Friends borrowing your horsebox

Nope and tend not to gives lifts either unless I offer them. My excuse, when asked, is usually, 'sorry, I'm taking all of my boys and don't have any room'. We have a yard lorry for going to shows, the vet, etc... so they can pay to use that like everyone else who doesn't have their own transport.

Never had anyone ask to borrow it. They'd need a digital tacho card as lorry is 12T and I'm guessing there's no-one on the yard (apart from me and dad) who actually have one.
 
Been interesting reading these replies, and eye opening for me. The vast majority don't lend out exc for emergencies or rare occasions. I've actually had a successful share in the past where my friend paid half of all running etc costs (and she would always offer straight away, pay immediately and fix any slight damage that was caused) but I knew her for years, we did loads together, and she used it in the week when I didn't.

I feel differently now and am at a different yard to her. Whilst it's good for the lorry to get out and about so it doesn't get creaky, or the battery go flat, I'm going to go with the majority on here from now on. I think it's best for lots of reasons already mentioned. Sadly it won't take two big horses so it'll be solo tips for me.
 
Bernster, one thing I did do with a persistent nagging 'friend' 2 yrs ago, was to say:

OK, but can you deposit 10% of the value of the box into my bank before you collect key? This is due to previous borrower yrs ago (my 7.5t then in the 90's), who 'rode' the new clutch burning it out - and i had to replace at vast expense, as she would not pay.

As the box was then currently worth around £16k+ 2 yrs ago, this 'friend' said she couldn't afford even 1%...... so obviously she couldn't afford to do any repairs if they did happen.... stopped her right away from ever asking me again :)

I wouldn't ever trust anyone for a "bash it, pay for it", not family nor friends.
Its just not worth it
 
No I wouldn't lend it either. Occasionally when doing endurance I've towed my friend's trailer (with both our horses in) and I would get it the night before then collect her en route as the horse doesn't live at home with the trailer. I found it very stressful to be in charge of it to be honest. Worse than if I was lending her mine!

Got my own now and I would lend to her if something happened to hers but no one else.

I wouldn't even like to collect anyone else other than her as hardly anyone has a horse which behaves to my standards and even my well behaved horses have scratched the paintwork already.
 
I'm on the other side, currently saving for a lorry of my own but never had transport.

I would never ask to borrow a lorry or ask for a lift unless it was offered, although I hugely appreciate when it is because it's so difficult to get anywhere without.

I've borrowed a friend's 3.5t lorry on a couple of occasions to get my horse to hospital and back - she offered - and I was hugely appreciative. Filled up the lorry to the top even though I'd only used about half a tank, bought her flowers and chocolates to say thank you, and obviously completely cleaned out the lorry. When another friend took my horse to a new yard in her trailer I bought her and her partner dinner and offered fuel money as well, although they wouldn't accept it. The very least I would do for a shared lift would be to pay for fuel and clean out the lorry afterwards - and usually pay for lunch and snacks too.

I'd never borrow a lorry without being fully prepared to pay for any damage caused by my horse, but I appreciate not everyone is the same.

Hopefully later this year I will have bought my own lorry. I think I'd be reluctant to actually hand over the keys unless to someone I really trusted. However because I have benefited for years from the kindness of others, I do plan to offer lifts to shows etc with me, for people without transport - but if they abused that by not offering a fair fuel contribution, not helping clean the lorry or not paying up if their horse caused any damage - then I wouldn't ask them again.
 
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HGA-12 said:
NO

I brought it - I pay for the maintenance - I pay up keep- I paint it - I drive it.

Not lending it to anyone, they want one they have to buy one. end off.
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This is my sentiment too. My lorry is an expensive piece of kit, I saved up for it, maintain and insure it. If someone owns a horse and wants to take it places, they need to put their hand in their pocket and buy/hire a trailer/lorry. With having horses for so many years, I am sick of the pressure that is put on others to loan their equipment and transport out.
 
I finally have my dream lorry. It cost a fortune (most expensive thing I've ever owned apart from my house!) and I could not afford to replace it. So no, I wouldn't lend it, ever. If someone needed a lift to the vets I would of course drive them. It's only insured for me and only has the payload for one, which helps :)
 
Having had my trailer 3 years and never been asked to lend it out I thought I was sorted! However was asked by girl running new yard is she could borrow it and her mate tow it with her aging landrover. Neither of these people had 2 pennies to rub together so I told them no as if something was damaged who would pay for it? Apparently she didn't take it too well.....the kick sized dent that appeared a few days later in the boot of my new 4x4 told me so!!
 
I have borrowed transport before.. no one has ever refused me and i would lend them my trailer when it works! However i always make sure its returned cleaner and will fix anything. If i dont have trsnsport i will hire a horsebox off a company/ website. People have commented to be that i should of asked to borrow theirs etc as it is so expensive but by going through a hire company if anything goes wrong i am covered.
Also a problem is the maintenece of yhe horsebox... my friend borrrowed one and we had a flat... not one tyre was legal... in fact it shouldnt of been on the road... it was dangerous.
In the eyes of the law if you lend or hire a box and it has an accident because it is dangerous and badly maintained the owner will be liable....
 
Sadly, I'm also a "No". I once lent it to one of my closest friends whose damn mare got stressed and gouged the whole panel out with her teeth! Friend's husband did his best to mend it, but it was never the same again, very difficult. For the same reason I don't lend clippers, saddles, well anything basically! Sad that even ones closest friends don't appreciate the condition and value of your possessions in the same way as you do.
 
I don't have any friends..

I have lent a trailer out and I have borrowed trailers and boxes-all with no problems and have been very grateful for the use of them. I would drive someone somewhere in my lorry if I knew them well, I would not lend it out.
 
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