Has anyone loaned out a horse thats ended up been neglected?

[russianhorse]

Absolutely wagtail - I totally agree with you

I have to say I'm horrified by these horror stories (although I suspect there are more successful stories than not, but we just don't hear about them). However I can't believe that people would do half the things they have done, like not feed them. I'm neurotic about looking after my lad, but I can guarantee if I had the responsibility of someone else's horse I would look after them even more (if that's possible lol).

 

[Sarah_K]

We've had 3 out on loan, one by itself and 2 shetlands together. The one by it's self went to a lovely family who were quite novice but anytime there were problems they rang and we got things sorted out. Pony came back in once outgrown in as good condition as when she went, so we were happy with that.

The two shetlands went to live with a farmer as he had twins who wanted to ride. Both ours were broken and decent little leadrein ponies. We were moving 200 miles away from the area so parents asked if they wanted to keep them, they said yes but they'd probably only want them for another year. They'd had them for 2 years at that time and we'd checked on them- no problems. Seemed very happy and content where they were. Thinking back now (this was 25 years ago) it was a stupid, stupid thing to have done. Got a phone call in due time saying that they didn't want them anymore and could we collect asap. When they arrived home, neither of them could walk- both had feet that resembled turkish slippers. I don't think they'd seen a farrier since we'd moved. The mare had arthritis in her hips, the gelding had arthritis in his knees both caused by their excessive feet and chronic laminitis. Took 2 years to get their hooves sorted out. Lesson definitely learnt.

 

[Spring Feather]

I've only loaned out one horse off-property. It was a contracted 6 month loan with view to buy providing both parties were content. The horse was only moving to a couple of miles away to the potential purchasers yard. I kept an eye on the horse and did drive-bys twice a week for the 6 months to make sure horse was fine. She was. They took fabulous care of her and they bought her at the end of the 6 months. This was about 15 years ago and they still have her and she's semi-retired now.

I've done many on-property loans. Again all have worked out perfectly as I've still been in charge of the daily care of the horses.

I wouldn't allow any of my horses to go on loan to someone a long distance away where I couldn't check up on them at least once a week and I find it surprising that so many people do.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

I had Alfie on full loan, and i treated him like he was my own... Well he was my own apart from someone else owned him Id like to think that I gave him the best of everything.

I am now looking for another horse on full loan which now is looking like I shall have one this weekend and this one will be spoilt just as much as Alfie was.

This thread is giving loanees a very bad name, you cannot make it out as all loanees are awful as some of us are not

 

[Holzdweaver]

Yes, i have loaned my little mare out for only three months and got her back in a shocking state.

She was sent in this condition:

and i got her back like this:

I tried to give the loaner the benifit of the doubt as i was told on here that she may always loose this much condition over the winter if out 24/7, as the previous year she was stabled. But considering both of mine are out 24/7 now and she is fat as butter and only has hay, shes very easy to keep the weight on in winter! so im even more annoyed about it.

Its funny as iv loaned horses all my life, my first pony, my one of a lifetime horse who was gifted to me after a few years, and two TB's, one of which is with me permanently which shocked me even more. I was under the illusion that when you took on a loan horse, you looked after it as you would your own.

Then again some people dont treat there own very well either...