Finding the perfect loan home & keeping a pony 'safe' when on loan...

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Scarlett

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This one is for those of you who have successfully loaned out your ponies.... :)

My friend has a wonderful pony that her son has sadly outgrown. Pony is 12.1, older, been there and done it and worth her weight in gold 20 times over as she is the perfect mix of safe and forward.

Sadly though pony no longer has a rider and is utterly wasted stood in a field when she could be out teaching a kid the ropes, the pony thrives on having a job and although she would never be considered a burden she would be much better off somewhere that she can be with kids. My friend doesnt want to sell her and will always take responsibility for pony - however she has been offered a bigger pony for her son and will be taking it on loan soon.

So, the hunt for a loan home for the little one starts. Obviously we are concerned about finding the right home. We've been trying to spread the word but so far the only people to ask about her were not suitable. I've read some loaning horror stories over the years, horses going missing or being let get into a horrible condition - how do you make sure that it's not your horse who ends up like this...? Whats the ettiquite regarding visiting and checking up on the pony in a loan home without appearing too controlling? How far away would you let the pony go? Can anyone suggest good places to find 'loan wanted' adverts that may throw up the kind of home she needs? She doesn't want to start advertising too much for fear of getting a load of replies from folk who are just interested in a free pony regardless of anything else.

All suggestions and positive loaning stories welcome... :)
 
Shivvy said:
I would go via pony club and take up references pref go with someone that has loaned before etc good luck.
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My daughters 13.2 was loaned 4 times before he came home for good. The only place he was brought back early from was the one home that was not pony club.
If he is a good starter pony, you will only have to put the word out at your local pony club. 3 things are most important: reference from instructor for pony club at that level, : inspect the home and meet ALL the family : have in paperwork, that you are allowed to visit pony, whenever suits you not the family loaning pony: the last is really important, if they have met you, they will know that you will not abuse this, and if they say no, walk away. I have been in both positions, both loaning above pony out, and as a borrower for horse. As the borrower of horse, I would have been more concerned if the owners had not wanted to come and see him
Good luck.
 
Bit worried about contacting PC as our local one is known for being a bit snobby (I know, we shouldn't listen to stereotypes and all that!) but will maybe put an email together and send it to them...

Thanks :)
 
I was looking to loan recently and had no problem with owner coming when he was passing (lorry driver) announced or otherwise. I would have added him on facebook or sent photos/an email every few months (borrowing a friends youngster atm and she gets updated whenever he does something new or once a month whichever comes first and is on my facebook so sees photos as they're added and it would have been about the same level of contact...I did the same when I had ponies on loan before).

I'd be worried if an owner didn't visit or chase me if I was behind on updates tbh but any horse I borrow/loan is very much treated as my own and spoilt rotten. I have nothing to hide so no problem with unannounced visits etc as long as YO doesn't and they're at resonable hours (current yard is where YO's parents live so we're asked not to go up before 6am and to leave before 9pm and let her know if we're going outside of those times so she can let her parents know which is more than fair IMO).

I've had horses been allowed to be taken 3 hours away for uni but I had kept them at her parents for 2 years prior to that so she was very confident in the level of care and previously the friend I am borrowing the youngster from has let me take one of hers 5+ hours away but again.....she knows me and besides thinking I'm soft ;) trusts in my level of care. I know I'm a good loaner and have fab references but I would understand a owner wanting a horse to stay on their yard or local...personally I'd want them to be on the same yard as my mare but that's because I already have one and love my current yard. They could do as many reference checks/coming to visit me/the yard/my mare as they want prior to me taking them on.

The Pony Club and/or local riding clubs would be a fab place to start for you and give you a bit more faith in the recomendations (in theory anyway).
 
