Do any loan homes actually work out? Frustrated and Sad - Rant!

[suej102]

I have just been handed notice from the loanee of my stunning older gelding after only 4 months of rehoming him. The previous loanee lasted 4 months also. I am a sensible, considered person and thought that I had made sound judgement for both loanees - they both presented a great case and practically begged me for my gorgeous 17'3 ID. I thoroughly checked them both out, the homes they were offering etc etc and spent plenty of time with each settling him in - even though my heart was breaking at the idea of having to let him go out on loan in the first place due to my working circumstances changing over the past year or so. Both loans have failed due to no fault of my boy, the first claiming ill health and personal situation changing (though didn't envisage I might learn otherwide via facebook!) and the other through having her 'helper' no longer around and suddenly it is all too much for her to manage. Both of these reasons are pretty feeble given that both loanees were committed to giving my boy a long term, permanent home and this was what they both claimed (and I kept checking!) they wanted and could manage. I have been exceptionally fair and also paid for his medication and extras as needed and I will ensure he doesn't go without anything he needs. Neither has managed to ride him as they had claimed they would and he was moved to a 2 hour drive away for the last home as it all seemed so perfect. What am I doing wrong? Do any loanees actually understand the responsibility of loaning a horse? This has been such a stressful time - for my boy and for me - and I am now looking at permanent retirement homes as I have lost all faith in loaning. This is such a shame as he has some riding left in him and enjoys light hacking - unless anyone has any other ideas? Someone mentioned trekking centres might like a bigger, older horse for some light work - again any ideas welcome as I am so disillusioned and sad about the whole thing :-(

Thanks for listening!

 

[PollyP99]

I've been a loanee and it worked well on my part but in my case horse was swiftly removed from me, advised by text with little notice as their circumstances changed which meant they needed him back after 2 years of hardly any contact so it goes both ways.

It's hard, he will always be your responsibility and could always come back, personally I would never send an older horse to a trekking centre, in fact probably wouldn't send any horse to one or an Rs but maybe that's just me.

What about finding someone and keep him local to you, share instead of full loan?

 

[Cortez]

The world is full of dreamers, then when reality bites they just dump the horse back. Loaning has the fatal flaw of being an "easy" option and relatively responsibility-free. I would rather put a horse down than loan, extreme I know, but based on experience.

 

[windand rain]

In my experience no they never do I had a mare on loan but sent her back as she reared bolt upright after I had specifically asked about rearing as it is my greatest fear I only asked her to go a different way to usual and she reared to nap when asking her owners they then informed me she did it all the time so they only took her where she wanted to go. She arrived thin and unschooled went home sound in perfect fitness and able to work a lovely dressage test in a school
Every pony I have let go on loan has come back severely damaged either lame, with a bad back or with a load of awful habits hence never doing it again I am probably doing a disservice to the good loan homes but they do seem few and far between

 

[twobearsarthur]

The world is full of dreamers, then when reality bites they just dump the horse back. Loaning has the fatal flaw of being an "easy" option and relatively responsibility-free. I would rather put a horse down than loan, extreme I know, but based on experience.

I agree.
I loaned my pony out and they stopped feeding her (couldn't afford it), swapped her expensive made to measure tack for imported crap and rode her into the ground.
Fortunately I found this out sooner rather than later and took her back and retired her.
Wouldn't do it again like Cortez says the worlds full of dreamers. Not all loaners are but many without the responsibility of a financial lay out see it as an easy option.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have had a Shetland on loan for 14 years. As far as myself and his owner are concerned he will live out his days with me. I owe him that in the very least!

Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. You've just been unlucky twice in quick succession.

 

[Umbongo]

I have loaned successfully and have treated the horses as if they were my own, including continuing to pay and care for throughout illness and injury, so there are decent loaners out there. However I would agree that there are people who see loaning as the easy option and responsibility free as there is always the option to give the horse back when things go wrong.

If he is older then would you consider loaning/sharing him from your yard so you can keep an eye on him and he doesn't have to move yards too often? I wouldn't send an older horse to a trekking centre.

 

[Suzie86]

Yes it can, I have experienced both sides of it with the same horse.

I took him on loan and after many happy years his owners said they would like to give him to me.

I then went travelling so loaned him out for a year to a local home found through word of mouth, they loved him and I was very pleased with how well he was cared for.

I have also had a few sharers come and go over the years with no bad experiences. So yes it can work but I do accept that there are risks and that many people have not been as lucky!

