Does such a thing exist?

[spotty_pony]

Some of you may remember my post asking if there was such a situation as a person with a horse who may want it to jump from time to time.

I am (once again) thinking ahead to when I get another horse... which is looking like it could be end of this year/start of next year. But I am struggling to see how I am ever going to afford anything half decent. I don't want a thoroughbred but would have a cross breed. I would be looking at 8-10k for a green gelding with no proven history and if I was to spend 5k it would get me something that has had a tendon injury or in one advert - the horse had been 3/10 lame over the winter but 'seemed fine' now! Alarm bells!! ?

So I am considering looking for something on full and permanent loan to come and live at home. Preferably with a contract that I will pay for everything for the horse and treat it as my own. Said horse would have two gelding companions (so would prefer a gelding) and lots of turnout and grazing plus a stable for the winter. I would be wanting to do mostly hacking, a bit of schooling, potentially some competing and hunt rides/hunting depending on the horse. Horse must have a good pop, I don't mind green but not dangerous. Must hack alone and be good in traffic as we get quite a lot of lorries pass us when we first set out. 16+, age not as important for a loan. Horse would want for nothing and have a fantastic life in a loving family home.

this is not an advert. I am just wondering if such a thing exists? It may suit someone who has a horse they no longer have time for, or someone who has a horse which doesn't suit them but they cannot bear to sell.

thoughts please! Well done if you got this far ?

 

[scruffyponies]

There are always people with under-used horses who would be happy to save a bit of money by putting it on loan, so long as you can offer a competent home, and especially if you will improve or compete the horse.

Normally September would be the time, as young riders head off to uni, but this year many have stayed home.

If you're not in the middle of nowhere, you might also find an owner who would be tempted to move to yours and share to save livery costs.

 

[I'm Dun]

Full and permanent is effectively giving you the horse. in this market people who would never normally sell are being tempted. You might find something but I'd expect soundness issues, quirks or an older horse. I imagine it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack though sadly.

 

[blitznbobs]

Some of you may remember my post asking if there was such a situation as a person with a horse who may want it to jump from time to time.

I am (once again) thinking ahead to when I get another horse... which is looking like it could be end of this year/start of next year. But I am struggling to see how I am ever going to afford anything half decent. I don't want a thoroughbred but would have a cross breed. I would be looking at 8-10k for a green gelding with no proven history and if I was to spend 5k it would get me something that has had a tendon injury or in one advert - the horse had been 3/10 lame over the winter but 'seemed fine' now! Alarm bells!! ?

So I am considering looking for something on full and permanent loan to come and live at home. Preferably with a contract that I will pay for everything for the horse and treat it as my own. Said horse would have two gelding companions (so would prefer a gelding) and lots of turnout and grazing plus a stable for the winter. I would be wanting to do mostly hacking, a bit of schooling, potentially some competing and hunt rides/hunting depending on the horse. Horse must have a good pop, I don't mind green but not dangerous. Must hack alone and be good in traffic as we get quite a lot of lorries pass us when we first set out. 16+, age not as important for a loan. Horse would want for nothing and have a fantastic life in a loving family home.

this is not an advert. I am just wondering if such a thing exists? It may suit someone who has a horse they no longer have time for, or someone who has a horse which doesn't suit them but they cannot bear to sell.

thoughts please! Well done if you got this far ?

Pity you're not nearer to me. I have a horse that I love, but dont get on with to ride. He had colic surgery 2 years ago so I wont sell him but at the moment he's just a 17.1 companion pony... Don't get me wrong he's not a saint and can be a bit nappy but can clear a 5 bar gate and loves to jump and is good to hack... cant find him a loan home though so hes sat doing nothing at home.

 

[Squeak]

I know you say no tb's but they'd do everything you want and be a bit cheaper? Hopefully you'll get lucky and find what you want on loan but I have to agree with others that it can be very hard to find a loan horse.

 

[Lois Lame]

'Full and permanent loan' would be a big ask, as who can promise that? But a full and for-all-intents-and-purposes 'permanent' loan might be a different story.

Ask. Advertise. You might find what you seek.

 

[Nudibranch]

What you're looking for is what a lot of people are looking - and paying - for so it might take a while. I did have a horse that meets exactly your criteria and was set to put him on permanent loan. But then he had an accident and had to be pts. He was a TB as well, so if you're ruling them out you'll find it harder.

 

[ihatework]

People loan horses all the time for a variety of reasons. So it’s certainly not out of the question and is often a case of being in the right place at the right time. But don’t expect perfection to fall in your lap, you might need to consider taking on issues you wouldn’t normally if you were to buy.

 

[spacefaer]

We loaned our 2 retired hunters out in the past on the basis that the loaner has them as their own, with all the benefits and costs involved. We don't expect them back, unless the loaner's circumstances change.

However, they're only available because they've retired from hunting so there are limits to what they can do. In these cases, no hunting, no jumping and no schooling. But they are both fantastic safe hacks and delightful people to have around!
Loans are around but they might come with restrictions. Hopefully you find the perfect one!

 

[Sail_away]

I’m in two minds about this - because on the one hand, you have a lovely setup. If my gelding comes right by autumn, and is too much horse for my novice mum to hack, then we’d be looking for a similar setup to yours.
But on the other hand it would be an absolute no to any home looking for
something to hunt or jump him above 90cm because of his veterinary history. And I think this is the same with a lot of horses advertised for a loan, particularly a ‘permanent’ one - if it was a nice, genuine horse without quirks and no vet advisories then they’d be sold for 10k+.

 

[spotty_pony]

Thank you everyone. I am not afraid of a challenge. I have broken and schooled horses professionally so that's not a problem. A concern on my behalf is that I would take a horse on, get attached and put in a lot of work and then the owner would want it back. Always a chance that could happen I know. I do have a lot of horsey contacts so the chances are somebody I know already had something suitable when I am ready. It wouldn't just be me benefiting though, the owner would be too as their horse would be in work, being cared for, treated like royalty and for some this is an easier option than selling if they don't want to sell but can't afford to keep or other circumstances.