Horse going on loan/trial

[snurse]

I realise I've posted twice today on allowing one of my horses into someone else's care and both times said 'never again'. One was about loans, the other about trials. I won't do either again. I've also - once only- sent a mare away to stud. I don't know what they did to her, but she wouldn't get pregnant then, or for the rest of that year. One of those things, you'd say, but she's an experienced broodmare who normally gets pregnant as soon as she sees a stallion! (She back to normal now - yearling, foal at foot.) Anyway, I refuse to let my horses out of my control now. Not that I'm brilliant, certainly not, but my YO is, and I do see them at least once a day. Am I just getting very untrusting in my old age, or do other people feel like this?

 

[PapaFrita]

Personally, I wouldn't, but it's very common for people here to allow trials for potential purchases. BUT everyone knows everyone else and the horse is never really out of the owner's control. My uncle says it's a ploy to make people 'fall in love' with the horse, even if it's not suitable... Hmmmmmmmm... not sure!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I think alot of damage can be done to a horse while out on trial to a potential purchaser & then you are left to pick up the pieces. I would never let mine out on trial, I'd let a potential purchaser come to the yard & try several times under our supervision but never let them take the horse away.

 

[Tierra]

I had my horse on a 14 day trial before we paid the full purchase price.

The circumstances were a tad different though. Both the seller and I used the same dressage trainer so while the seller had her own place, she was happy for Jack to stay on livery with our trainer while I got to know him (we, of course, paid for livery and all associated costs from this point onwards). We'd paid a 10% deposit on him also.

It was a great arrangement for us. We got to be sure Jack was 100% right for me (lets face it.. you just CANT judge this on a couple of viewings with other people watching you and the horse is in his comfort zone), and the owner could check up on him whenever she pleased while our trainer got to pass a horse between two of her clients

I can totally understand people not wanting to put their horses out on trial or loan as so many horror stories get posted on here.

On the other side of the coin, you always see a lot of people on here who seem to genuinely adore their loaned horses having them taken away in unfair circumstances or struggling to find new loan horses.

Its a vicious circle i think

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I have loaned my horse before, and have one on loan at the moment (just collected this week) with a view to buy.

My horse had a great time on loan, and I saw him about once a fortnight, a condition of the loan was that the teenage girl who had him had regular lessons.

The boy we have now is for my husband, and if he had been 'sale or nothing', we possibly wouldn't have bought him, as he has a cheeky naughty streak, and my husband is a novice, having him on loan gives us a chance to work out if they will go well together, and as long as both parties keep in touch (morning Carol!) I think loaning can be a very positive experience.

 

[casey2312]

I loaned a horse, when I lost my mare to colic. I didn't want to buy another comp horse straight away, as I felt I would try to find another like my dead mare, and that wouldn't have been fair.

Anyway I loaned a horse, I spent £220 in the first week getting his teeth done, he was treated just like he would have if he were my own. Always shod, back massage, ridden everyday etc. So much so the owners wanted me to buy him. (I didn't)

So although you have had a bad experience(s) not everyone is a bad loanee. But I guess it's not easy weeding out the good from the bad.

 

[fruity]

One of my mares is out on loan to an approved home only,the lady came 3 times to ride her,i sort of tested her and she passed! She's very spoilt in her new home,helps the lady's loaded! I do go and check her every month though for peace of mind.