Horses are beautiful, mysterious, and inspiring. Just spending time with these gentle giants is an experience that many will remember for a lifetime. If you have a passion for horses, wanting to spend time with them is understandable, but owning one is often not so easy. Horses come with a steep price tag, and for many the cost of the horse itself, feed and board makes owning one impossible.

If you find that owning a horse is not in the cards, but still desperately want to spend time with them, you’re not alone. This is a common problem, and there are actually quite a few ways to handle it.

Trade work for lessons

Boarding and riding lessons are expensive because they require a lot of care. Horses need exercise even when the owner is unavailable. They need fed. groomed, stalls cleaned, pastures picked, fences inspected, tack cleaned, and so much more.

Even if you can’t afford a riding lesson, let alone a horse, you may still be able to spend time with them. Many stable owners are glad to trade stall cleaning and other chores in exchange for a lesson or two.

If you absolutely can’t afford horses but want to be with them, you may be surprised what a quick call to nearby stables can offer you.

Volunteer

Just as there are dog and cat rescues, there are also horse rescues. These horses still need the same care as a horse with an owner, and may also need additional TLC as they are habilitated. Volunteering is a great way to help you spend time with the animals you love, and it’s also free.

Best of all, you’ll be dong the horse as much of a favor as it is doing you.

Take lessons or lease a horse

If the upfront cost of the horse itself is too much, but you really want to focus on riding as much or more than care, lessons are a good option. Lessons are the best and safest way to learn how to ride a horse. If you just get on without a trained professional to help you learn the ropes, especially if the horse itself isn’t well trained, you can end up in a lot of trouble.

Once you’ve gained enough experience to be a competent rider, leasing or part-leasing a horse is a possible option. Leasing is like a long term rental, where you don’t own the horse but have full or partial rights to riding them.

In a full lease, you can treat the horse as if you own it, and in a part-lease you may share the horse with one or more other riders.

Even if you can’t own a horse of your own, there are plenty of ways you can still interact with these charming creatures. Whether you rent a horse for a simple trail ride or take lessons regularly, the bond you have with the horse won’t be any less.