Much like the concept of a band, an Equine Half Lease Agreement has the potential to show all of the world its peculiar and interesting partnership. Typically, in an Equine Half Lease Agreement, an owner of a horse shares their horse with a rider (or riders) as a form of part-time employment, but rather than receive monetary payment for the work, the owner receives the work done as compensation for allowing the rider to use the horse. Therefore, this arrangement is similar to what happens when a band decides to bring in new people for part time or temporary roles, and share the spoils as they go along.
Essentially, at its root, a half lease agreement allows a rider to use a horse, as their own, on a part-time basis. In exchange for the use of the horse, the rider agrees to provide necessary services for the horse and to pay a monthly fee for the use of the horse (which is, in reality, a reduced version of what the horse would cost if the rider were to employ the horse full-time, on a more permanent basis). As is clear from this description, a half lease agreement requires quite a lot of coordination, extra help, and additional time once it is undertaken. However, most of the time, this relationship works out quite well.
If you are part of a band, you’ve been there. In fact, if you’re normal, you’ve probably had more than one or two of those relationships. As a band member, you need to have a good knowledge of your instrument, but also a lot of time to devote to the band and to the band members.
So maybe your horse is lame. Or maybe one member of the band has a lame horse. Either way, the band member with the lame horse may not be able to devote the same time to the band as the other members of the band can, and a half lease agreement would be a good way to work out this situation without totally upsetting the already established creative balance. Perhaps the guitarist of the band wants to take up golfing again. Or the drummer wants to put more time into his side project. Either way, a “sub” could be brought in to help the band on a part-time and temporary basis.
In order for any relationship to work, there needs to be good communication. In the case of a horse and rider, the care and feeding of the horse needs to be a priority. Therefore, the owner and the rider must ensure that there is a good line of communication which runs between them and that they are effectively communicating their schedules.
Likewise, if there is a new sub in the band, the new member and the surrounding members of the band need to communicate well in order to make sure that they are on the same page. The two parties can talk about what they will play, how they will play it, as well as about the logistics of the day.
As in any type of relationship, if a mistake is made, it is likely that the parties will get mad at the person, and that the person will have to prove that they will not make the mistake again. Therefore, both parties to an Equine Half Lease Agreement (the owner and the rider) need to make sure that they work together in order to smooth out the relationship.
Likewise, if the person that they bring in for a temporary role on the side of a band is not performing as they should, then the band may need to have a talk with them so that they can work out the kinks.
As both parties to the agreement are already aware of all of the costs associated with caring for a horse, it is likely that the rider will offer to pay a portion of the costs of maintaining the horse at the farm. Additionally, if the rider investigates the fees associated with owning a horse/barn rental, they will discover that the monthly fee associated with an Equine Half Lease Agreement is a good deal for both parties in the long run.
As with the decision to bring in a sub for some live performances, the cost of even a small thing such as a sub’s pizza can add up. Additionally, if the two parties agree, the band could actually pay some of the sub’s costs to perform with the band.
Even if the band ultimately decides not to bring in a substitute, it is important that they make the decision to do so as a group, as well as to take turns performing and not leave it as just the main members of the band.
In some cases, if a person finds an “angel” investor, that investor might agree to pay the majority of the costs associated with an album. However, in order for an investor to invest in your new track, that investor must be able to approve of the work being produced. Therefore, the investor might be willing to pay the majority of the costs associated with producing an album, but they will still expect creative input on the work itself.
Both of these parts of the agreement (the short-term and the long-term) are essentially the same. An Equine Half Lease Agreement allows a rider to lease the horse for a long period of time, acting almost as its owner. Likewise, in a band, if one member cannot be there for some period of time, then that member may want to bring in a “sub” for the time period in which they will be absent.
Finally, if there are disputes between the band members, there is the possibility that there will be some conflict and that the problem will need to be worked out between both parties. Artists often get angry, and they are often quite sensitive. With that said, make sure as a band that you resolve these conflicts in a way which is beneficial for both the group’s and the individual members’ interests.
Therefore, Equine Half Lease Agreements are quite similar to band collaborations that you may encounter throughout your life. In fact, you may see both of these types of agreements emerge in the first stages of your “career,” and find that they continue to follow you for your entire life.
