Absoluetly no idea what to do!

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emma.is

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I've been loaning a horse since the start of September. Started as a part loan (3 days a week) and since the owners situation changed I've been doing him 6 days a week and paying all his fees except the vets fees when he was ill about three weeks ago.

This horse is nearly six and due to owners lack of time (two young children) had been ridden very very little. He is so green and I've tried my very very hardest with him and been having lessons with my instructor. He's a very sharp horse who needed and still needs lots of ground work and ridden work. He's more like a three year old. He's come very far and I've fallen a bit inlove with him... However since the start of Jan he's been very naughty. He's thrown me off six times since Jan. Instructor checked his saddle and said it didn't fit well, so we tried a prolight pad but the problem just seemed to have got worse. She said that she thinks he's been able to cope with the ill fitting saddle when he was ridden sparingly, but since he's started doing a lot more work and being ridden 5/6 times a week it's made him sore.

So the brunt of it is that he needs a new saddle and ideally a physio or chiropractor to check he's not done any serious damage.

I am not in a position to buy the saddle and neither is my parents. Surely the owner should buy it?
But I don't know how to bring the situation up with her. She's ill at the moment and I think her family life is a bit West too. But I refuse to ride him in an ill fitting saddle and get continently decked and hurt him, so atm I can't ride. And he is useless to me if I can't ride... I don't mind not riding for a few weeks until a saddle gets here but not indefinitely. And I don't think that is unreasonable.

What do I do? :/
 
You phone her, or send her a message and ask her to meet you down the yard with the horse (and preferably your instructor) and talk the situation through with her.

You say you're doing him 6 days a week? So is she going the other day? Maybe go down that day.
 
Yes, the owner should buy it.

If you wanted you could always put a small contribution towards helping her buy a new saddle but can understand if you wouldnt want to do that as technically hes not yours so if owner/ you were ever to end the loan agreement owner would keep the saddle.

I did however buy Harvey a new saddle and yo who i have him on full loan from kept the old one, BUT i have a contract that states what i buy for him is mine and if i were to ever end the loan agreement i would keep all the items i have bought for him then sell them if needed.

I fully agree with you though for not wanting to ride in an ill fitting saddle.
 
What is your agreement with the owner about who pays for what? If it is in your contract that equipment comes with the horse, it would be worth telling her that her horse needs a new saddle. If she won't buy one, and you cannot ride, then look for another loan horse? Failing that, how about you buy a second hand saddle that fits the horse? That would be your saddle, not the owner's, unless she wants to buy it from you.

I hope you get it sorted out, sounds like you have put a lot of time and effort in.
 
Firstly I agree he shouldn't be ridden if its causing him serious pain, so in the meantime perhaps just work on ground work and maybe over some poles etc....
You really have no choice but to contact the owner. The best thing is to probably just phone her and explain the situation honestly and fingers crossed she will help you sort him out. Your only other options would be to suggest that you buy him from her (obviously depending on your funds, her attitude etc.) or else walk away...but it sounds like you really need to talk to the owner, I can't imagine that she wouldn't be willing to get him the help he needs, he is her horse after all.
Hope you sort it out :)
 
Not sure if she can get down, no car and I believe she is pretty ill. I'll think I'll just have to bite the bullet and let her know.

I just feel terrible burdening this on her as well as everything :(
 
Difficult as it is, you need to tell them what you've said here. If they are knowledgeable, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that he's changing shape and needs his saddle checking.
If they are not able or prepared to do this, then you owe it to the horse not to ride him, and just as importantly, your own safety.
If they do not do this, I'd suggest you walk away and the horse to be turned away until the situation changes.
 
You're not burdening her - the horse is her responsibility, and it's one she willingly took on when she bought the horse. You have it as a share, not a loan, which means the owner should be playing an active role.

If you're finding it hard, just say that your instructor has had a look at him and feels that his behaviour points at a sore back / ill fitting saddle, and would it be possible for her to have them investigated?

If she's not, it's time to walk away. I know you really like the horse but it sounds like a very difficult situation and you are already being taken advantage of.
 
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