I have one on loan via the RDA and could not ask for better care. The RDA are always looking for good honest safe ponies. My pony is spoilt rotten, has a huge stable, ample grazing available, and the very very best of care. I can see him when I like, and although everything's in a contract I have no concerns whatsoever so don't have to visit as often as I would a private home. I CAN visit when I like, but I'm happy for them to get on with it as I get regular dated pics. He's an hour away :)
 
Thank you everyone. I'll draft an email to the PC tonight and see how we go :)

RDA is an interesting idea - I shall investigate further, thanks!

Tamski - pony is in Guildford, Surrey.
 
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I loaned my pony out four times - three good homes and one bad! Biggest bit of advice I would give is to go on your gut instinct! The one bad I did, but because they were "experienced" and a pony club home I thought I was just being silly, I wasn't! The pony club website is a good place to start!

R u looking to loan your pony out locally?? Or would you mind if it went further afield?
 
Miss Bean - the distance the pony could go would completely depend on the home offered. If it was the right home I think the distance would be less of an issue.
 
Have a look at the "Missing on Loan" website; don't know who runs it, but there might be something in the archives on here.

Personally before loaning out, I would freezemark the pony first, but that's just me being ultra cautious.

I'm one of the ones who's had a "bad" experience of loaning my boy out, and so would never do it again.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Have a look at the "Missing on Loan" website; don't know who runs it, but there might be something in the archives on here.

Personally before loaning out, I would freezemark the pony first, but that's just me being ultra cautious.

I'm one of the ones who's had a "bad" experience of loaning my boy out, and so would never do it again.
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Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience - sadly it seems all too common, hence our concerns. The problem is that if she doesnt get loaned out then she will have no job and that can make older ponies get very old very quickly, if you know what I mean. Also we keep them on a competition yard with very little turnout so not the sort of place you can retire a pony on, even if she was ready to be retired. She is off to an unaff dressage champs this weekend with the little girl who has been riding her so we'll get that out the way and then see where we are.
 
I've got one pony out on loan as a companion. I found the loaner through word of mouth (farrier) so although I didn't know her she was local. I don't expect any updates from her particularly as she's only got him to keep her retired mare company. I know where he is and I can drive by the field anytime to look at him.

From the other point of view I've just taken a pony on loan myself to ride. I found the pony through a national website had a chat with the owners over the phone and arranged to visit. I was very upfront about my experience and requirements and I asked lots of questions about the pony and their circumstances. Ultimately though it came down to gut feeling and I felt that they were being honest with me. I offered to provide references from my YO and vet for them and they delivered the pony so they could see the yard and facilities, I also took them to my house for tea and biscuits so they knew my actual address too. I send text/email/facebook updates and have said they are welcome to contact me or visit anytime they like. I've live about 1.5-2 hours away.

So far it's all going well. I treat the pony the same as my own. I feel slightly more protective over her tack and belongings as I'm aware they are not mine.

I think if you've got any doubts about a loan whether it's the owners or loaner then walk away but there are lots of cases where everything goes very smoothly so don't be put off by the horror stories.
 
We loaned a lovely little chap recently and are on the lookout for another,exactly like the pony you describe! When we loaned we absolutely kept to the letter of the agreement and it helped that both the owners and ourselves had the same instructor from the Pony Club,so the owner knew that the instructor would see us and the pony every week.I also emailed or texted every couple of days,with photos so she could see what we were up to.Our loan pony had EMS and riggy tendencies so wasn't as straightforward as most,but he was a delight and we really miss him,he gave my daughter a lot of confidence and fun.We still remain in touch with the owner and class her as a good friend.

I refused to let anyone else but my children ride our loan pony,as although this wasn't specified in our contract,I wouldn't want my pony ridden by people whom I didn't know.It might be worth putting a similar clause in any contract you set up.Also take photos of the condition of any rugs and tack that go with the pony too.
 
On the other side, we've always loaned ponies. Every pony I've posted about has been on loan to us, and they receive the best possible care.

