anyone loaned out a young eventer/competition horse before?

[tobiano1984]

Whilst I was originally intending to sell my young event prospect, I'm now considering loaning him out to a competition home and wondered if anyone had any experience of this, good or bad? He's just turned 3, and I'm in the process of backing him at the moment, which is going well, but as I'm more focused on my other youngster I want to find this one a job! I'm not that financially motivated, he's not really costing much at the moment but I don't want to waste a potentially very good horse (WBxTB). I also think I'd quite enjoy seeing him going out and competing! I personally don't have the time or inclination anymore, but he really enjoys work.
His sire's side is all dressage, his dam is a jump racer. He's got the paces to do pure dressage but with the TB as well and the jump he's shown so far I think eventing will be his calling....

Does anyone have experience of this kind of loan (on either side)? What can you do to protect yourself financially and the horse? I'd of course check out the yard and get references etc, and have a contract in place, insurance and so on, but if there are any other pointers then I'd love to hear them.

And also, what would be a reasonable length of loan? I can see that people wouldnt want to loan a horse for a couple of months, put in all the hard work and then have to give it back. Is it best to do it on a rolling 12 month contract..?

 

[Patterdale]

If he's just turned 3 I wouldn't bother till next year.

It's extremely iffy loaning out a young horse, and it will probably just get ruined tbh. Anyone who is capable of doing the job usually charges for it - you will almost certainly get someone just 'having a bash' and getting it wrong.

Also if by very slim chance you fo find someone who is reliable and experienced enough to take on a young event horse, they probably won't be daft enough to put all the work in just to hand it back to you when it's done.

Sorry to sound harsh but I really wouldn't go down this route.

 

[rossiroo]

Totally agree with Patterdale, unfortunatly your horse will apeal to someone wanting to 'have a go' at producing a youngster. I am looking to loan a dressage/allrounder schoolmaster for my daughter, as having 2 horses already and cann't afford to buy the sort of horse that she would need.Good luck if you do find someone though.