Horses4Homes - they don't check references

tankgirl1

tankgirl1

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Has anyone else any experience of them?

I thought the whole point was that they checked references, did CRB checks etc?

Apparently its up to the owner of the horse up for rehoming to do these checks and follow it up? So what exactly is it that H4H do? Genuine enquiry!
 
They've been mentioned on this site a few times, but I've never really looked closely at the site.

From their 'about us' page -

Horses4Homes is the only registered charity in the UK which aims to safely and efficiently rehome horses via its robust and innovative state of the art online listing and application process. Each and every horse advert has undergone rigorous screening prior to publication and unless it meets the charity’s quality control standards it does not get published. Owners must sign up to honesty and transparency when listing. Each person interested to take on a horse must first register with the site and complete a detailed application about their ability, experience, what they wish to do with the horse, where they intend to keep it, their occupation, budget as well as referees for owners to follow up. A home check service is available and each rehome is accompanied with a tailormade agreement to ensure both parties are clear as to their responsibility and commitment to the horse.

In 2013 Horses4Homes helped to rehome 180 horses, of these, just 8% were deemed to be unsuccessful. No system is entirely failsafe but with owners being honest about the horse’s health, behaviour and temperament and those wishing to take on horses being honest about their capabilities as a rider and keeper the risk of incompatibility is much reduced.

Over 90% of our users surveyed believe Horses4Homes vastly limits the risks associated with rehoming & over 95% would recommend our service to fellow horse owners.
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I clicked on the horse at the top of the page and it says this by it's ad -

If you choose to apply for this horse and are selected as the most suitable applicant you will be required to pay the standard rehoming donation of £50 which includes the cost of a rehome agreement.

The following additional donation and commitment has been requested by the owner to be paid to the charity by the successful applicant in respect of their horse:
make a one-off donation of £300 to Horses4Homes Foundation
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The horse is looking for a loan home.

He had a lovely loan home, but his loaner is having to return him due to no fault of his own, and she is happy to talk to any potential loaners about his progress
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http://horses4homes.net/portal/en/details/max-10676
 
it is an advertising platform, end of. It is up to you to do the checks, it is not a charity that has them on site...it simply puts people in touch with each other and makes money out of it.

I hardly think CRB checks would be done, this is more for working with children and vulnerable people!
 
I'm following this with interest as I've just put my big lad up on there and the ad is currently awaiting admin approval.

I've always thought of it as giving more security and as loan agreements are all documented through the site, should anything go wrong (or god forbid, your horse went missing/was stolen), you've got the back up of an organisation and you can cover your tracks and receive support, as opposed to if you'd arranged something off your own back and it was one word against another. Hope that makes sense! I'm not very good at explaining what I mean.

That's basically what influenced my choice. You hear so many horror stories when loaning and I want to feel a little securer in making the plunge.
 
More like a dating site than an advertising platform ?

It's unlikely that people wanting to make a quick buck selling on or sending them to an abattoir would use that site.
 
£350 for one loan being arranged is quite a tidy sum.

Rehoming Horses Safely is an Absolute Priority

Horses4Homes needs your support to continue. Without the generosity of the public it would not be able to provide its free service to horse owners struggling to continue to care for their horses.
Our horse owners love their horses dearly but for circumstances outside of their control they are unable to keep them. Euthanasia must be a last resort.By providing our free rehoming service we are giving these horses a decent, secure chance of finding a “forever home”.

We must prevent horses from being rehomed “free to a good home” as this is fraught with risks where unsuitable, insufficiently financed, sometimes dishonest and law evading people may acquire them and not protect their future welfare. Without Horses4Homes this is where so many horses will end up and with our sanctuaries and rehoming centres full to capacity, there is really very little hope for so many horses.

The Horses4Homes team spend many hours everyday advising, counselling and supporting owners who do not wish to rehome their horses but feel they have no choice. Time is also spent trying to source the best applicant and home for that horse. Euthanasia is only an option when no stone has been left unturned. Our team are dedicated to finding excellent homes for our special horses.

