Horses on loan to Equine colleges?

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Loika

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Has anyone loaned their horse to a college before? What was your experience, were the staff good? Level of students supervision? Did you get all of your tack back ok? How did your horse cope with the work and the busy environment?

My busy TB mare has been accepted for a trial period but a friend has told me about her experience and I am a little concerned. Her horse at a differant college was mistreated on one occasion by another student during an inhouse competition. I definatly don't want that sort of thing to happen to my girl, she is too precious to me. I fully accept that this was a one off for my friend but it does make me think about the whole concept!

Any experiences good or bad are most welcome! It will help me make up my mind! You can PM if you wish. thanks in advance.
 
In my experience, it really depends on the horse's temperament whether they cope with the busy atmosphere and variety of riders at varying standards. Some thrive on it, some get withdrawn and hate it. I've personally known one who loved it and blossomed - an older competition horse who loved being busy. Another who hated the communal aspect and lack of turnout and got very stressed.

The general standard of care and oversight of the horses seems competent - there are very capable people in charge.

I think it also depends on the size of the college yard and facilities - at the college local to me, there are lots of horses and good riding facilties - but not a lot of turnout.

It can work very well
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I loaned my girl to an equine college and they took very good care of her, she was there two years, they cried when she left to join me in Bristol.
I cannot say the same for a well known BHS approved yard however who neglected her feet to an unimaginable level and have left her with irreparable and severe damage in the 11months they had her
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I did a 2 year equine course which I finished last year.
I wouldn't personally.

Huge number of reasons why not but things like a year with near enough no turnout isn't acceptable in my book...
 
My boy is on loan to Lincoln and has been for 3 years. He loves the routine, he is very well looked after and is in no way overworked - in fact, he could probably do more! I have had him since he was three, so there's no way I'm going to put him in the hands of people I don't trust. At the moment he has a low grade lameness, but he is 19, so no surprise there, but they are having him investigated at their own expense to see if there is any underlying problem. If he can be kept going, they are keen to keep him; if not I am lucky enough that he can just come home. Colleges do value their horses when they get good ones and it's certainly an option. They will tell you early on if your horse is not suitable, but in my experience, they do give them a fair trial.
 
I loaned my old mare to warwickshire college. I studied there for 4 years so knew exactly how the horses were treated and looked after. I didnt send anything fancy with her, simple tack and rugs - they provided boots, numnahs, girths. They took note of everything you left them and made sure it all came back.

They paid for her teeth and back to be done while in their care, paid for her shoes, worming etc and all expenses except insurance and vaccinations.

The horses are very well looked after and have the option of coming home for holidays if possible - some go home for a break in the field during summer as theres no turnout in winter. Horses that have to stay over summer get to go out and are worked by people that stay and work over the summer while the students are away.

I havent loaned to any other college but I can recommend Moreton Morrell
 
Having attended an Equine College, there is no way in the world I would send a horse of mine there...
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Having attended an Equine College, there is no way in the world I would send a horse of mine there...
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Ditto! The care standards of the college I was at were good though, but I wouldn't want my horses there, the college I was at hardly ever turned the horses out, and all they ever did was work in the school until a couple of weeks in the spring/summer when they got to go in the field for xc training, and the very occassional hack, I wouldn't want my horses there, but thats because I know they'd hate that kind of life, but as other people said I think it does depend on the horse!

I have heard quite a few cases of people sending horses to colleges and then getting their horses back 'ruined' but as I said depends on the horse etc!!

Sorry to have rambled!!
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Im supprised at the sort of horses they want only seem to want rideable trained horses... what are the students learning about breaking and starting young horses?? I was watching one of the programs on rural tv which was about students in America having a inter college competition with young horses they had trained. It was intresting and the students seemed to have learnt alot.. do our colleges teach these important skils??? or is it all about health and safety and mucking out..
 
Have replied on your post in careers OP. I agree with the comment about only wanting "perfect" horses. Our horse was "expelled" from Equine College, apparently barging out of the stable is a health and safety issue
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. As my totally un horsey son said, shouldn't students be learning how to deal with difficult horses not just easy ones
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Yes, indeed and in a perfect non litigious world they would learn about difficult horses as they will have to in the real world if they want to make a career of horses. But the universities have strict health and safety policies, not imposed by the people who know about horses and their quirks, but by those whose job it is to protect the university from a personal injury claim from an injured student. Students have shot themselves in the foot. They need to learn to cope with youngsters, genius horses who don't conform to the perfect horse, protective mares with foals etc but the minute they have any sort of problem or injury, what happens? Got to be someone's fault. Who is going to employ someone when they know about that? Universities are very careful and I speak as someone who is a specialist personal injury lawyer, a part time university lecturer and I have a horse on loan to a university so I can see it from all sides.
 
