Advice on loan horse's wellbeing

[Millie Moo]

Hi All,

Hoping someone can offer some advice, don't expect anyone to be able to sort this out but I am not quite sure what to do!

I have part loaned a 20yr old horse for just under a year, I can only really get to the yard at weekends due to my job. I am concerned over a few things for her health and behaviour but feel powerless as I am only her part loaner.
She is on a very clicky yard (where I don't think I am liked very much as I keep myself to myself), without meaning to sound patronising I personally don't think her owner is very knowledgeable/caring, although he has had her for a long time. She is only ridden when I go there, so only once or twice a week.

For the last 6 months she has coughed when I ride her - usually only 2-3 times when first trotting then she will seem fine for the rest of the ride, however recently it has increased and she will cough roughly 5 times every 15 minutes or so and I feel awful for riding her. I don't over work her, I know she's not the fittest horse but as I can only get down at weekends and her owner won't rider her there's not much I can do. I feel especially bad now that she's coughing more frequently and it's only when I ride.
I have never heard her cough when she is in her field/tied up or in her stable. I am really worried that it could turn in to something serious if it is left, or that I could be putting her in some discomfort when riding. She is on hay (used to be haylage but they have changed it recently!!!) and no hard feed, she is turned out every other day.
I have voiced my concerns to her owner and the yard owner but have basically been ignored.

Another thing I am slightly worried about is that she bucks almost every time I canter her. I can deal with this, but I don't trust that her saddle has been correctly fitted, I am no expert by any means but again I don't want to be causing her any discomfort by me riding her. She is sometimes better with thicker saddle pads, so to me that tells me the saddle is causing her pain.

There is also the possibility that she could be pregnant (owner will not get a vet to confirm, think due to cost!!!!!!!!!) so I take things very easy with her.

There are also quite a few other 'issues' that I would have with the yard if I owned her, and would definitely care for her differently.
I love her to bits, and I don't want to stop loaning her, but I feel like I am stuck and don't want to be adding to her health issues if riding her is making things worse.
Every time I say something I am ignored, so feel powerless.
I would love to buy her and move her to another yard and care for her properly but I am not sure the owner would let me, and money/responsibility is the only reason I have not offered as it scares me that I may get in to a situation where I have taken too much on. I just feel really sad for her. Don't get me wrong she's not a serious case of neglect but I would definitely have her checked by a vet and would love to have her somewhere where she was out in the fresh air most of the time.

Sorry for the long post, there is actually a lot more I could add but you would probably fall asleep reading this

I know no one on here can fix this, but what would you do?

 

[calmgirl]

Ask owner if you can get (pay) for a vet & saddle fitter opinions then discuss any treatment with owner before any treatments.
Or walk away
Or offer to buy ?
The fact owner doesn't seem worried or give you confidence in her care, would probably have me looking for another loan.

 

[touchstone]

Bless you for caring, but honestly in your shoes it may be better to walk away. As awful as it sounds your hands are tied, and I can only imagine that it will get more frustrating and heartbreaking for you as things progress and probably end up with a falling out.

I'd weigh up realistically if you could afford her, bearing in mind that there are ways to keep them cheaply but well, make an offer and see what happens. If not then it may be sensible to find another share/loan.

 

[twiggy2]

walk away or offer to buy

 

[chestnut cob]

I think I would end the share agreement, it doesn't sound like a great setup.

I certainly wouldn't be offering to buy - firstly the horse may be pregnant which means you will end up with the costs of foaling plus the risk to the mare, then you have a foal you have to deal with and bring up correctly. Add to that she is an older horse with possibly some health problems. Walking vet bill IMHO. OP it's lovely that you care so much and I'm sure it will upset you to walk away, but there are so many horses out there who are fit, sound and with owners who bother to look after them properly, that you will find something else.

 

[Millie Moo]

Thanks for your all of your replies.

As much as I would love to, I don’t see me being able to buy her, and wouldn't want to unless I was 100% certain I could afford it all.
I would have a full vetting if it did come to that anyway.
Chestnut cob - I also get what you are saying re the foaling, and agree. Just wish I had the time and lottery winnings and I would be fine

I would pay for a vet and saddle fitter for her, but then I think the owner might take advantage, if there was something wrong and a new saddle needed I doubt they would pay and I would get in to a cycle where I end up buynig everything for a horse I don't even own.

I would just feel awful walking away because I don't know how she could end up.

It's frustrating, I regularly see posts where owners are having issues with their loaners, not usually this way round.
A few horses that I looked at to part loan before my current one were also badly looked after, some shouldn't have been ridden in my opinion, it makes me feel as if I am overly caring!!

 

[Shay]

I feel your pain Millie Moo. But there really is very little that you can do. She isn't your horse. The cough is really likely to be a hay cough - especially if she has recently changed from haylage. Brief coughing on the start of exercise on its own isn't uncommon on dusty hay and isn't something to worry about unless there is also a coloured or smelly discharge. You can get thick pads to ease an ill fitting saddle - or buy a bareback pad for yourself if you prefer. But as to the rest - even though you love her so much - the really isn't anything you can do. Probably most of us on here have had the experience at one time or another of looking at another horse and really not likely the way that it is kept. But if its not your horse you can't do anything about it. I'm sorry.

 

[tankgirl1]

Tough call.... I had a horse on part loan that had been coughing for months and owner refused to get the vets out... I eventually took him on full loan with a friend sharing, and a few days after he moved yards he became very ill with a respiratory infection, which cost over a grand to sort, including scoping, blood tests etc. Thankfully he was insured but it was us that paid the excess not the owner

He has since been rehomed by owner via Horses 4 Homes as he had a myriad of health problems and we couldn't commit to buying him knowing this, and she was keen to get rid

 

[fattylumpkin]

This is really hard OP if you do try to buy the horse instead of walking away I'd go through the process as per the book and get a vet to do a proper check. Don't skip that part just because you're familiar with the horse.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I don't think the horse would pass any vetting anyway.
Its hard, but you should not buy it, its the owners horse and even if you pay a £1.00 [to transfer ownership], it is most unwise if you have any doubts about cash.
You are getting too much stress and too little fun, just end the loan now, and find one in another yard.

 

[Dusty85]

It's tough as you obviously care for the mare, but I'd probably end up walking away.

You could offer to get vet/saddler out and split the cost, but from what you have said it doesn't sound like she will want to pay. Do you think she would sell? Bear in mind she is 20, so if finances aren't great currently, what will happen if she runs up a big vet bill now, or in the future?

 

[rascal]

At twenty she will need her saddle checked regularly, as she will be changing shape due to her age.
Is her hay damped before feeding? if not, that may help. Try one of the respiratory licks/supplements but she really needs a vet.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Horselyx make a respiratory version, you could buy that and leave the tub in her stable so she can help herself. You could damp down her haynets on the days you care for her.

You could buy a 2nd hand Thorowgood saddle cheaply (aprox 50 pounds), particularly the ones without an adjustable gullet, many of those old ones have the fish adjustable system meaning you can narrow the saddle by half a size or a whole size.

It may not be a perfect fit, especially if you have no idea how to tell, but if it hurts less than the one she's currently using then it will be an improvement. The high wither version is good for old horses who have muscle wastage along their backs as the panels in it lift the saddle higher off the spine along the whole length, but they are harder to find for sale than the standard ones.

From what you've said I doubt anyone would notice or care if you rode in a different saddle, but if the horse goes better in it and you wanted to ask the owners permission you could avoid causing offence by saying you prefer it because the suede seat is more comfortable.

I understand why you don't want to end the share, someone to care for the horse properly twice a week is better than not at all. I'm sure she appreciates it.