Make a Donation Today
Please make a donation to support our work, if you are able to make a standing order/recurring gift of just a few pounds each month it can make all the difference.

Sponsor a Horse
If you would like to sponsor one of the horses listed for rehoming please contact us. We can provide you with a case history of any of the horses, their reason for rehoming and the type of home they need. Many of our horses listed have health and/or behaviour issues and have no real prospect of being sold. If we cannot find them a home they may have to be put to sleep. Your support will enable more man hours to be spent helping to find that horse a home. You will be provided with a weekly update on the progress of his or her rehome via email or telephone if you prefer. Although we cannot guarantee a home will be found, if we are successful, you will be provided with regular updates on the progress of that rehome.

Organise a Sponsored Event
If you are planning an event, a tack sale perhaps, taking part in a competition, a run, swim or pleasure ride why not choose Horses4Homes as your nominated charity. We can help you to set up a just giving page to enable people to sponsor you for our good cause. We will then promote your good deed to all our followers and via our social media outlets to thank you for your kind efforts.

Leave a Gift in Your Will
If you wish to leave a legacy to Horses4Homes please contact us so that we can advise you on how best this can be done. You will need our charity number, registered address and mission statement. Legacies are the life blood of any charitable organisation, they secure its longevity and enable it to further achieve its objectives. Without legacy support charities can struggle to continue to make a true sustained impact on their objectives.

How We Can Help You
What will you do if you die unexpectedly through ill health or a fatal accident and you own horses. Do you have anyone who will care for your horse or responsibly rehome your horse if you are not around. You may want to consider leaving Horses4Homes a legacy and clear instructions to the Executors of your Will to rehome your horse through Horses4Homes should anything untoward ever happen to you. We will safely rehome your horse for you, ensuring every effort is made to find your horse that perfect new home. We will even provide your family with regular updates on the progress of that rehome. Providing them with peace of mind and happiness knowing you would have been pleased to know your horse is safe, secure and loved.
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I've looked at a few more ads and TBH, there are some horses on there that if I owned them, I would PTS to ensure that they never suffered in the future. Semi feral cryptorchids and old, old horses that have been in one home since a youngster.
 
I think their intention is probably good, but in reality I think a dating website comparison as suggested above is probably quite accurate.

I put one of mine on there. The lady that runs it spent a good 10-15 minutes on the phone to me while I described horses problems and the type of home I was looking for. I had put a minimal fee on him (loan only) and they wouldn't advertise him unless I increased this to £300, which I did.

I then received 3 applications for him from totally unsuitable homes. Each application would have had to make a donation to submit that application - I feel very sorry for them as I turned each one down immediately - had the 'screening applications' been done as promised then these people wouldn't have had an auto reject email from a computer.

The charity also got very arsey with me when I rehomed/loaned privately to the perfect home.

At that point I reminded them that he had been on their site for the best part of 3 months, at a price most loaners won't want to pay, and with 3 unscreened applications.
 
It is another variation on the 'Projects, cheapies and freebies' sites. If the horses are on loan, presumably owners can take them back if they so desire? The 'charity' is without doubt making money out of this for what I see as very little real work. Who actually benefits from the money they take? Surely the idea of a charity is to benefit others, not fund its own 'employees'? I can't see that they are doing anything that a responsible owner wouldn't be doing themselves - in fact, the onus is on the owners to do all the legwork and checks. I can see the 'dating site' analogy.
 
ihatework said:
I think their intention is probably good, but in reality I think a dating website comparison as suggested above is probably quite accurate.

I put one of mine on there. The lady that runs it spent a good 10-15 minutes on the phone to me while I described horses problems and the type of home I was looking for. I had put a minimal fee on him (loan only) and they wouldn't advertise him unless I increased this to £300, which I did.

I then received 3 applications for him from totally unsuitable homes. Each application would have had to make a donation to submit that application - I feel very sorry for them as I turned each one down immediately - had the 'screening applications' been done as promised then these people wouldn't have had an auto reject email from a computer.

The charity also got very arsey with me when I rehomed/loaned privately to the perfect home.

