Advice on loaning a horse out

[Fazzie]

We have made the decision today that our rising three year old needs to find a new home he's a lovely cob x Arab bay currently standing at just under 15 hands. He's a sweetie and we don't want him wasted. my husbands just been promoted which means he'll be away alot and we are planning on starting a family which will mean no time for our boy. I don't think I could ever sell him as I want his future secure. I would be happy to put him on permanent loan and never take him back unless the other parties circumstances changed. So basically my answer is Do u think anyone would be interested? He's such a sweetie I just don't want him standing in a field he loves fuss and getting out and about. Thanks in advance

 

[1Lucie]

Yep definatly! Until 2o11 i spent over 10years loaning horses!

 

[niagaraduval]

Could you not keep him a bit longer until he can be backed? You would have a lot more interest in him, alot of people that loan want the finished article they can get on and have fun with.

 

[hudsonw]

Loaning him out sounds like a great idea but just make sure you get a contract signed between you and the person loaning.

Think about if you want him to stay at the same yard so you can keep an eye on him or are you willing to let someone at the top of Scotland or down in Cornwall take him?

If he's rising 3 and not yet broken you have to make sure the person taking him on knows what they are doing with youngsters to avoid a young horse being ruined.

How about a share with someone and that way you get to see him but the workload is halved?

 

[Fazzie]

I could keep him longer he will be three in may. It's just the whole time issue since my husbands promotion I'm finding doing the horses very difficult, I work full time I just want to see him have some one to one time. Any ideas where to advertise obviously h&h but elsewhere?

 

[niagaraduval]

Loaning him out sounds like a great idea but just make sure you get a contract signed between you and the person loaning.

Think about if you want him to stay at the same yard so you can keep an eye on him or are you willing to let someone at the top of Scotland or down in Cornwall take him?

If he's rising 3 and not yet broken you have to make sure the person taking him on knows what they are doing with youngsters to avoid a young horse being ruined.

How about a share with someone and that way you get to see him but the workload is halved?

This is a good post, it's what I was thinking also when I suggested she keep him a bit longer. If you find the right person it could turn out wonderful, it could be a horrible nightmare if not though.

 

[*hic*]

Having just had one out on loan for a year and been told to pick it up with two days notice, not the required thirty days before delivery, I'd be very wary of loaning, especially with such a young horse. If it all goes wrong and you end up with a ruined youngster at short notice will you be able to cope? I think you need either to sell or to get an experienced sharer.

The other thing is that those people who are capable of doing a good job breaking and bringing on a youngster are unlikely to want to spend the time doing that for an owner who may want the horse back at any time.

 

[hudsonw]

Preloved, Local tack shops, Local yards/riding schools, Horsemart...just google for advertising sites

 

[Fazzie]

I really want not take him back the reason for loaning and not selling is purely to protect baileys future , maybe I should wait u til he is a little older . I would be happy with a sharer. I just want him to be happy and have lots of attention

 

[PeterNatt]

Be aware that a number of horses disapear while being on loan each year.
If you loan him out freezemark him on his shoulder before loaning him out so that he can always be identified.
Ensure that you see a copy of the loaners passport, driving licence, rates bill and a utility bill and photocopy them so that you have the true identity of the person loaning the horse out.
Ensure that the contract is checked by a specialist equine solicitor to ensure it is enforcable in law.

 

[Meandtheboys]

Fazzie - just be cautious of a certain 'lady' that lives in South Wales, she preys on innocent persons!!

This person used to be poster but is now banned and looks for free to good homes, companions and loans then basically sells them whether contract or not.

 

[biggingerpony]

My advice?? Don't.

My mare went out on tempoarary loan to a family friend. She came back lame, covered in sores, really bad mud fever and emaciated. Will never loan again!!!

 

[devilwoman]

Please do be careful with loaning, as I have very very recently found out things can go horribly wrong, I have known the loaner for 8 years, but only 5 months after her having my mare things have gone belly up good luck.

 

[DreamOfNoReturn]

I think your best bet is to keep him and just get a very experienced sharer . You never know the sharer might be willing to do the majority of work and days :3. You could possibly get two sharers if you wanted, but I wouldn't send him out on a full loan. He is too young and I think that way you leave a massive chance that he will come back ruined. So I think you should get a sharer for him ! You could even post an advert (one like I saw) that was offering horse loving people the opportunity to spend a couple of days a week with your horse (no riding), just mucking out and getting to spend some time grooming or something like that . Some people are also interested in tricktraining or parelli if you wanted to go down that route, that way he wouldn't be spoiled as there would be no riding involved .

 

[Fazzie]

Thank u I think I may go down the sharer route then I would be happy to continue to pay for him etc I just want some attention for him. The loaner stories sound terrible!! And about the lady who sells them on , how heart breaking I just thought there would be people out there without the initial money to buy a horse but were prepared to look after etc it would be perfect to find a sharer so he's stays where he is

 

[Jazzy B]

I would find an experienced sharer and keep your horse at your yard on your terms, having been a loaner and a loanee its great when you find the right person but can be a complete nightmare and as his so young I would definitely want to keep an eye on the situation!

