Finding a short term loan?

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Stroppy Mare

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Is it possible firstly to find a short term loan - til the end of September? I'm at uni away from home so long term loans would be out totally. I'd want to be able to move the horse to my yard (as have own yard with 2 horses already there) and do low level competing.

All the ads I've crawled across so far don't want the horse moving (fair enough!), are too far away or are totally unsuitable (broodmare/hack only etc)... Am I totally daft thinking that the above exists? Where would I be best to look?
 
I've had no luck looking for similar thing (I don't want to move them, and don't mind full or part).

I can understand why there wouldn't really be an interest in short term summer loans, but it's a shame for students like us who live away for uni.
 
If I understand you correctly, you want to borrow some ones horse for the summer, move it to a yard that suits you and then give it back once the short nights and bad weather returns. I would think that you have no chance :eek: Most horse owners survive the winter to enjoy the summer. If you put you horse out on loan for such a short time, you would still have to pay your own yard to hold the stable for you, so from an owners point of view its a no win situation.

You may have more chance to look for a share.
 
The only type of person I can think of who might consider that is a heavily pregnant lady who wants her horse kept in work for her last month of pregnancy and the first month or two of the child's life or someone who has been injured! Unfortunatley finding these people is not easy! Otherwise not sure you will have much luck as per a previous post, I only do the winters for the summers!
 
I just got one :) until end of October.I was very honest that I didn't want a third horse for the winter (they keep him at home, I keep him at my home) as I don't really ride in the winter. Her daughter is off travelling for the summer and they have too much grass and no company for him. Its all worked out well. word of mouth is best. you may not get your ideal mount though.
 
agree with what the others said. Its the thought of summer that gets me through our horrendous winters and there is not a chance in hell of anyone else getting their paws on mine for the summer!
 
I echo what others have said but you never know. I think a share and you travelling to the horse's home is a more likely prospect.

Alternatively, I would put feelers out locally that you are willing to take on someone's horse for schooling (presuming you have facilities for such at your yard) and low level competions at your expense rather than asking for a short term loan? You never know if a horse may be available due to a long summer holiday or even some young person disappearing to work abroad for the summer months before uni or as another poster put, someone pregnant or just had a new baby? I suspect it would be someone who has their horses at home rather than a livery that would look at this.

What about the two horses that you have mentioned that are in your yard already? I presume for some reason that they are not suitable for you?

I also think it depends on your area as some areas it does seem harder to get loans/sharers etc for
 
I'm looking for a short term loan for my youngest, I have put on my ads that I'm willing to keep it through the winter so I don't give it back when things get expensive but still had no luck. :(
 
I don't think its impossible - not a loan but I had a share from March to August last year - I was very honest from the start that I wouldn't be around from September and it worked just fine. People go travelling, get pregnant, and have a myriad of other reasons why they lack time for a horse, but I think they tend not to be advertised as these arrangements are like gold dust and people would get hundreds of unsuitable people responding. I think your best bet is by word of mouth, or try putting up a wanted advert stating clearly what you are after - I had mine on preloved and a friend had lots of offers of ponies from an ad on horsequest.
 
I understand all hurdles brought up on this thread completely. And I would not deceive any owner into believing I would take the horse for longer than what I had planned. I also understand those who have said they wouldn't allow anyone like me to take their horse for the summer, fair enough but for those wanting to loan out, it might be a short stop gap between finding a longer term home?

For the poster who asked, I am in Nottinghamshire. The two horses I already have - one is a hack only due to a previous injury (fractured pedal bone before we bought her) and the other is on field rest due to an injury she sustained in the field over winter. She is also my main competition horse unfortunately!

If I had a loan which stayed on current yard, it would have to be extremely close, on the same road as mine ideally or certainly in the same area, as there's no way I can travel and do my horses then go ride someone else's and do that horse and be home before dark. I don't get to my horses til 5, by the time I've ridden the one who can be ridden and done all duties it's 6.30 at the earliest hence my wanting to move to current yard.

The idea of advertising for a horse for schooling might be worthwhile too, it is something I'll look into definitely. Thank you all :)
 
From a different perspective, I am in a situation whereby I would actually be very tempted to take up on someone coming with me on light hacks etc; I have my two boys at home now that i've moved to Notts, and finding time amongst a full time job and alongside the extensive work involved with managing your own land and not having livery help/friends to swap with and help each other out, exercising my two can be pretty challenging. I often think of being able to take them out together if I found a like-minded horseless rider!
I know there are people out there that would bite my hand off at the opportunity, but I think for horse owners, your horses are so incredibly precious and so finding someone you trust, your horse trusts and that matches what you would allow to be done with your horse and whose abilities/capabilities match those of the horse is a bit like a needle in a haystack itself!
It's a tough situation to be in, I have been a horseless rider and I would have done anything to love and care for anyones horse of any shape size or breed and I wouldn't have cared what duties it did or didn't involve, but there's so many fibbers out there, that as the owner of two now, I am stupidy over-protective and can't work out the genuine people from the ones that want to take over, those that would be out of their depth and probably end up putting their own and the horses safety at risk...the list goes on! In these situations you're most likely to find rides through recommendation so getting to a yard for lessons may not be a bad thing, you may then find liveries in need of a bit of help? There are definitely people out there looking for riders/help, they're just guarding their 4-legged partners :)
 
I wanted someone to loan my horse for the summer last year while I was pregnant, didnt mind him moving as long as I had references and he was a lovely horse, but no interest so he was just turned away.

So although I do echo some of the concerns above, don't give up. As long as you're honest I don't see a problem with it really :)
 
Maybe, if you can offer something back.

There could be people who would appreciate their horse taken for the summer to gain experience.

You could do a wanted ad? ..... My goal would be to do blah blah with the horse and get them do blah blah. Dunno, but I'm sure there must be people who would appreciate their horse taken to competitions and given some experience.

If you are prepared to clearly offer something back, then you might have more luck.
 
I loaned my Connemara mare last year to someone at uni for the summer. She could prove that she was very experienced and put some miles on the clock for me, I actually paid something towards her livery and I was very happy with the arrangement.
I think you have to put together a 'CV' and make sure the loaner is getting something out of it and make sure you have the same objectives. No one will what to loan if they think the animal is just going to be used for the summer with no long term benefits, its a lot less risk to just leave it in the field.
 
I was similar to another poster last year, I tried really hard to find a rider for my horse whilst I was pregnant last summer. The only replies I got we're from people who wanted a long term loans. I ended up having to pay someone to ride! So I would have LOVED someone like you to come along. In fact even now it would be great to have a rider for my horse some days to keep him fit as I don't get to go as often as I'd like with a baby..... I still have to pay someone to ride him when I need it and pay for full livery (riding not included) on top of that. It's a shame you're so far away :(

Don't give up looking I'm sure there are people out there who are in similar situations and would love a short term loaner. Good luck :)
 
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