Adivce on Loaning a horse

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Doolally

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Morning

I just wanted some advice on loaning a horse. I have ridden all my life (now 32) and sold my horses 6 years ago to move to London. I am now back out in the country and want to get back into it and have been offered a friend of a friends horse on loan. Do people usually have agreements in place and what is the usual situation on vets fees/ insurance etc?

Also length of the agreement I presume is by mutual arrnagement but this is an older horse so perhaps if he is then unrideable in the future does it revert back to the owner?
Any advice/ help would be appreciated! I have owned plenty but never borrowed one!

Thanks
 
Doolally said:
Morning

I just wanted some advice on loaning a horse. I have ridden all my life (now 32) and sold my horses 6 years ago to move to London. I am now back out in the country and want to get back into it and have been offered a friend of a friends horse on loan. Do people usually have agreements in place and what is the usual situation on vets fees/ insurance etc?

Also length of the agreement I presume is by mutual arrnagement but this is an older horse so perhaps if he is then unrideable in the future does it revert back to the owner?
Any advice/ help would be appreciated! I have owned plenty but never borrowed one!

Thanks
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One of my horses I have on full loan - we have a contract in place (adapted from the BHS one on the website) that I am responsible for ALL the mare's keep (she was moved to my yard), I regularly keep owner updated with pics/messages. I have her on a year's loan and that either she goes back to owner after a year or I buy her. Whether you keep the horse if he becomes unrideable or he goes back to owner, you'd have to discuss with owner but make sure it goes in the contract.
 
Each loan situation is different. I would talk to the owner about the age of the horse. If theyre not happy having the horse back when it needs retiring then it isnt the horse for you. Most full loans i know include vets bills and insurance being paid by the loaner. I would advise though that you get something into the contract about any pre existing conditions or problems that become apparent in the first week or so so that you are not liable.
 
How exciting, have a look on the BHS website there is a standard contract that you can agree and adapt to suit what you and the horses owner want - almost every agreement is slightly different and you can agree what you like/ works for you.

I have two on loan (one privately and one from charity) and I have one out on loan.
Vets fees - I am fully responsible for horses I loan, and my loaner is fully responsible for the horse on loan to her
Insurance - My horse on loan is insured by me - but premiums paid by loaner - fully loan usually involved being responsbile for all costs, hence loaner pays premiums but I want the insurance in my name so I can be sure he is insured properly and if he's returned injured at any point then I know I have cover

Term - I don't have dates in the loan agreements other than either myself or loaner can give 30 days notice to return/ reclaim the horse. He's been out on loan for 2 1/2 years now on that basis. My big horse I have on loan and he's been with me for 5 years now.

Return - the whole point of a loan is that you can return the horse, pretty much any time - sensible to agree a notice period in the contract. I would expect my loanee to return my boy if he becomes unuseful for any reason (age, lameness etc.) I would hope that she doesn't bring him back at the drop of a hat - but I'd be stupid to expect her not to - just in case !!
 
Great thank you very much that is really helpful. Ill look up the BHS contract and discuss the vets fees in relation to existing conditions to be excluded!
 
My advice would be to get the horse vetted so that both parties are aware of any issues at the time of the loaning of it.

The BHS loan agreement needs to be amended to both parties requirements but then needs checking by a specialist equine solicitor to ensure it is enforceable.

It is in the loaners interest to ensure that the horse is freeze marked on it's shoulder so that it can always be identified.
 
I wouldn't spend £300 on vetting a horse that I wasn't buying - especially as the only risk to the loaner is that she builds a relationship then has to send him back so a bit of a waste of time getting to know the horse.

I also wouldn't spend money on a solicitor as all loan agreements are in practice unenforcable - the costs of taking the other party to court and winning then actually getting damages recovered from them, just completely outways the money you could loose!

Much of the realistic cash risk of loaning is taken on by the owner, the loaner can disappear with the horse, the loaner can break the horse and send it back at no notice, the main risk for the loaner is that they invest time and money in the horse (getting it going nicely/ out competing etc.) and the owner demands it back at short notice.
But that is the balance of risk in the relationship.
 
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