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I have loaned out once, and we now have a loan horse and both situations were and are fine. The horse I loaned out went to a teenager and was overseen by the livery yard owner, they had hime a year and I gave three months notice to have him back, but he did come back more swiftly as they found another horse straight away.

The gelding we have now has come to us through a customer, we have a loan agreement, all parties are happy and the horse is generally doing more than he's ever done before (except for now, winter not a great time for us regarding riding time), he's been with us ten months and is on a permanent loan. The owner has no job for him to do but he can go back to her at any time as she farms a hill farm on Dartmoor - Finlay lived out on 800 acres!

 

[Polar Bear9]

When I tried to loan my girl we were inundated with calls.

 

[Silmarillion]

I like to think I am a good loaner - I adore and worship "my" horse and would do anything for him. As far as I am concerned he is as good as mine, but with another (primary) owner and with some restrictions - points made clear in the loan agreement that I cannot and would not override. I think I am lucky to have found a perfect horse and a very genuine owner. He is on daily medication and his owner pays for that (I wouldn't have considered him otherwise - it's an old injury from an accident before he came to me) but I pay for everything else.
I have tried loaning mine out too, but it only lasted three weeks before we had to set out on a "rescue" mission to collect our very, very lame and uninsured pony. I learnt my lesson about letting loaners take over insurance! But it also makes me think that loaners like myself must be quite rare. It's a shame.

 

[wills_91]

That's a shame that you have had 2 bad experiences . I have had two horses on loan that worked well, we ended up buying them both. I have also been on the other end, my mum took a pony on loan for me when I was 9, I loved that pony we put loads of time,effort spent a fortune on her & owner called my mum & gave her 2 days notice for taking her away - devastated.

Personally I wouldn't send him to a trekking centre. Hope every tying works out for you.

 

[russianhorse]

I full loaned my gorgeous cob for a year and treated him As if was mine - so much so that I later bought him. Previously he had been loaned out several times, coming back after a couple of months each time. Not once was it because of him

A friend full loaned her boy,,vetted the loan home from an inch of their life, loanee carried out a 5 stage vetting to prove commitment of a long term home etc etc

6 months later they Called To end loan as summer holidays were up and daughter didn't want to ride etc over winter, but he came back completely lame

 

[asmp]

Just a suggestion as no idea if any good but if he is a safe ride, what about a RDA group as big horses seem to be in short supply in the groups I know? The RDA group that provide horses for the Headley Court servicemen have just acquired a large horse and there is another big one that they borrow.

 

[Tern]

I have loaned my boy for 6 years now.. I guess you have got to find the right person.

 

[Moodymare88]

I loaned my horse for a year before actually buying her, so some do work out. Despite certain health issues, which we are working on she will always have a home for life.

She has been treated well, thoroughly spoilt and was treated as my own from the day she arrived. I still keep in contact with her previous owner sending him updates and photos.

 

[pennyturner]

Two of mine came on loan.

The shetland came aged 4 because the owner couldn't stand to see him be a lawn mower so early in his life. He's now 15 and has taught my 6 children (the youngest is still on him for another year or so), and many friends/sharers children too. He did pony club for a few years. The owner phoned years ago and 'gave' him to me.

The other is a 14hh NF, turned away for 6 years with suspected back problem. I offered to take him, break him to drive and try to re-back him, with a view that he might be OK as a second pony for eldest daughter if he came good. IMO he'd been over-jumped as a youngster and developed behaviour problems as a result. 10 years on, he's still with us, preferred by my 3rd daughter, anybody's ride or drive. He's also field boss

They're both 'mine' as far as I'm concerned. The NF's owner asks after him every couple of years or so via facebook - like a former owner might. She knows he's got a home for life, so everyone's happy.

 

[canteron]

Funny how loan horses tend to come back at this time of year! I think the rule is to expect the horse to be returned suddenly in mid winter and then be happily surprised if it doesn't!

 

[YouOnlyLiveOnce]

Yes some loan homes do work out. I started with my boy on loan and loved and treated him like my own, 5 years down the line his owner has signed him over to me for whatever reason they no longer wanted ownership of him (this was 4 years ago and he was 21 at the time) I took him on without hesitation even though many I'm sure would have said I was mad, and I am now paying for him to have a very happy retirement for as long as he is healthy and happy as it's no more than he deserves.

There are honest people out there who will be responsible loaners, just sorry you haven't found one.