How long can it go on ??? this risk adverse crap ?? before we as a nation become 3rd rate instead of just second rate??? I blame the EU... sheezzus........... bout time people had to sign as disclamer to accept some things may be dangerous and take some personal responseability....
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I bought my mare after she had spent 2 years on loan to a college and no way would I send her or any horse of mine. For a college that trains farriers her feet where in a horrendous state, her teeth were in a mess and she had completely switched off from life, she was also very headshy.
I know she wasn't like that before she left and it took a good couple of years before she turned into the bubbly, friendly and exceptionally nosy character she is now.
Might work for some but didn't with mine.
 
Not in a million years.

I have attended a horsey college, a very well known one aswell, and the way the horses were treat was awful.

One of my friends horses was not mucked out one day til 5pm, and thats only because we found him in that state after the ND's had not bothered to do it on yards. Her horse was also used in a in-house jumping competition, which we were watching, there were some odd looking fences in there and he shied at one, only slightly, then recieved a slap accross the head for doing so from the rider. My friend just sat there...I couldnt believe it. If someone had done that to my horse when they KNEW I was watching I would of gone in there and dragged them off. Also one horses mud fever was left to get so bad she couldnt walk, a student took it into her own hands to treat it. There was NO turnout whatsoever apart from being left on the horsewalker, going in the same direction until someone could be bothered to take the horse off.

I could go on, but I'm not going to.
 
in my honest opinion dont do it my boy was on loan for 2 months while i was there and i couldnt take it anymore he was getting ridden by people who soked him in the teeth when jumpin and couldnt ridewas treated like a school donkey they were in monday to friday then in the field till sunday which it was done all winter too! i know it saves money but it isnt worth it one girl loaned her horse for my course last year and she went home practically useless as the had let a total beginner ruin her she had no mouth left went round with her head in the air ridiculously unblanced and no manners i hope you find this helpful but its the way i saw everything
 
I know people that have their horses loaned to a college and they are very well treated, along with their tack etc. I wouldn't allow my horse to go on loan to the college no matter how good their facilities and staff are, not that he wouldn't be able to cope but I wouldn't be happy with just weekend turnout (providing it is nice weather).
 
My horse went on loan as a flatwork schoolmaster to one of the top equine colleges and spent 2 very happy years there. He always came home exceptionally well looked after and happy. His schooling hadnt gone down hill at all (he was an intermediate eventer) and whenever I went to see him he was always well groomed, on a nice clean bed and with plenty of food.
I think he was very well cared for because he's not your run of the mill college horse and he was very useful to them. I'd get regular phone updates and they made me feel very welcome to visit any time.

I'd do it again for the right horse.
 
Glitterfuzz- who was your horse/when did you loan her to college? (just wondering if I knew her
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Personally I wouldn't unless you thought they were up to a busy atmosphere and (you were) ok with having no turnout at least 95% of the time. And it is all school work until summer hits and the xc course is put into use, very little hacking apart from riding & road safety training (which is great if your horse doesn't hack, but she certainly won't get better as she is unlikely to hack whilst there.)
That said the horses were treated well, with lots of student supervision, and with the better quality horses they were more careful about the standard of rider they put on them.
 
Not exactly the same, but I had my horse on working livery and ti really suited all of us. He was young and green but sensible, and the riding school were careful not to let heavy handed idiots ride him. In fact,they didn't really have heavy handed idiots, but I think thats down to the good instruction they had.

There were only a couple of things that happened while he was there that I wasn't happy with, one of which was intending to have him ridden in a lesson when he should have still been off work with his freezemark, but I was working there that day and put a stop to it. I gather a silly helper fell off him a good few times on hacks so I put a stop to him hacking out without me because I figured it wasn't good for him.

From what I've seen of Reaseheath College, I wouldn't hesitate to send the right horse there, but it would have to be one who loved different people and could cope with the hussle and bussle - I think there are people on the yards from 6.30am through til about 10pm. Their horses do get turnout I think, no idea how much though, and have a team of people who are very interested in holistic horsemanship, and they benefit from being guinea pigs for massage, reiki etc etc.
 
i considered it a few years ago, but didnt go ahead with it for a few reasons.
Ring around some of the different colleges and see some iof their terms etc.
I didnt like the sound of my local equine college, (had friends that tried horses there) but i have to say i did call Reaseheath and it sounded fab, i decided it was just that bit too far away.

I know i actually stumbled across a website the other day looking for loan horses for a college, i didnt like their terms much - owner pays all vets fees........ I can just imagine them riding it, wrecking the legs, and me having to pay for all of the vets fees!
 
Mine went years ago for the winter due to personal circs and was fine. He is not an easy horse (cold backed and can bite) but was fine for good riders and college was pleased to have something used to a double bridle, capable of jumping a good track etc. Was worried from the point of view of him not being easy but college were well aware. Was happy with his care. Can remember visiting him and he was turned out with one other in a lovely field. I preferred to do that then send him to a private loaner as worked on the basis that qualified people around and that if he needed the vet cost less likely to be of concern. Probably does depend on the college and the horse though. After my horse went a friend sent hers there and she was fine too. My horse was fine when he came back and as successful as ever.
 
