Gift horse

[Wimpymama]

So... I have had a pony on loan for a year from a friend. She has mentioned throughout that time about me taking her on full time and within the last few weeks, she has asked if she can gift her to me. She has suggested she writes up a letter that she signs to say she has gifted her. Another friend has suggested that I legally should pay £1 to show I have 'bought' her.... Any advice?

 

[AmyMay]

Yes, absolutely ‘buy’ her.

 

[LEC]

Yep, hand over £1 and get a receipt.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yep, hand over £1 and get a receipt.

Agreed, and ensure any transfer form is completed to change the passport into your name at the issuing agency.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Yep, buy her for £1 with a receipt.

 

[SadKen]

As above.

And don’t look her in the mouth.

 

[Britestar]

Bought our gift horse for £20. Felt more correct.

 

[Wimpymama]

Bought our gift horse for £20. Felt more correct.

She doesn't want anything for her, she will only accept £1

 

[Wimpymama]

Thank you all for your advice. It's all new to me! What is the purpose of paying £1 as opposed to not paying?

I am going to anyway, just interested!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Thank you all for your advice. It's all new to me! What is the purpose of paying £1 as opposed to not paying?

I am going to anyway, just interested!

Its just a token gesture to say you've actually bought the pony.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I had a horse from Darley rehoming. I paid a nominal fee after a 3 month trial. Unfortunately he had a grumbling injury so I had to return him and they gave me £1 to buy him back.

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you all for your advice. It's all new to me! What is the purpose of paying £1 as opposed to not paying?

I am going to anyway, just interested!

To get a Bill of Sale, which in turn proves ownership.

 

[PSD]

Suppose it depends how trustworthy she is. I gifted my section a to his loaner a few years ago as a Christmas present. She wasn’t expecting it but he was (and still is) in the best home. I’d never take him back unless she needed me to and we both have that understanding

 

[humblepie]

Thank you all for your advice. It's all new to me! What is the purpose of paying £1 as opposed to not paying?

I am going to anyway, just interested!

The £1 is legal consideration to effect the contract. There has to be consideration passing both ways in a contract so you’re paying a £1 and they are transferring the horse to you. The consideration doesn’t have to be the true value. Good luck and how lovely.

 

[SantaVera]

Sounds great but don't look the gift horse in the mouth.

 

[2 Dragons]

My pony was gifted back to me after the lady I sold her to sadly passed away. I had to complete a statutory declaration so that my ownership could be registered on her passport.

 

[Wimpymama]

She's contacted me today. She's changed her mind and has said she needs to think about it more! Nevermind

 

[Melody Grey]

The fee transferred no matter how small confers the sale and means that the seller has no legal comeback on the horse, whereas gifting is more likely to be contested. Buying gives you authority to do what you want with the horse. We’ve heard cases on here where a horse has been gifted, needs to be PTS or treated in some way and the old owner has resurfaced and caused problems. A sale fee and receipt guard you against that.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

A friend of mine gifted me her lovely mare; such a lovely thing to do and something I will never forget.

She stayed with me till the end; and when "the time" came, we put her and my old lad down together. Same day, same occasion. A brisk October morning. They both had mobility difficulties, both were pairbonded, and both ready to go. It would hve been unkind to have left one without the other. So our trusty vet came and did the honours. A fine passing for two lovely horses.

 

[Red-1]

She's contacted me today. She's changed her mind and has said she needs to think about it more! Nevermind

That is sad. It is also the reason I wouldn't have one on loan - too much heartache.

 

[Wimpymama]

She's contacted me today. She's changed her mind and has said she needs to think about it more! Nevermind

I'm actually far more upset than I realised I would be. I think after her initially contacting me, I've spent a week thinking it through, deciding if it was possible to look after two, contacting vets and getting jabs etc sorted and now it's not happening. I still have her on a part loan basis and can see her every day when I see to mine but I'm so invested in her

 

[Wimpymama]

That is sad. It is also the reason I wouldn't have one on loan - too much heartache.

It really is. I have my own horse and we part loan this one but obviously was thinking about taking her on full time. I now feel a bit deflated which is crazy because it wasn't actually my idea in the first place.

 

[hobo]

Shame about the change of mind but that is why if it did go ahead you pay the pound it protects all involved. Saying that I have a pony here that came to babysit 12 years ago and owner never contacts me . I did see her 6 months ago and got her contact details so I could let her know if he needed to be put down, mind you she was surprised I still had him!!

 

[Red-1]

I get it entirely. I invest in them when they are going to be mine. I don't mean £ investment, although that obviously comes with it.

I used to train horses for an organisation and had to hold myself apart as they could be taken from me and given to someone else at any time. It used to break my heart when they invested in me, trusted me, and were given to someone who rode differently to me. So, I learned to hold myself apart a bit.

This is why, if she decides you can have her, the £1 is so important. It means he is yours, with a bill of sale, and can't be removed.

I believe it is also why, in a surprising number of cases, in a situation like this, the loan pony ends up going back to the owner. It is the loaner realising they are invested in someone else's pony, so protecting themselves from future heartbreak. The loaner simply feels differently about the pony. If the owner was not sure, it is a pity she didn't just allow the loan to continue, where you were happy, secure and settled with the loan.

If you like the pony, I would offer whatever you think she is worth to you. Then she is yours. It is highly likely that someone has said to the owner that they could get money for the pony so they shouldn't give her to you.

 

[Wimpymama]

So.... I still have her on part loan, nothing has actually changed other than she doesn't want to sell her.. for now. It's totally thrown me how bothered about it I am!

 

[Red-1]

So.... I still have her on part loan, nothing has actually changed other than she doesn't want to sell her.. for now. It's totally thrown me how bothered about it I am!

I know, my point was that nothing has changed but also everything has changed. You thought she would be yours, now she doesn't feel secure.

I was anticipating how thrown you would be. I would have been too. Hence my suggestion to offer to pay £ for the pony, as in what you think she is worth, as it is likely that the owner has thought about the £ value herself after offering her as a gift.

It sounds like she would like you to have her, hence thinking someone has told her how expensive horses are and how she could be giving away something of monetary value.

I would sit with it for at least a week, she what she comes up with, but then I would have a calm conversation to find out what the block to the idea is.

 

[Wimpymama]

You're right.
Thank you for your advice, sometimes you need perspective, which is what you're giving me.

 

[Kaylum]

It really is upsetting. I had a horse on loan, when he came to me he was in a terrible state, had a loan agreement etc. Got him looking great and his riding work was going well. One day the owners came and said he was for sale, I couldnt afford him in the time frame they gave me to buy him. The loan agreement said one month but the price they put on him was out of any money I had. If they had sold him to me originally I would have been able to afford him as he was in no fit state. They had no feelings for the horse only the money they would get for him x

 

[spottypony90]

I think it depends on the relationship you have with the person and if anything is likely to change in the future where the demand the horse back. At the very least, get a receipt which is signed. I didn’t pay a penny when I took on one of the riding school ponies where I used to work but my boss was very unlikely to ever ask her for her back considering she was elderly and of no use to her anymore.