At that point I reminded them that he had been on their site for the best part of 3 months, at a price most loaners won't want to pay, and with 3 unscreened applications.
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Oh dear! :-/

I read through the terms and conditions but as I'd never be advertising mine on the open market 'for sale', I assumed should I find a suitable loan home outside of H4H; that would be acceptable but it seems perhaps not? I have a couple of people interested, since stating he's going up on H4H, that I know. One girl actually has one of my others on full loan so she'd be perfect but there are logistics to sort out and nothing is set in stone.

It will be a temporary loan for a year or two, whilst I sort out my individual circumstances (though if all parties were happy, I would consider extending). I think I put something like a £10 donation down; I had no idea they'd want up to £300 for year or two's loan!
 
Even so, if a horse is on loan, and a contract is in place, that should always give the owner to remove the horse if they decide for whatever reason the home is no longer suitable. I wonder if there is a 'buffer zone' so that if the loan breaks down within a certain time, the money is refunded?
 
You make a good point, Dunkley! As I was assuming it was more along the £10, £20 mark, I hadn't really thought about refunds etc.- as £10 is what you'd pay for an advert in some places, but yes, a very valid point.
 
I just did the sums ..............

Last year (according to website) they 'rehomed' 180 horses. Each adopter pays £50, plus a donation of what seems to be generally around £300 ................. that's £63000!!!!!
 
Faracat said:
I've looked at a few more ads and TBH, there are some horses on there that if I owned them, I would PTS to ensure that they never suffered in the future. Semi feral cryptorchids and old, old horses that have been in one home since a youngster.
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Agreed. That said there are two on there that are very nice I owuld take on asmy everyday riding horse if I was looking
 
I've just taken ownership of a very nice horse put up for rehoming through H4H. I had no issue with the process, they vet the applications, in this horses case there were a very large numbe and wrote up the agreement as per the previous owners wishes and my own approval. If it doesn't work out, there can be written into any agreement a period of grace, if this is requested. Frankly I was happy to pay the rehoming fee, it was a darn site cheaper than the price the horse had previously been advertised for on the open market, even with the vetting cost on top. This horse had been home breed and the owner had been too unwell to keep him. After failing to sell him as the market is pretty slow, he's young and unproven, he'd been in full livery with a trainer for several months so she deisided to cut her losses. I'm very happy with him.
 
If you have to do your own home checks its seems far too much money is being asked. I think there is a need for some sort of clearing house for loan agreements, where a standard loan agreement is purchased for a fee and then modified to the situation. Once its agreed by the loaner and the owner its logged checked and logged by the clearing house where its kept on file. A bit like e-bay you could give a review from both sides of the agreement, this would cut out the serial loaners and the ones that loan and then disappear as I am sure patterns would be spotted.
I have looked at some of the horses on the site but the price would put me off. Even though its a charity it can pay people to run it so tome it looks very much like a money making venture. I think its fair to charge a bond if you are supplying tack and equipment. I have loaned out my ponies successfully many times, you need to do plenty of back ground checks and get a feel for the family, the worst thing that has happened is they have come back without shoes.
 
webble said:
Does it cost the owner to list the horse or just potential owners to apply? That said there is the option to message the owner and ask questions before you apply/ pay any money
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Free to advertise, they only charge the rehomer, the reason they charge to apply is to discourage people with ulterior motives.
 
As mentioned, what work does the 'foundation' do that requires such a vast sum of money?
 
Why not ask them? They are a registered charity. I imagine that employing three members of staff cost a bit of money though, as does running a website, electricity ect. Like any business/ charity you can only expand on what your doing with the help of income.
 
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Taking a basic charity admin salary of around £15k per year, x 3 = £45k before you factor in ni contributions. This leaves you not that much for other administration/ running costs/ investment.
 
I read this thread and it makes me sad.

I wish these people had been around when I had to sell a horse to go for lighter duties. I'm certain he would not have been starved and had to be rescued if I had used Horses4homes
 
It's good to hear they are a registered charity doing positive work. Too often there are people out to make a quick buck. Seems odd though they don't do checks themselves, as it's being done under their name so if things go sour their name will be sullied.
 
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