Finding your loan horse

Kenzo

Kenzo

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 February 2008
Messages
13,924
Location
Yorkshire
Visit site
I'm in a position now where I can take a horse on loan (a proper full loan) *jumps around in excitement* so the search is on and Mr M will have a big brother, I have grown to like mares now (always been a gelding person before) but obviously this would not be practical so it would have to be a gelding.

Just wanted to ask though, how many of you would have a potential loan horse vetted? do you think the owners would feel a bit insulted if you asked, even if its just for your own peace of mind no because you didnt think it was sound.

smile.gif
 
If I didnt think it was sound I probably would be unlikely to pursue it to the vetting stage to be honest!

Owner might be quite flattered tho as ut sgows a genuine caring attitude and they would know that the horses best interests would always be a priority!
laugh.gif
 
If it was my horse, i wouldn't be offended, but I would be less likely to have them as a loanee as (for me) it appears snobby/snotty and ungrateful. Surely in the event of injury that's what loan contracts are for?
 
[ QUOTE ]

Owner might be quite flattered tho as ut sgows a genuine caring attitude and they would know that the horses best interests would always be a priority!
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Ah see, I can understand that, but that isn't how I would take it.
 
I'm on to my second loan horse now. i didnt have either vetted (i'm very lucky that one of my friends is a vet and 'checked' them over for me at no cost) - but i dont think any genuine person would mind so long as you ask in a tactful way and explain why you want to do it. but, if you have a loan agreement, and insurance you should be covered.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If it was my horse, i wouldn't be offended, but I would be less likely to have them as a loanee as (for me) it appears snobby/snotty and ungrateful. Surely in the event of injury that's what loan contracts are for?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I can see what you mean, which is why wanted to see how it would come across but some owners are not always honest and will gladly let you take the horse knowing that there not up to the job your inteding for them, just because they want you to have them,which is not fair on the horse and too late 6 months down the line when you discover that the horse should never of been jumped for example.

Its nothing to do with who pays for the vet bills etc even if its just a quick look over by the vet, flexion test, heart/lungs etc
I guess if your paying for it then really its peace of mind for the owner too at no cost to them.

But its good know how it would come across, hmmm maybe not a good idea then.
 
I see why you would want to ensure the horse you were taking on loan was as healthy as possible.

But what would happen if the horse injured itself in the field and was then never suitable for the purpose you loaned it for, who would you think should deal with the horse, after all the insurance/treatments had been exausted?

It's a difficult one, but I don't blame you for trying to get the best start possible?
smile.gif
 
I don't think i would be insulted at the end of the day its you that will have to pay the vets bills if there is any underlying problem with the horse when you get it
 
It depends - if I wanted a loan horse to go out and compete at a certain level, and it was for long term loan, then I would get it vetted. There is no point going to all the trouble of bringing it back to your yard, getting to know etc then having to end the agreement and send it back etc.

If it was just a RC type horse, then I would ask if it has had any prior problems and perhaps ask to speak to vet if there is something that needs clarification. I think you have enough experience to put the horse on the lunge and see if it is lame/do a trot up. I dont think there is anything wrong with doing those things when viewing a horse - any seller/loaner who didnt agree is obviously hiding something.
 
I don't see the problem. I'm sure a responsible owner would rather have potential problems identified and the appropriate action taken at this stage, than to have a crocked horse returned to them when they least expect it and may not be in a position to deal with it?
 
I wouldn't see a problem with vetting a loan horse but I didn't get mine vetted years ago. To be honest, I tried a few loan offers then went to see this weedy( just recovered from a virus) 14.1hh gelding with a broken nose to boot (bless him!) and something about him just clicked. We didn't even consider vetting him. He was an absolute star!

I still regret the day we gave him back to his owner though when the loan agreement ended (we weren't prepared to pay the amount she wanted us to buy him for) and I dread to think how he ended up.

Guess a vetting depends on your gut instinct and what is written into your loan contract (ie if you could return the horse should you find it had an underlying health issue, that sort of thing)
 
If the loanee is taking out a new insurance policy, they may have to have a vetting done for that anyway.

I put a pony on loan and we split the cost of the vetting as it was done for that reason.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top