Giving up loan horse

[Tilly1990]

Hi all, I just need a bit of advice about giving up a loan horse.

I've had a horse on loan for the last 2 years, my 1st 'horse of my own' if you get what I mean? When I took her on she was very green and had only just been broken (she was broken quite late about 5/6 years old). Since then I've brought her on loads, we are now jumping, hacking out alone and she is ready for some local shows and dressage events.
We were lead to believe that she has been passed from pillar to post from dealer to dealer as she can be very boisterous. But since she has been in work she has settled down loads.

Unfortunately I'm in a bit of a dilemma as to what to do. I've had a new job (ive been to uni and got a degree and this is the 1st job ive been offered in the sector i want to be in) and have been travelling 20 miles a day there and back to it whilst still loaning this horse, which I am fine doing. However me and my BF of 5 years want to move closer to where we both work.
With the cost of rent and bills and then the travel back to the yard she is kept at its just not viable to keep her on the current agreement we have (ie the amount of livery i pay to the owner). I still live at home atm thats why I can afford her now.

I do have the option of moving her to a yard closer to where we are moving to, but I still think my budget will be stretched and won't be fair on her as I wouldn't be able to afford to take her places and will be scrimping on her life style.

Do I try to focus on my career, which has taken a back seat since i graduated and hope to find another horse in a million like her in a few years time and give up on her now? And have my independence by moving out of my parents house?

Do I try to strike up an agreement that I will continue to ride her/do jobs on my days off and travel back to do so until the owner finds a suitable buyer/loaner? But don't contribute financially (or only shoes and hard feed?)
or

Do I move her to a place closer to where I will be living, but I won't have the money or time to afford all the things I want for her?

I must add that she is incredibly attached to me and will only let me ride her. (other people can get on her but she won't move for them even though i've just been cantering and jumping with her, but I think this will improve over time as she was like that when I took her on)

Just I would like to hear from both sides ie owners of loan horses and people who have loaned.

BTW the owner has been informed that I am moving away at some point and I'm moving away regardless as I need to as the travel to and from work is effecting me. Its just what do I do with the horse. And the owner has never had an issue from me as a loaner, in fact many a time I've looked after the other liveries when the yard owner has been away. (the yard owner is the owner of my loan horse)

Thanks in advance

 

[Abacus]

The thing that you haven't said here is what you yourself want to do. You have thought through the options and want to do the best thing for the horse, which is lovely, but it isn't clear whether you actually want her or not (other factors like yards, location, money and career aside). You also haven't mentioned what the owner might want - do they ever want the horse back or are they not interested?

Overall I would say that you do need to focus on your career as you have just found a job you want to do (well done).

If you do want the horse still, how about moving her closer to home and finding a sharer, with the owner's permission, to free up some time and money?

 

[dianchi]

Welcome to being a grown up

Horses don't know that there are places "to go" and I doubt that she will be overly worried. Scrimping on her lifestyle? Will she be hayed and fed? If so she will be happy.

You open with "advice on giving up a loan horse" sounds like in heart of hearts you are ready to hand this girly back to her owner and move on with your career.

Good luck!

 

[Tilly1990]

Thanks guys for your responses.
I've only asked for advice on here because different people (who know me and the horse) keep telling me conflicting things. Some have said to live my life, I can always get another horse in the future others think that in a few months I will regret giving her up.

I don't really know what I want tbh, my heart says keep her 100% as I adore her but my head is saying don't be so bloody stupid you can't afford her!

I would ideally like to keep her at the current yard and for me to come and ride her/ do the jobs on my days off with minimal financial contribution. I would like to be involved if the owner is looking for a buyer/loaner as I feel that the horse is worth a lot more since i've brought her on then when I took her on and i've been the one regularly schooling her.

As regards the owner, they would want me to keep at the current situation or ideally buy her and take her with me (buying is defiantly not an option as the owner wants more than I can afford). I also worry that when I give her up that she will be left in a field and hardly worked by the owner as she can be hard work and has to be kept in regular work. And those two years of hard work will have meant nothing. As regards another sharer, the owner would only consider that if she is kept at the yard the owner owns.

I hate being a grown up haha! I just want whats best for the horse, the owner believes that is with me and I feel they are pushing me to keep this horse on as it suits them.