Do Loans ever work??

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kworth

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Hi all,

I'm thinking of loaning my horse out, but am very dubious, as I've heard sooo many horror stories & not so many happy endings.

He's quite a big chap, 17hds, so not everyone's cup of tea straight away. He's very mannerly to deal with, is well schooled & could go far with a good rider. His hangup (and I'm sure almost every horse has something), is that he can be nappy sometimes when hacking out. Not at home in the arena, or when competing.

I did avertise him for sale a while ago, mentioning the above in the ad & he was priced accordingly. Unfortunately all I got was people wanting to make a fast buck out of him, as he was cheap, therefore I did not sell him.

I've now got a nice sounding lady coming to see him this weekend, thinking of loaning, with view to buy, but this really scares me. She doesn't live too far away from me, & obviously I will be inspecting her stables/facilities etc.etc., but I'm unsure of whether I want to take the risk of him going to another yard. At the moment, he is kept at home & my arena is not floodlit, so it wouldn't be an option for someone to loan him from here who works full time.

I'm sure there must be some good jockeys out there, who can't necessarily afford to buy, but can offer a very good home, but can anyone offer me some re-assurances that this is a good thing?

Any responses greatfully received!!

Kay
 
There are plenty capable people out there.

What about 'sharing'

He could stay at current yard, person comes to you, and perhaps pays a little or nothing. Some people (me included) would struggle to full loan a horse money wise.

Just a thought!
 
Thanks for your reply.
At the moment, time is my issue, so I would consider a sharer.
Shame you're in Edinburgh, I'm in Lancs!
 
I have had my traddy cob on loan from his owner since 2006 - it works brilliantly for me - but not once in that time has she contacted me to see how he is.

Ive sent pictures and not even had an acknowledgement :-(
 
I had my little Arab on loan initially then bought him after 6 months. It worked brilliantly and I was over 2 hours drive away from them. However she did have over 50 enquiries initially, let 5 or 6 people try him and I was the lucky one! So it paid her to be very choosy I think.
 
It can work definitely, just make sure if he leaves the yard she has all the proper insurance etc, just in case an accident etc happens :)

We have loaned out, and loaned from people in the past, only had one sour one. The lady told us to leave her (v stressy) pony in a stable at a big yard, so she could have him transported the next day 5 hours to where she had moved to. By the time he got to her, he was run up and looked awful - she accused us of not looking after him properly. :mad: If she had known her horse better, she should have known thats how he would react - poor pony :( He was brilliant, and we would have bought him, but she wanted too much for a 16yo pony :(
 
Yes it can work i think it is the initial letting go that is the hardest. One onf mine went on loan 5 years ago and it has worked perfectly not one problem and he is really well looked after. I go and visit once every 6 months or so to check him and the lady who has him is happy for me to just turn up so I know nothing is being hidden from me. Things might not be done exactly that same as you would do them but as long as the horse is being loved and well looked after thats all that matters. When i was younger my mum loaned a few ponies for me and my sister which again worked out really well the owner was miles away and never interfered but we loved them like they were ours :)

Make sure you vet the homes and potential loaners thouroughly.
 
I've been a successful loanee and loaner.

I've had my current chap on loan for last 3 years and his owner has actually turned into one of my closest friends from not knowing her at all as she took a big gamble with me as I turned up to her yard one dark snowy February evening to try him and said I would like to have him. We have a great set up and he has a home for life with me for as long as he wants.I would never have been able to afford to buy him and I am very lucky as I think it was fate that brought us together :). So much so I even got her next youngster to break and bring on (oh and we are heading off on a girly holiday on Monday together:)).

My own horse was successfully loaned out as he preferred the easier life (who also had a nasty nap in him when out hacking) but also had a bad loaner too to start off with (muppet sprung to mind and I took him back)

What I would say to protect yourself is do lots of checks, get references, keep in touch with them and also use the BHS loan agreement just in case you come across another muppet.

Perhaps even to agree he stays on your yard for a month so you can view how the partnership gets on without having them out of sight completely until your are happy as you're his owner at the end of the day. There are decent loaners out there!

Good Luck
 
When I went to university I loaned my WHP/event/dressage pony to the younger sister of one of my pony club contemporaries, he had a fantastic year with her before she outgrew him. We then leased him through her pony club to another smaller girl who kept him for 6 years. At that point he was 18 years old so we found him another lease home, for an 11 year old girl who wanted a pony to introduce her to "proper" competing. He ended up living his retirement out on her farm well into his twenties and (having finished Uni) I got to go and ride him every weekend.

So I would say yes loans can work, but choose your loanee very carefully and keep in regular contact. Ours was a leasing arrangement which is perhaps easier to formalise.
 
Over the years I have loaned poines for my daughter, all very successful.

