Horse leasing: taboo or the future?

An honest conversation with Alexandra from Horsify

Leasing is still a sensitive subject in the equestrian world. While leasing a car, a camper or even a television is perfectly normal, many people find it strange that someone pays to ride a horse they do not own. And that is exactly where things become interesting — not only for horse lovers, but also for entrepreneurs who want to manage their time and costs more efficiently.

I spoke with Alexandra, founder of Horsify, a platform that makes leasing, renting and sharing horses easier and more transparent. Because why should it not be possible in the horse world, when it has been standard practice in other industries for years?

From broodmare to lease pony: the idea behind Horsify

“It all started at the Jong KWPN,” Alexandra explains. “I saw two groups there: people who were lucky enough to have a good broodmare at home, and people who dearly wanted to breed but simply did not have the means for it. Then I thought: what if we connect these two groups?” That is how the idea for Horsify was born: a place where breeders can offer their mares, and where others can lease a mare to fulfil their breeding dream. With clear agreements, transparency and proper contracts. “The breeder receives a fair fee, and the lessee gets the chance to breed — without having to own a horse.”

Why leasing still triggers resistance

When I wanted to lease out my own horse, I was flooded with criticism on Facebook. “You make people pay to ride your horse, that’s unacceptable.” As if it were something outrageous. Yet: leasing a car is normal, leasing a bike is normal, you can even lease a television today. But when it comes to horses, it suddenly becomes taboo. Alexandra knows this all too well. “Opinions differ widely. Still, I see more and more people discovering the benefits. We ourselves lease a pony for our daughter. We have clear agreements with the owner, we know the pony will eventually have a good retirement home, and we don’t have to pay for expensive insurance. It brings peace of mind on both sides.”

The benefits of leasing

For Alexandra, everything stands or falls with clear agreements. That is why Horsify offers ready-made contracts — from leasing contracts for riding horses to specific agreements for brood or surrogate mares. “This prevents confusion about, for example, ownership of the foal, liability or contract duration. It builds trust.”

She also sees additional advantages: costs for care, boarding and farrier work are shared; horses receive more attention and movement; and the barrier to owning a horse becomes lower.

“For many people, owning a horse is simply not feasible,” she says. “Leasing makes the sport more accessible and more fair.”

The reality: horses have never been more expensive

We cannot deny it: costs in the horse world have exploded. Boarding stables cost €600 to €700 per month, manure tests have doubled in price, and veterinarians are rarely cheap. As an accountant, I see this daily: everyone pays, but almost no one really earns from it. And that is a problem. Leasing can change this. When two people share responsibility for one horse, it saves not only money but also time.

“If someone takes care of my horse half the time and pays half the costs, then we both have half a horse — with all the advantages of owning one.”

Why entrepreneurs should embrace this

At its core, the logic is simple: every healthy business runs on profit. But profit is not only about money — it is also about time, ease and enjoyment. And that equally applies in the horse world. Many entrepreneurs (in every industry) struggle with rising costs, busy schedules and staff shortages. Meanwhile, new business models such as leasing, renting or sharing offer huge opportunities. It simply requires a shift in thinking.

“Horse people tend to hold on to the way things have always been done,” Alexandra says. “But if we want the sector to remain future-proof, we need to broaden our perspective.”

Sharing is the new owning

On Horsify you will not only find lease horses, but also people who want to share equipment: saddles, blankets, foaling alarms or other materials that otherwise sit unused for most of the year. “Why not rent them out temporarily?” Alexandra asks. “It saves money, space and waste. And for entrepreneurs, it opens new revenue streams.” It is exactly that mindset — sharing, collaborating and being transparent — that can push the sector forward.

“It has to be win-win”

Whether you buy, lease or rent: the foundation must always be fair. A win-win for both owner and user. As soon as one party feels the balance is off, things go wrong. And that is why clear agreements, trust and openness are so important. As in every collaboration, most problems arise afterwards — when nothing was agreed beforehand.

The future of horse leasing

By the end of our conversation we fully agreed: the horse sector needs innovation, but above all more openness. “We do not all need to do the same thing,” I said. “But we can be curious about each other’s ideas.” And that is where change begins: by listening, learning and jointly exploring ways to keep the sport both affordable and enjoyable.

💡 What entrepreneurs can learn from this

Whether you work with horses, products or people: profit does not only come from selling more, but from using what you already have more intelligently. Those who dare to explore new forms of collaboration — such as leasing, renting or sharing — expand not only their reach but also their profit in terms of time, money and convenience. More profit does not mean working harder, but making better decisions.

And it starts with one simple question: what do I already have that could become more valuable if I share it?