 

[Chestersmummy]

I have always had horses on loan (15 years) and we are not all bad people.
Loan agreements are a god send as both owner and loaner know where they stand.

I might be in the minority, but with any horse I have I always make sure that the owner knows exactly whats going on, for instance on Thursday I had the vet just for his booster but I told the owner that the vet was coming.

I might have just been lucky though with the horses I've had as a couple have turned out to be completely wrong for me within a few months and the owners have taken them back no problems at all.

 

[DreamOfNoReturn]

I just thought there would be people out there without the initial money to buy a horse but were prepared to look after etc it would be perfect to find a sharer so he's stays where he is

There are people like that in the world, but I'm afraid they are few and far between, I would kill for an opportunity like this, but because so many people spoil it, it's hard to find anything these days. Shame I'm not in Wales! Would share him from you in a minute! I think you should be able to find a sharer no problem luckily . The only thing is that many people want a ridden horse, which might be your only problem. Just keep your hopes up though, I think you'll get someone eventually .

 

[Fazzie]

Thank u all, dream of no return I hope I find someone for him he is a gorgeous boy

 

[DreamOfNoReturn]

I'm sure he's a real credit to you Fazzy! I'm sure someone will be interested at some point!

 

[DreamOfNoReturn]

Just saw a picture of him on your profile! He's beautiful . Oh and also Gumtree is a good place to advertise as a lot of people tend to look there, just be careful of the usual scam people! Oh and Equine Adverts is also very good .

 

[navaho]

Fazzie thats a rather nice little cob you have in your siggy give him a carrot from me x

 

[lme]

Just to counter the bad experiences - I put my 7yo out on loan and she stayed in the same lovely home (where she did dressage / showing / hunting & was immaculately looked after) until she was 20, when she came back to me to retire & had her last foal. She's still with me @ 30 and I'm still friends with / send regular updates to the person who loaned her for so many years.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Oh hell, i've recently decided to loan or sell my mare (in my sig). I thought loan would be good, as we have our own land and could always take her back - she just isn't the horse for me, and lots of extra work means less time... and she is bored! Sounds like I should really bite the bullet and offer her for sale, just accepting that her fate will be out of my hands. I think I'll still advertise her locally, fingers crossed that the perfect person turns up for all of us looking!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I'd be very wary of loaning, especially with such a young horse. If it all goes wrong and you end up with a ruined youngster at short notice will you be able to cope? I think you need either to sell or to get an experienced sharer.

The other thing is that those people who are capable of doing a good job breaking and bringing on a youngster are unlikely to want to spend the time doing that for an owner who may want the horse back at any time.

Agree this this. Think you should seriously consider selling rather than loaning.

I had a loan disaster in that five weeks into the loan, my loanee contacted me to say that she couldn't afford to keep my horse any more - so I was landed with the livery fees until I could find room for him back at my yard.

And there are a great many more horror stories than this around.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

So if the current thinking is that loans often can go wrong, sometimes very badly, and selling probably makes more sense, I'm thinking that also people tend not give a trial period either? Maybe I need to get a grip, and just draft an ad starting 'For sale', instead of 'Maybe for loan, but only if you're a perfect person'!!!!

 

[navaho]

Well there are 2 ways of looking at it with loans, if you loan & it goes tits up for whatever reason you can at the very least get your horse back....if you sell & it all goes tits up there is nothing you can do apart from stand back & watch. The woman who loaned & starved our little cob was due to buy him, im so glad she didnt & we were able to get him home. There are genuine loaners out there, there are horrible loaners as well, but the same can be said for buyers, you just never know, even the nicest of people can turn out to be the devil in disguise.
Good luck whatever you decide to do Sam, if there is anything i can do to help just ask x

 

[rubysmum]

just wanted to reiterate that there ARE lots of lovely people who want to loan - i am currently loaning a little young cob - a pay for her lessons/her comp fees/equipment she need to compete & am about to pay for her to have some intensive schooling work to help her competing
i spend on her EXACTLY what i woud invest in any horse of my own AND treat her as if she was my own
we are out there.................

 

[Fazzie]

Thanks Navaho little coblet is doing very well, will give him a cuddle and carrot from u I think I may just advertise the youngster through word if mouth (Navaho if u no of anyone) I'm in no rush for him to go just don't want him still sitting in the field wasted as I know how quick time goes on . Thank u everyone

 

[TGM]

I agree that loaning can work out well - we have loaned out a couple of ponies, and my OH is now loaning a lovely horse. However, they all are/were mature, established animals.

I think loaning an unbroken horse is more problematical. Although you say that you wouldn't take the horse back without good reason, I have heard of lots of cases where owners have said that and then circumstances change and they whip the now schooled and established horse away to enjoy themselves or to sell for a good price. So a lot of experienced people are going to be put off loaning such a horse and putting in a lot of work. It is quite hard to draft a loan agreement that gives reassurance of the permanence of the arrangement without allowing the horse to be returned to the owner in cases of neglect etc.

The other problem is, as has been pointed out above, if the person loaning makes a hash of bringing the horse on, you could be stuck with a ruined youngster to sort out.