can I get your opinions please (re loaning)

Jesstickle

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I apologise in advance as this could get long. It's a bit complicated.

At the yard where I keep my own horse is a lovely lady with whom I have become friends. She has three horses but one of them was a present which she never wanted and she really dislikes him. I borrowed him as companion to mine earlier in the year and it has ended up with me riding him. Now I do everything for him, more or less, and pay to feed him/worm him/hay him. I am having his feet done this week.

My friend would gladly give me the horse but unfortunately he technically still belongs to the person who bought him and she wont hear of selling him. I don't really want to buy him anyway but what I am thinking seriously about is approaching his owner about loaning him.

My friend can't afford to keep him really (i mean she would never neglect him but it isn't comfortable for her to have three) and contributions from owner are somewhat patchy.

Am I positively insane to get involved in this? The owner is quirky at times but is a lovely lady. What is the best way to approach her. Through friend or directly. I am thinking nice email explaining that I've become fond of him, friend doesn't seem to want to do him much right now, I can't ride my own anyway (she's a bubba)

I do like him very much but am doing it as much because I don't want friend to struggle all winter and because I don't want to see him unloved and hungry this winter as because I really want him. I could just carry on as is but I feel I would like the lose ends tied up and to know I can do with him as I want. (friend doesn't care of course but owner might)

Sorry. Very long. Vino to anyone who got this far.
 
If you don't ask you don't get!

I would just make sure whatever is agreed, you get in writing and signed, been reading some horrible experiences on here today where loaning has gone wrong without a contract
:)
 
So, your friend has a horse that she doesn't want and doesn't own?
I think it's down to her to get this sorted with his owner. Surely she could tell the owner that she doesn't want/can't afford to keep him, so the option is for the owner to take him back in, say, 4 weeks time. Or the owner can sign a formal lifetime loan agreement with you.
After the recent sad tale on this forum I don't think I'd settle for anything less. Ideally if the owner doesn't want him back then it might be an idea to buy him from her for a token amount.
Owner and your friend need to face the reality and cost of keeping a horse that neither of them seem to want.
 
Weeellll..... owner is her mum and she still lives at home so taking him back means him still being at my yard! Obviously would def get a contract. I have only had happy loan experiences so I'm probabaly hopelessly optimistic. Ultimately I pay for him anyway but if he vanished tomorrow as long as I knew he was safe I wouldn't overly mind. I get exclusive use of him so I don't begrudge feeding the old boy. I suppose it wouldn't change much I just feel I want things a little neater but am also worried that approaching the situation might make him leave my life to go to a schooling yard or whatever. Obviously that's fine. He isn't mine but I would miss the old boy :)
 
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