Horse going on loan - rugs...

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charterline

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My horse is due to go on loan shortly. I will be sending her with three rugs. What would people expect to see in a loan agreement? (I'm aware the reality of it will probably vary as to how long the loaner has the horse!)

My view is that if the horse gets sent with three rugs, it should come back with either the same rugs in reasonable condition (but mended if required), or replacement rugs of similar value/condition to the ones sent.

So if I sent a £300 bucas rug, used but no rips, I'd either expect the same rug back, mended if the horse had damaged/ripped it, or if it had been destroyed, I'd expect a replacement rug to be sent back of similar value.

Is this fair? Or mean?
 
Horses are horses and rugs get ripped. I have recently retuned a loan horse with all original rugs plus two extra ones that he needed which I bought him. I don't expect to get reimbursed for those. However, nor would I have expected to have to replace any expensive ones he trashed with the identical brand - I would have thought that either a mended rug or suitable alternative (i.e. the same style and weight) would suffice.
 
I'd expect the same rugs back but in a clean and repaired condition. I would not expect any trashed rugs to be replaced.

My homebred is out on loan with at least 6 rugs, inc a new Rambo duo, a Back on Track mesh rug, a thermatex..

ETA, if you don't trust the loan home to look after your rugs, then don't trust them to look after your horse either.
 
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I'd expect the same amount of rugs back of comparable quality, even if it wasn't the same three. I dont think it's a case of trusting someone with rugs, accidents happen.
 
I didn't use my loan horses rugs cause I didn't want to ruin them! They came off the day he got here and went back on the day he left.
 
I bought my loan horse two years ago new rugs which he needed and let the owner keep them. She said I could have them back and I might have been tempted but 1. they didn't fit my horse and 2. I loved the loan horse even though he wasn't right for me so I felt he should keep them.
 
My pony is on loan, he was sent with two rugs. When he comes back I would expect him to return with two rugs of similar sort or the same ones. I would expect the loaner to sort that out in the same way she keeps his feet done, his teeth and vaccinations up to date. I see it as part of the expense of keeping the horse. I think I wrote it into the agreement.
 
When I loaned my horse he went with everything he owned. Over the years he trashed s few turnouts and the loaner replaced them. Money wise I'm unsure if they were the same now but at the time he had what he needed and that was fine.
 
Don't think I'd be sending a bucas one.

Probably if it was a full loan I'd send them off with a few rugs a wouldn't break my heart over losing.. Just incase!
 
ive recently taken on a loan horse and didnt want her rugs as i already had some. if i had used their rugs i would expect to give them back with the horse cleaned and repaired if necessary..
 
We bagged up the rugs our loan pony had and returned them unused to the owner when he went back. No arguments on who owes what then :)
 
I'm about to buy my loan horse and will be sending the rugs she sent with him back washed and reproofed, even though they were not clean etc when I got them. If he has gone back I would have done the same or replaced any trashed ones with same weight etc.
 
Don't be tight. If the rugs are for your horse, better he's looked after and comfortable while he's out on loan, than freezing ..etc. Use common sense . . It's like the saddle . .your rigs fit him . .let him go being safe a d secure, than the loaner buying cheap rugs that may rub the mane, shoulders, withers.

Just saying. You need think about your horses over all welfare before putting a price on the STUFF he's going out on loan with.
 
Why not discuss with the loaner whether they even want you to supply rugs? They might already have plenty, or might prefer to buy and use their own, especially if you are both intending it to be a long term arrangement. If it's only for a few months it's probably more likely to make sense to send him with a full set of what he's likely to need for the duration and just reach an agreement about what you expect to come back with him. Tbh if you're not talking about sending him with lots of hugely expensive rugs, I am not really seeing the issue? And as others have said, if you trust this person to look after your horse, why are the rugs a particular concern?
 
If I loaned a horse with tack, and the girth broke, or the bridle, or the saddle, I'd expect the loaner to replace it with something of comparable value that fits the horse. I'd expect exactly the same with rugs - send it with what's needed, in good, serviceable condition, and get the same back - even if not the same rugs.

For those who wouldn't send expensive rugs - would you send an expensive saddle if that's what you had that fitted? Would you expect it to be returned in good condition? Why would rugs be different? Yes, they get damaged - but that's just part of the expense of having a horse, like lost shoes.

Personally, if I took a horse on loan that came with expensive rugs, I'd bag them up and buy cheaper alternatives if I wasn't prepared to replace to the same standard. But if you use the rugs and they get damaged, like-for-like replacement to go home with is only fair - just as a broken saddle needs to be replaced to the same standard, and not by a cheap synthetic if it arrived with high quality leather!
 
Theocat said:
But if you use the rugs and they get damaged, like-for-like replacement to go home with is only fair - just as a broken saddle needs to be replaced to the same standard, and not by a cheap synthetic if it arrived with high quality leather!
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The difference is saddles usually only need replacing if the horse changes shape etc not because they somehow spontaneously break. You can take good care of a saddle to ensure it almost certainly wont get damaged. You turn a horse out and you lose control of what happens to the rugs. I expect a certain amount of rug losses every year and just factor that into the cost of having horses. Therefore I wouldnt expect the loaner to replace rugs my horse had trashed. I'm genuinely surprised that other people do.
 