Having said that if I was on the other side of the fence I'm not sure I'd trust enough to loan one of mine out.

You gave retirement livery as one of your options, if it really is I'd recommend it if you can find the right place.

Good luck x

 

[maxapple]

I have my 22 yr old tb at an amazing retirement livery in kent. Send me a message if u would like the details. They have a waiting list but you can sometimes get lucky x

 

[Evie91]

My horse was originally a loan - I've always bought her the best of everything. Had a saddle made to measure for her, moved her to part livery when work/DIY got too much, she was gifted to me when she was 23 ( and on verge of retiring), spent life savings building stables at home so she could come home to retire. I would love another riding horse but can't afford another. she is my perfect horse and I do not begrudge her retirement.
So loans can and do work.

 

[nicelittle]

I have had two horses in loan, the first for 3 years, the second was LWVTB and we had him for a year, but the owners changed their mind about selling him, then his saddle didn't fit as we had made him fitter, and they wanted us to buy him a saddle but keep him on a month by month basis until they wanted him back - it was getting toward spring, surprise surprise, so we gave our months notice and returned him amicably, but it just shows that it works both ways.

 

[honetpot]

I would imagine they hadn't factored in how much it would cost to keep him in winter, and if he is only suitable for hacking it makes it expensive riding. I have loaned out my ponies but I have very realistic expectations of what people want them for, and if they are not doing that job they come home. I have been thinking about buying my daughter another horse and even though I do not pay livery you do have to weigh up the costs.

 

[Dizzydancer]

I'm an odd one as I loan out my pony who has been in the same home for about 6years. He may well be comin back to me soon but not through any fault just that he is ready to retire and I don't feel they should have to retire and keep him when he is mine but I won't push that decision.
I am also the happy loaner of a tb, started off as a share but gradually I took on more responsibility and then I have loaned him for nearly 2 years after sharing him for a year- he gets the best care and is treated like my own but his owner won't sell him she has no need he was worth nothing before I had him and she is just happy he is being cared for, he will probably go back to her family farm when he is ready to retire but we shall see.
So in answer to your question yes they can work out although I think Iv been lucky!
My ponies first loan didn't end well- we had to rescue him after visiting him to find he wasn't being cared for correctly gave the loaner less than 24hours notice- that's in all our contracts.

 

[debsflo]

Ive been a loanee for 3 years with one and 2 years as a sharer and treated both as my own. Sorry youve had bad luck but there are reiiable good ones out there.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I've successfully loaned horses out and loaned of other people. I think you need to be realistic on both sides but sometimes it just doesn't work.

 

[Frumpoon]

Sad truth is there are a lot of older horses not capable of much work up for loan

Why couldn't you keep him and look after him, ride etc

 

[HaffiesRock]

It can be hit and miss I think. A friend took a mare on full loan in September 2011. She had her for about 18 months, then once the winter was over, the owner came for a visit and decided she wanted her back there and then. My friend was heartbroken.

I on the other hand took a mare on loan 15 months ago as a companion for my gelding. The owners are the nicest people I have ever met and have said she is mine for life. I treat her exactly the same as my own gelding and she gets all the same treatment. I have backed her and she is turning into a nice little ridden pony now.

 

[LadyRascasse]

The world is full of dreamers, then when reality bites they just dump the horse back. Loaning has the fatal flaw of being an "easy" option and relatively responsibility-free. I would rather put a horse down than loan, extreme I know, but based on experience.

Agree with this have lost 2 horses through loaning, picking up 2 rather large vets bills and massive heart ache. Would never let a horse leave my yard now unless the money was in my hand and the responsibility was theirs. Too easy for them to just give them back when it doesn't suits or they have broken them.

 

[spookypony]

I've had 3 good experiences. I had the Spooky Pony on loan for a few months before deciding to buy him, and 6 years on, he's still here (and still spooky, but a bit less so! ). When I moved to my own place, I got a little mare on loan from a riding school to keep him company. 2 years on, she too is still here, leading a useful retirement by keeping calm in the field when one of the others is taken out and giving occasional pony rides to small children. One summer, I also had a mare on loan for several months; the hope was that I'd bring her back into work and do some dressaging with her. We weren't well matched, so I could't keep her, but made sure she found a good next home, where she is appreciated. On the whole, I've been lucky. I'd say the important thing is that everyone is completely clear on what the expectations and responsibilities are, and what happens if things don't work out for some reason. A good loan agreement can go a long way towards ensuring this.