Advise needed (Horse on loan)

[ruffcow]

I need some advise,
I loaned a horse from a friend, with a written contract.
The contract is up in the next few days and i have contacted her to arrange for her to take her horse back, but she has now said that she has nowhere to put it and can't look after it, also because we talked about me loaning him for another 6 months she says it's my problem.
We never signed anything it was just talk.
The thing is i love the horse but can't ride him as he is too much for me, and i don't know what to do. Am i expected to pay for him and keep him until she finds him another home?
Not sure what to do???

 

[AmyMay]

Do you have transport - or is his 'home' within hacking distance?

Send her a recorded letter saying that the term of the contract is comming to an end and you do not wish to extend it. Ask her to contact you by return so that you can arrange a suitable day and time for the horse to be returned.

If you don't get a response, send another recorded delivery letter saying that as of such and such a date the charge for keeping the horse on full livery at the yard it is at will be £XX payable at the beginning of each month in full.......

 

[saskia295]

I agree with AmyMay.

Failing her coming to pick the horse up, take it to her and leave it there. I'm sorry but after the contract/notice period is up, the horse is not your responsibility.

 

[the watcher]

You could do as others have suggested, however she is a friend and you have clearly caught her without facilities at the moment, and apparently not expecting the horse back at short notice. Do you know anybody else that would be interested in loaning this horse, there is nothing to stop you asking around and then putting them in touch with the owner - might save bouncing the horse around too much too.

 

[ruffcow]

I do understand that she is without facilities and wasn't expecting the horse back.
I don't know anyone who would like to take the horse on.
She has decided to sell him now as she doesn't want him back.
He's getting on and i don't think he will be that easy to sell.
I'm not going to kick the horse out or anything (i'm not like that) But what if it takes her 5-9 months to sell him?
What if she never does.
The thing is that why would she rush to do anything as he has a home at the mo and i would have no control over the selling of him.
She said she doesn't want to see him again, so how is she going to arrange anyone wanting to look at him?
Sorry so many questions, but i can see this turning messy.

 

[the watcher]

She obviously thought he had gone to a good long term home - what a mess.
Whereabouts are you and what is he, exactly?

 

[AmyMay]

Ok, if she has no where to keep him - now she does. He is at a yard - inform her of the costs and leave it at that.

 

[ruffcow]

I'm in wiltshire and he is a chestnut tb, 16.2, 19 years old.
It is a mess. I never thought for a moment she would never want him back, if i did then i could of started asking around sooner.

 

[immybrookstud]

[ QUOTE ]
She obviously thought he had gone to a good long term home - what a mess.
Whereabouts are you and what is he, exactly?

[/ QUOTE ]

why would she think this when op said he is on a 6 month contract that is coming to an end.

i think you need to watch out or will be another stuck with a loan horse that the owner wont take back. he is her horse, her responsability.

i agree with above send a letter, or can she not keep him where he is but take over the care and costs?

 

[the watcher]

Why don't you have a chat to her, give her 1 month notice and offer to help with finding a new home. You could put him on a site like the New Forest Equestrian Directory for loan for free, if he is sound somebody might want him - obviously the final call is hers, and it is her responsibility to vet any future home.

After 1 month she will need to take on livery costs if a new home has not been found. It sounds like you are both feeling a little hard done by at the moment so you just need to talk and find the best outcome for this horse.

 

[the watcher]

But there had already been a conversation where the OP had discussed keeping him longer. Most loan horses start out on a fixed term that is very often extended.

I can see this from both sides, I have loan horses and if I was planning to return them I would give the owner as much notice as possible to be sure that the transition was as smooth as possible. I also have had a gelding on loan for a number of years - his owner has effectively washed her hands of any responsibility for him and he was pretty much a rescue when she was desperate to find a home for him. He was never really the right horse for me but I know the owner can never have him back. With her agreement I have found alternative loan homes for him, and keep a track on his progress.

Equally I loaned out a pony many years ago (I was getting divorced, had a small child and a job, it was a difficult time) to somebody who really liked her, never said there were any problems, a week before the initial loan period was up she contacted me to say she would be returning the pony as it was no longer suitable for her needs and it was a real scramble to find somewhere for her to live. It was absolutely her right to do that, but more notice would have been helpful. so I can see it form the owner's side too.