I'd be very specific about getting regular updates (say every other week at first?) and photos in the contract. Make surprise visits (a day or two's notice) and maybe go and watch lessons/ rallies/ competitions. Be super nice though if the wheels fall off at first, they usually pick up after a few goes! We used to write monthly letters to the owners telling them what we were up to with their ponies and I still have some of my later ones on my laptop- you don't get much in the way of results beyond last minute additions of "Oh, we came 2nd and got a trophy! Yay!" but how much I love the pony shines through.

Loaning can be utterly brilliant, especially if you get an older saint. Ponies can be treated like lords and loved and adored by children who couldn't own a pony otherwise.

BUT I'd only go for a PC home who can provide really good references from the yard owner/ DC/ instructor...
 
Scarlett said:
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience - sadly it seems all too common, hence our concerns. The problem is that if she doesnt get loaned out then she will have no job and that can make older ponies get very old very quickly, if you know what I mean. Also we keep them on a competition yard with very little turnout so not the sort of place you can retire a pony on, even if she was ready to be retired. She is off to an unaff dressage champs this weekend with the little girl who has been riding her so we'll get that out the way and then see where we are.
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Just a thought. But had you thought of breaking yours to harness?? My neighbour's doing it with the old child's pony they had.

Like I say, just an idea. It does give "old" riding ponies something to do (and keeps them fit and moving - good antidote for laminitis!), plus keeps them "in the family" as it were without the need to move them on.
 
My PC schoolmaster has just come back from loan, he has been loaned out about 5 times since my daughter out grew him. He has been to posh places and not so posh places but the best loaners are not always on your doorstep and the better loaners seemed to have been further away.
Apart from the loan agreement I think you reallly have to question their motivation, is this a quick fix to a short term problem and have they unrealistic expectations of what the pony will do. I always tell them if I get him in back in winter they will get a mouth full and as he is old we set a limit on vets fees as their is no point in insuring him.
PC is a good place to start but some ponies do get hammered and I would look for the caring loaner rather than one with loads of experience but will be looking for the next best thing in six months. Good luck.
 
My pony is currently on loan to a riding school as I've just had a baby. He's happy as larry and really well looked after, I can visit him whenever I want and can ride him once a week if I want to. He loves teaching the kids to ride! We have a proper contract in place and he will probably be there for the next few years.
 
Be very careful better to keep where it is and just loan from there. We have just bought a 12.2 but our 11.2 is still with us and a friend brings her two children up 2 or 3 times a week to ride and pays £20 a week for his keep. We look after him and pay for everything.
 
Sounds like a perfect pony club type pony, have you tried local riding clubs too? You have prompted me to get on with it and put an ad on our PC site for a 13hh that I need to loan out. She is so wasted and really loves going out and about so got to do something.
 
Thanks everyone, contacting local PC's and RC's a bit later - fingers crossed...!

Honestly, we'd much rather keep her at home but our yard has sj stallions on it and it's not the sort of place that younger kids or a family can really hang out and play with a pony safely, plus it's a private yard with other people living on it and the Landlord just won't allow the extra traffic. It's sad but unfortunately necessary to try and loan her off the yard :( there will always be a space for her here though, no matter what happens.
 
its free to advertise on the pony club website and most people looking there will be pony club if you arent a fan of your local club? We have often loaned ponies out and have been fortunate in that we have never had a problem- though we have always checked the homes out and asked for updates
 
Pcs a good starting point but don't rule out non pc homes either. My child doesn't go because we can't afford transport, but I rather think I can provide good care. Certainly, I haven't had a problem loaning for daughter when smaller due to not being pc. Including a fr star who has a long waiting list of mainly pc members. However if not pc they should be able to provide references from elsewhere.
 
Get references if possible, and from loaners vet and VERIFY them!
Then once pony has gone to new loan home, check pony at set intervals until you are happy pony is being properly cared for.
Drop in unannounced a couple of times so things are not "made ready" for your arrival.
And have a watertight loan agreement.
1st sign of things not being as they should, take the pony back.
 
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