But if we expect loaners to cover all the normal costs of horses, and rugs - because they do get damaged - are effectively "consumables" like shoes or feed, why should the owner stand a loss?
 
I put a horse on loan and it went with its bit nothing else. The loaner requested this due to things getting broken and damaged and it avoided any difficult situations. The loaner brought him everything he needed. When he was returned he came back with just his bit and she kept what she had brought.

At the time I didn't like the idea of sending my horses without his things but looking back I can see why she wanted to do it that way and luckily she could afford to buy everything he needed.
 
When mine go out on loan they go with tack and rugs. If its for a long period I also check to see if they need anything new, which I would buy. Human nature being what it is, I have found that the nicest people tend to skimp on the loan animal. I have only ever got one back with extra and something new.
If they go away with all the equipment that you are satisfied that fits well, there is no excuse can be made because of ill fitting tack. They also have a basic vet check before they go out on loan. Most of the people I have loaned to its perhaps only their first or second pony, so are pretty novice and subject to the yard know it all, so you want to make sure that there is little wiggle room.
 
charterline said:
So if I sent a £300 bucas rug, used but no rips, I'd either expect the same rug back, mended if the horse had damaged/ripped it, or if it had been destroyed, I'd expect a replacement rug to be sent back of similar value.

Is this fair? Or mean?
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charterline said:
Well I used the really expensive one as an example, I don't have any expensive rugs, and even if I did I wouldn't be sending them.
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I would send the horse with whatever he needed and used, and expect home back with what he needed and used. I would not expect a same brand replacement. I would just be happy for him to be looked after well.

OP, if you do not even own any high value rugs, but are still worrying about 3 low value rugs, then I suspect this is not the right thing for you to do.
 
Mine is out on loan. I sent him with all tack & rugs. Loan contract states that loaners must repair any damage & replace anything broken / destroyed with something equivalent. I expect him to be returned with an equivalent wardrobe though I didn't send £300 rugs as all of mine are Swish Equestrian!
 
I also agree that if a horse is going on loan, it should go with its existing wardrobe and tack. At least then the owner has peace of mind that it has everything it needs.
 
I think it depends on the loan agreement and length.

Of course the loaner should look after your rugs but at the end of the day rugs do get trashed. Although I would without a doubt replace a damaged rug for a horse I was loaning, I definitely couldn't afford to replace a £300 rug!! But then I probably wouldn't use it if that was expected of me! If you want him to wear that rug then maybe prepare yourself that rugs aren't immortal and as long as the replacement is a good fit and good rug I don't see the issue. Might be worth drawing up in the loan agreement?
 
When I had a horse on loan she came with absolutely everything including several rugs. She managed to trash a neck cover while she was with me which I replaced.
 
When mine went on loan he went in his head collar and nothing else. He went on permanent loan and she wanted to get everything for him and have it all as hers. He had way more 'stuff' with her than he did with me! Very pampered!

I think it depends on the loan, if it wasn't for long I would send with wardrobe and expect wardrobe back with the horse afterwards. If it was for a longer period of time things change, for example what do you do if the horse changes shape and the saddle no longer fits? Do you let the loaner trade in the original saddle for a new one or do you take the saddle back and supply a new one for the horse etc?
 
jumping.jack_flash said:
Don't be tight. If the rugs are for your horse, better he's looked after and comfortable while he's out on loan, than freezing ..etc. Use common sense . . It's like the saddle . .your rigs fit him . .let him go being safe a d secure, than the loaner buying cheap rugs that may rub the mane, shoulders, withcers.

Just saying. You need think about your horses over all welfare before putting a price on the STUFF he's going out on loan with.
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Exactly what I was thinking. It almost sounds as if some posters value their rugs over their horses.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Exactly what I was thinking. It almost sounds as if some posters value their rugs over their horses.
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No one is saying anything remotely like that. Just about everyone would send the horse with everything it needs; the only disagreement is between those who think the loaner should cover the cost of damage to rugs while they have the use of them, or those who think the owner should for some mysterious and unexplained reason take the financial hit.

When loaning, the horse should arrive fit and healthy, with teeth, feet and vaccs up to date, with the tack, rugs and any other vital equipment it needs for standard care and riding. All costs incurred during the loan, including replacement of tack and equipment, should be covered by the loaner, and the horse should (as far as possible) be returned in the same state and with the same (or equivalent) equipment. That's a very, very standard view of how costs work with loaning; I'm really surprised that so many posters see rugs as an exception to that.
 
I sent my horse with his rugs as they fitted him well and had no use for them without him at the time! I described them in the loan agreement. On return there was one stable rug she didn't have any more and she gave me a very similar one that fitted him.

I agree with some comment- yes horses with damage rugs sometimes, but if I didn't trust the loaner with the rugs and his currently fitted tack, worh at least £500, then they should not have your horse!
 
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