Horse loan

W

wendy42

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 June 2007
Messages
54
Visit site
Hi
Just wondered if anyone out there has had any problems with loaning a horse from the loaners point of view? We've had a horse on loan since July 08 and all was well until beg of Feb when the horse developed an abcess on the coronary band, vet was called straight away and to cut a long story short, she had an op, was in a cast, at the vets for 2 weeks, now home but still with problems and seeing vet on a regular basis. I have her insured so although very annoying looking after a horse not ours and can't ride we are fond of her and haven't just given her back. However the owner is being very difficult to say the least. Never visited although only half hour away except to come to vets at my insistance when horse was discharged so she would know exactly what was happening. Owner only communicates by text (getting more terse and keeps saying she is speaking to her people-whatever that means!). Before the problem arose I sent a letter advising the agreement would end in May not July as in the original agreement (of which I never got a copy despite many promises), so basically, has anyone any advice, views etc? Long term the prognosis is that if the foot heals the hoof will be deformed to a degree but should be sound eventually.
 
[ QUOTE ]
So basically you have buggered the horse up and want the owner to take her back?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bit harsh

Abcesses are a bit of a freak occurence and not normally anyones fault
 
Given that I suppose you could have dumped the horse back on her, and haven't done so, and have in fact done everything possible to put this horse right again, I think she has very little to complain about - if only all loaners were so responsible.

I guess, not knowing anything about the horse, there is a chance that the value of it may reduced somewhat, if she wanted to sell it for example. She could be forgiven for feeling a little bitter about that - maybe that is what she is talking to 'her people' about.
 
A few years ao we loaned a pony for my son to jump after ours went lame. He had been with us for about a year when out of the blue they phoned to say they were coming with a trailer to pick him up the next day as they wanted to sell him. We agreed a price and we bought him. If the horse is owned by someone else you are always very much in their hands.
 
I have one on loan at the moment shes been fantastic and so has the owner .If either of us has a change of heart we will try and give as much notice as possible.On the postitive side her pony who was sold to her for £1000 is now worth over £3000 because of all the work we have done with her.Unfortunately she doesnt want to sell Id buy her I think as much of her as my own horse.
I would question her comment asking what she means about speaking to her people and send a registered letter regarding end of loan.If you have done everything you can for her then you shouldnt feel bad.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why did she need an op for a foot abcess that had broken out at the coronary band?

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree?
shocked.gif

An abcess should not cause any long term disfigurement.
I have a gelding that had one burst on the coronary band in November.
He has a tiny hole, almost out of his hoof now.

I am old fashioned but, I think if a horse has a lameness issue/injury whilst on loan, it is the loaners responsibility to return the horse in the state it was loaned.
An accident can happen at anytime, an abcess really is nothing to worry about.
Are you able to put up with the unrideable factor for a little longer, it will work out for you in the end without any long term problems.
grin.gif
 
Thanks so much for the positive comments, I do feel I have done all possible to help the horse and not buggered her up and want to give her back! loan was only ever for 1 year and the owner was aware of this from the start. She was lame on a Fri eve when brought in after being fine Fri pm, no sign of any outward trauma, abcess through band Sat morn and vet out straight away, really don't think I could have done anymore. She had to be operated on because it would not drain through the foot and the coronary band was seperating from her hoof.

I completely understand that the owner must regret putting her on loan but I have kept her completely informed and done everything to try and get her right (owner never had her insured) but she just won't heal, but the owners only concern is not for the horse but what she is now worth.
 
Wendy42 I think you have been great with this horse! Not being the owner and not having ultimate responsibility is exactly the point of loaning (and I am happy to say this having been on both sides of the fence with different animals). Horses injure themselves all the time, whether through accident, illness, bad luck or a moment of inattention -it just happens. If you are the loaner you can decide you have had enough at any time you want (and you didn't even do that but saw the horse through recovery which is a lot more than the owner had a right to expect).
 
Thanks for that Booboos, don't intend to give her back until she's on the road to recovery for the horses sake, although it's tempting at times when she's such high maintenance at the moment and the owner is being so difficult! Thought it would be such a good idea to loan - never again!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top