A half-board arrangement or an exercise rider can let you share the costs and time of owning a horse, but it only works if the agreements are clear beforehand. Most problems don't arise from bad intentions, but because two people understood something different by "sharing."
Half-board, exercise rider, or care horse
These terms tend to get mixed up, so let's first untangle what each usually means:
- Half-board ("halfpension") — someone else rides your horse on fixed days and pays a share of the fixed costs (boarding, feed, farrier). Roughly half the week, hence the name, though the split can vary. See also halfpension in the glossary.
- Exercise rider ("bijrijder") — someone who helps keep your horse in work, often without a fixed financial contribution, or for a small amount. More a riding arrangement than a cost-sharing one.
- Care horse ("verzorgpaard") — often for younger riders: someone may groom and sometimes ride the horse in exchange for helping out at the yard, with no money changing hands.
Whichever form you choose, the core is the same: you're letting someone else handle your horse. The more money and time involved, the more reason to put the agreements in writing.
What you agree on beforehand
Go through these points together before the other person rides for the first time. It's not about distrust — it actually prevents hassle later.
| Topic | What you set out |
|---|---|
| Days | Which days for whom, and what happens during vacation, illness, or holidays |
| Contribution | How much per month, what it does and doesn't cover, and when and how it's paid |
| Use | Riding only, or also lungeing, driving, hacking out; jumping or not |
| Level and supervision | How experienced the other rider is, and whether riding happens under supervision |
| Equipment | Whose saddle, bridle, and boots; who keeps it clean |
| Care | Who picks out hooves, changes rugs, feeds around the riding session |
| Lessons and competitions | Whether the other rider may take lessons or compete on your horse, and at whose expense |
Be specific about the other rider's level. A horse that goes well for you can behave very differently for a nervous rider or one who's too heavy-handed. Have the other person ride under your supervision first, before you commit to specific days.
Splitting the contribution
With half-board, the other rider usually pays a fixed amount per month. A common rule of thumb is a proportional share of the fixed costs — boarding, feed, farrier, basic insurance — based on the number of riding days. Expect roughly €100–€300 per month, depending on the region, the quality of the horse, and what's included in the contribution.
Explicitly agree on what the contribution does not cover. Common gray areas:
- Unexpected vet costs and possibly surgery
- A new rug, boots, or replacing worn-out equipment
- Lessons or competition entries for the other rider
- The purchase price or depreciation of the horse itself
The owner remains the owner. The half-boarder shares in the running costs, not in the horse. Also set out how to end the arrangement: a notice period of one month is common, so that neither party is left without a horse or without income from one day to the next.
Liability and insurance
This is the part people skip most often, and where it hurts in practice. In the Netherlands, the possessor of an animal is, in principle, liable for damage the animal causes. If your horse injures someone or damages something while being ridden by a half-boarder, you as the owner can be held liable — and if the half-boarder is themselves injured, they may in turn be able to hold you liable.
A few things to arrange beforehand:
- Liability insurance (AVP) — check whether yours provides coverage when someone else rides your horse, and whether the half-boarder has their own AVP.
- Damage caused by the half-boarder — agree who's responsible for damage to the saddle, the stable, or third parties during their riding time.
- Own risk in case of an accident — set out that the other rider rides at their own risk, to the extent this is legally possible, and recommend accident insurance.
This subject is YMYL: the precise coverage and liability depend on your policy and the situation. Check the exact terms with your insurer and have a lawyer review any doubtful case. See also the guide on which insurance you need.
Put it in writing
At its core, half-board is an agreement between two parties, and you're free to put it in writing — even between people who know each other well. A simple one- to two-page document is usually enough. Include:
- The names of the owner and the half-boarder, and the horse's details
- The riding days and what happens in case of absence
- The monthly contribution, what it covers, and the payment date
- Who is liable for what, and what insurance is in place
- Rules on riding, jumping, lessons, and competitions
- The notice period and how to end the agreement
Both of you sign it and each keep a copy. It's no guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong, but it makes clear afterward what you intended.
In short
Start with a trial period of a few weeks before you commit to anything in writing: does the other rider get on well with your horse, and does it click in terms of how they interact and how reliable they are around the yard? Then make concrete agreements about days, money, care, and liability, and put them in writing. And keep the owner's role clear — you're sharing the costs and the enjoyment of riding, not the horse itself.
See also: Full board, half-board, or your own stable · Which insurance you need · Level: eigen-paard