When Emily left home, taking her horse with her I wasn't in a position to buy and through a mutual friend I now have the most fantastic horse on loan. - He's well over 17hh. The lady who owns him and I wrote the loan agreement together. Having loaned ponies before I had a good idea of what I wanted in it and she has loaned out before so again knew what she wanted, so we have a loan agreement that we are both happy with. She didn't tell me she wanted references, but I have heard from friends that she asked about me. She was totally honest about her horse, and I have had him nealy 4 months and haven't had any surprises.

I initially had him on a months trial, after which he would either stay on long term loan or go back to her.

When I first had him she rang about once a week, that has now dwindled to about once a month and if anything changes I always ring her to let her know.

I would say make sure you have a clear loan agreement, that both sides are happy with. My loanee insisted on 3rd party liability insurance, if he damages someone elses property/causes an accident you are still the owner and liable.

Be completly honest about your horse, and if you don't know the loanee take up references with people you know and trust.

Loans can and do work, and I think in a lot of cases it is only the horror stories that you hear about.

Good luck, there is someone out there who will love him as much as you do.
 
Reg is loaned and it works brilliantly for everyone.

His owner can see him whenever she likes (or even if she doesn't, as they often hack past her house!), she comes and watches lessons and watches him compete and is very supportive and lovely. Al gets to ride the horse of her dreams. He's a pretty big old TB, who didn't have your horse's credentials at first, but now he is sort of does. We pay for his upkeep, insurance, competing, physio and stuff like that and treat him as our own. His owner gets very regular updates and everyone is very happy with the arrangement.

We've only ever really loaned, and it's worked out well on nearly all occasions. We've had the fortune to ride and care for some horses who would have been way beyond any budget, who have taken us to some pretty cool places.
 
I think there is a big difference loaning/leasing out a horse that does a job, to do that job vs just wanting someone else to look after your horse. A good agreement and a businesslike attitude towards the situation - even if it's very congenial - means everyone knows the score going in, is honest about what they want out of the situation, and understand that they all, horse and people, benefit from the arrangement.

I know there are bad owners/riders out there and people can and do get caught, but I have to say, most of the time when I've seen it go really wrong it's come down to unrealistic expectations or lack of communication. I've seen owners resent having to loan the horse out so they want everything done EXACTLY as they would want it done and are consequently never happy. Or they are not reasonable about what they will sign off on so the loaner gets frustrated. By the same token, I've seen loaners take on a horse with certain expectations that are clearly not going to come to pass. It really pays to sit down and put it all in writing, if only to make sure everyone knows the score.

I do think you have to weigh what you get and what you give, too. I have seen people with very "limited" horses want only the very best riders for it. I know we all want the best for our horses but sometimes "good" has to be "good enough".
 
My advice would be to make sure you get references of the person you are loaning to from respected sources. Also have a watertight contract--BHS have a template on their website, also, if you want to, you can get a solicitor to draw one up. Visit the yard where the horse will be kept and visit frequently.
I have both loaned and been a loanee and apart from one, it was very successful. My last horse we had for 7 years.
I religiously kept the owner informed every month as to what the horse had been doing etc and sent pictures. At Christmas I would make a card using a pic of the horse and this was loved.
The unsuccessful experience was when I loaned a horse to a so called friend. Didn't have a contract and he sold the horse on! Because there was no contract I hadn't a leg to stand on! Needless to say we are no longer friends!
I found out later that this person was well known for non payment of rent etc
So, like I said, get references and a contract. Do your homework and it can be a good experience.
 
Contact MHOL on here about loan agreements and contact NEDonline to mark him as being on loan so that duplicate passports etc can't be issued.
I alway cringe when you read the stories about people putting horses out on loan and then not being able to get them back etc as it makes it difficult for the honest people who do genuinely look after the horse and have no bad intentions, but there are lessons to be learned concerning loan contracts etc to cut down on things going wrong.
If it's loan with view to buy makes sure that the buying price is put in the agreement.
 
I loaned a horse and it worked out well. I ended up buying him 2 years later.

I stay intouch with his owners, although they havent seen him for a couple of years now.
If I ever couldnt keep hime for what ever reason I would offer him back to them free.

He is a veteran now and owes me nothing. I owe him a happy retirement when he is ready
 
Another positive - I've loaned out, to some one recommended to me, i continued my insurance policy and the loaner paid the premium we used a BHS agreement, and also just recently loaned "in" with a view to buy, whilst this didn;t work out both parties were happy with how it went. Would def do again.
 
Hi,
I'm new to HHO as a member, but have been reading for a while.
I am a loaner (not in the "I have no friends sense" :rolleyes:)
The owner and I have a fab agreement. I have her horse on full loan whilst she is at uni and when she is home on holidays we share him and share the cost of him. I totally love him and think of him as my own.
The owner and I know eachother anyway, so she trusts me and vice versa.
When I was young, all my ponies were on loan, as I grew v fast!!!
 
Yes they can work but the main contribution of failure of loaning is lack of or breakdown of Communication - As long as you get all the basics sorted out and agreed in writing in the beginning that is a good start - There are good loaners out there just be careful and be honest!

