Rhodora, many of you will know that horse (I
guess it
was formerly owned by Maggie Price). Only six out of 22 riders do
complete that
race.
The horse was fine the next day and yes, I will lease him again (but
with a more
experienced rider). Looking at the money I have to say that they are
paying more
for riding the horse one time then I payed for him 8 years ago when I
bought
him.
But Lynda, you are right, such thing may also end at a clinic and cost
lots of
more money for the treatment and maybe the horse will not come back on
the
trail. That's the other side. Everybody has to make that up with his own
mind.

Happy trails,

Wolfgang + Nösenberger's Ninja (more than 1.000 miles)
Germany