Horse off this weekend - sorry long

[Magicmillbrook]

As the title says - our young TB is off on loan this weekend. I am now feeling sick and panicky, I know I will cry my eyes out when she goes, I am welling up now just thinking of it.

We got her a year ago for my daughter. We have had ups and downs with her, including an injury and her scaring the pants of my daughter on the road. However towards the end of summer she was finaly starting to make headway. Anyway with onset of A levels and part time job she does not have the time to look after her and ride her, and she is the sort of horse who need regular work! We advertised her for sale but got no response (i was sort of glad!), so decided on a half way house - loaning, possibly with a view to buy.

My daughter is still torn, if she lets her go she may never get such a good quality horse with such potential again. On the other hand we cannot afford to keep her just to stand in the field doing nothing for the next year and a half, possibly longer is she goes to uni. We will still have my old mare who she can hop on from time to time and ride 'properly' (I dont apparently!)

Now I am worrying that loaner will push her too hard (she is a baby after all) or beat her, or not look after her properly or not give her her morning scratch between the ears.....

To make matter worse everyone I speak to comes up with a loaning horror story. I think I have done all the right things, visits, contracts etc, but I still feel c**p

Someone tell me I am doing the right thing....

 

[pnap]

Is the loanee relatively close to you so you can at least go check on her from time to time? I have never loaned out a horse - Jack is my first - but you're trying to do the best thing for her so I'd keep that thought in the back of your mind. She sounds like the type of horse that would be happier in work than out. Can understand why you're feeling slightly anxious though.

 

[OWLIE185]

Make sure that you have a legal loan agreament with the person you are loaning it to and if they are not local get a copy of their passport, driving licence and rates and electricity bill to ensure that the address is genuine.

 

[Charlie77]

Not all loan story's are bad, I have had my old mare on loan for the past 18 years! she's 32 now bless her, her owner has been wonderful, in fact she also bred & gave me my 13 year old!

 

[Crazy_Caz]

After much soul searching I decided to loan out my daughters 2 ponies (that they had outgrown) ditto - re the loan agreement - I was able to put in certain conditions concerning the amount of work they did etc, - I copied the loan agreement that is on the BHS website and just adjusted it for my needs... and I had the agreement signed and witnessed.

I visit them every month and recently one of the loanees wanted to move one of them away - and under the agreement she needed my written consent - I visited the yard and spoke to the new yard owner and after being satisfied I agreed in writing for this.

There are some lovely poeple out there that do loan ponies but unfortunately there are also others that make it bad for others.

My advise is get a proper legal loan agreement drawn up and visit as often as you can - it will give you peace of mind and if you are not happy (under the loan agreement I have) you can take the horse back.

Good luck..

 

[muddy_grey]

When I went to uni I put him out on loan from Oct-May I visited him throughout the time and had a loan agreement in place. This was around the time of the first big F&M outbreak and as he was on a farm she returned him to my friend early to ensure that I could havehime back for the summer. I then loaned him to a different person the next year adn she then bought him 2 years later. We are still in contact and I can go see him whenever and she phones me with updates.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Nice to here some positive loan stories. I have visited the family and their other horses look great, they are only an hour away so will definately be visiting. Its just that the mare can be difficult, perhaps we have been soft with her and the new rider will be just what she needs.

I have stated in the agreement that I only want 14 days notice if they wish to return her, and if convenient with both parties this could be sooner, just in case things do go wrong, I would much rather have her back than stay where she is not wanted.