S x
 
The very fact that you've posted here and got lots of responses from other folk is a good start - the more educated and prepared you are, the better the chances of making it work I'd say.

Perhaps before sending your horse to the new rider's yard, ask if they can come and ride it at your place for two weeks so you get to know them a bit first, and hopefully suss out how genuine etc they are?
 
it can work but it can also not work big time!

I got my first horse on loan after he ended up in a series of unsuitable homes. first one just left him in a field to starve and the owner only found out when the RSPCA got involved. 2nd one just couldn't handle him at all and he got really naughty and to the point where he became dangerous. he was so messed up when I got him. Took me several months to settle him down and sort out his ridden behaviour again. Bless him. Anyway, after a year on loan I bought him and I still have him aged 25 and am still in contact with his old owners (to the point where he now lives back in their field as they have more grass than me!)

Current youngest horse is out on loan and has been for about 2.5mths now. Has taken a lot for me to let go of him. I didn't want to sell him straight off as he has had an injury and was unsure how he would stand up to work and also he is pretty quirky and wouldnt be easy to find a good home for. So far it is working out well.
 
Yes.
I had a horse on loan for 3 years and at the end of loan period he went back. (loan was for University duration - owners not mine!)

Now her circumstance ahve changed and I am buying him back...

At the moment I also loan another hosre - but this is as a companion and to bring her back into condition - this is in exchange for schooling for my own mare.

So yes it can - but as has already been said communication is the key.
 
Yes i loaned a horse for over a year while the girl/ owner was at uni/ traveling. I kept him at his present yard for a months trial and then was able to move him, i had a year of great fun on him, eventing, bsja and qualified for the riding club champs etc etc. After about a year the girl wanted to sell him as she wanted to raise a deposit for her first house and was giving up, he was an older horse and i already owned another horse at the time so declined but i kept him on and helped her sell him to a lovely lady who still has him now, im return she gave me 10% which i did not expect but was very nice of her. We found each other word of mouth, both of us came recomended through friends and instructors. We also had a contract drawn up.
 
At the end of summer I loaned my boy out to a girl who wanted to keep him at a riding school on working livery. The arrangement was that she would pay the part of the working livery that would normally fall upon the owner to pay.

So it was a bit complicated in that I "lent" him to her; she in turn "lent" him to the riding school, to be used by them but also giving her time, by arrangement, when she could ride.

The riding school was at least forty minutes drive from my home; but I needed to get rid of him quickly, and as I thought it was a riding school, and waht could go wrong, I paid the transport costs for him to go there (i.e. goodwill gesture). We also did a loan agreement, using the BHS one as a template and I'd added in a few things that were particularly relevant to the situation as well.

Anyway, everything was going fine (or so I thought); then a few weeks ago it became apparent that the girl who'd borrowed him was having problems, including financial.

Now she's said that she is relinquishing the loan (after only 7 weeks, and probably after only riding him say a handful of times). I said to the YO that I will take on all costs relating to the livery from now on, the intention being eventually to move him back to my own yard (as soon as we can get another stable fixed up!!).

According to the YO, she's paid sweet FA for his keep since the day he arrived, and is proving very "elusive" to get hold of (now there's a surprise). I am exceedingly embarrassed, as its basically MY horse that's incurred this outstanding debt. I've said that I will pay from the date she formally notified me of her intention to give up the loan agreement. Perhaps she will pay the sum outstanding, I don't know, but if she doesn't it creates a dilemma and considerable embarrassment for myself.

So personally, I would be very very careful. People will talk big and say they want to take a horse on loan, and cause everyone a lot of disruption, but basically its a case of not being able to afford the pot you're p!ssing in - especially as when I advertised him for loan there was a big response and someone else could have had him instead.

Bleddy people!
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
According to the YO, she's paid sweet FA for his keep since the day he arrived, and is proving very "elusive" to get hold of (now there's a surprise). I am exceedingly embarrassed, as its basically MY horse that's incurred this outstanding debt. I've said that I will pay from the date she formally notified me of her intention to give up the loan agreement. Perhaps she will pay the sum outstanding, I don't know, but if she doesn't it creates a dilemma and considerable embarrassment for myself.
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I keep my loan horse at livery, slightly different I know, but have it written into my loan agreement that I am responsible for all livery bills until such time as the agreement is terminated.

It sounds as if the YO is being fair, but at the end of the day the agreement she had was with the other girl and not you, so don't see why you should have to pay for when he was her responsibility. Although I agree it is embarassing for you.
 
Mmmm thanks poster above.

No agree I shouldn't feel responsible for the outstanding part of the livery fees; but regrettably I have this unfortunate thing called a "conscience" which is a blimmin nuisance at the best of times.

The problem is that you've got to take people on trust; and I did with this girl, thought she was OK. I'm not wet behind the ears and have been around a bit and thought I was a good judge of character, but this one somehow slipped through the net.

The loan agreement that I'd carefully drawn up, and got signed, dated and witnessed, obviously meant nothing to her!! :(
 
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