My horse goes to an equine college - and she loves it. Essentially she is the type of horse who is an angel if kept busy - and a devil if not, so rather than sell her, off she went. She comes home for holidays and is always a delight to ride.

I turn up on spec sometimes and have always seen a happy horse in a happy home. The only bad habit she has picked up is a love of Walkers Crisps - but that is because the students sometimes sit outside her stable at break and share them with here.

Obviously there are some niggles and things I would like done better (ie don't send your horse there is you want its grand prix status retained), and the odd bit of tack has gone missing. But if I look at it in the round it is the best option for us and is definitely a better option than randomly trying to find her a private loan home (look on this website if you want horror loan stories to private homes.)

Oh, and the college always invite the owners to competition days, and I love seeing my girl beautifully turned up and shining at such events.

PM if you want details of the college!!!
 
My horse was at an Equine College (I was studying there also) for one year as a 6 yo. He loved it - well he loves attention anyway and I have to say his schooling came on leaps and bounds.

I knew how he was being cared for and they did get turnout for a bit in winter and then all night in the spring/summer months so he was perfectly happy.

Some suit it some don't. However, I have heard reports from a very large equine/agricultural college that aren't so good and that horses have got into rather poor condition. I guess alot depends on who's in charge of the yard and whether your horse suits that environment or not. Certainly no horses at our college were neglected/under fed or not mucked out thoroughly - in fact on your head be it if the stables weren't mucked out properly!!!!
 
Thank you for all your replies! Very useful! She certainly won't be going with her elevator bridle or stubben stirrup leathers!

I am still in two minds over sending her, she is special to me.

She does enjoy her turnout but work does surffice and she is going to be worked 2-3 hours a day (not uber hard work).

She does have a light mouth, lovely self carriage and is very off the leg. The lady that tried her was initially quite heavy handed and commented on my girls sensitivity.

She does need her own space and as she is a busy horse a bit of quiet time, helps her unwind. I am going to check out the set up this weekend.

I have trouble excersizing her in the winter with the dark nights and flooded school(although improvments have been made), gets us both down as I have always worked her if she has to stay in.

She does loose condition rapidly in the cold and heavy work, they may decide she is too expensive to feed!

Her feet need attention once a week with a special preparation. I have tried everything else, there is nothing else that works! It is very toxic, but she will loose shoes and I have just got them right after she was on loan at the beginning of the year. I know all about the pitfalls of private loan and she won't be going on loan to a private home again, friends or otherwise.

Does anything above scream "Don't do it!" to anyone? I am trying very hard to be objective but is is very difficult. My friend has suggested a sharer instead (the problem is time and stress not money!) but can that be just as fraught as loaning??? Anyone in Lincolnshire interested in a share of a stunning TB mare with plenty of jump?!? Competition opertunities would be available.
 
I'm sure there are plenty of would be sharers out there who can't afford to contribute financially but can help out time-wise which seems to me a good compromise? Then your mare gets the riding she deserves but you can stay in control of her as it is, with things like her feet etc.
Just an idea
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for the right horse it can work very well. but some simply dont like the atmophere. I would be happier with my horseonloan to a college than full livery/ working livery in a riding school environment as there care is some what intesting. At least at a college they have to do thing to the letter and care is not compramised yes your horse may not come back the best schooled in the world but generaly if the college is any good then the work should be vaired and the horse will be happy. after a recent experiance of someones shearer that is not an option i would consider
 
I put my HW cob on loan to my uni whilst i did a gap year and he loved it. He is more of a people horse and doesnt mind being in either he loved the students esp the lad who decieded to do an equine hnd with only about 3 lessons under his belt. The students loved him and as i had already been there for 3 yrs the YM knew me and I trusted her. They were V sad to see him go. I also insisted he be used for comps etc so he didnt get bored and could show up all the cocky self assured toerags that often attend equine college
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. I also 'dropped in' at random and he never looked sick or sorry. He loved being used for demos etc and i had 3 friends doing phd's or masters so they kept a good eye as well.

If you know the college then do it, if not find someone who does and grill them- good luck xx
 
With regard to your mare, depending on the college, you may have to specify she has a quiet box as college yards do tend to be busy. Our lad had this originally but the college had building work done and he was moved to a new American barn where he wasn't so settled. Depending on the level of student riding her you may find she is not quite so sensitve to the aids after being ridden by a lot of different students.
I would have a really good look round when you visit, but bear in mind the yard will probably be quiet as it is holiday time. Ideally it may be worth asking if you could speak to some of the other horses owners to see what they think about the set up.
 
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