Im in a dilema

I

iheartmypony

New User
Joined
9 August 2012
Messages
8
Visit site
Hi, Im new to the forum...

At the minute, I have a 30ish yr old veteran 'D'. She had an accident in the trailer so now doesnt like traveling
Next year i'm going to uni roughly 3 or 4 hours away.

I am having to put her on full loan next year as i have no one to look after her whilst im away.

I have been looking for a 2nd horse to take me further on and have found my ideal one! an absolute bargain too :D

So......do I put 'D' on full loan now so I can keep an eye on her and the loaner to make sure I trust her etc - had a bad loaning experience with 'D' in the past - before I go away fully, and still get this 2nd one?

I can take this 2nd one down to Uni with me as he is a lot younger.
 
I personally would go to Uni, get settled and get used to the workload before you make such a decision as taking on a horse and lugging it off to Uni.
 
Not sure how anyone would consider putting a 30 year old on loan! I'm hoping you meant that someone can take care of her, at home (where she is now) and treat her kindly.

I couldn't do it! Swan off on a younger horse, casting your old faithful to the side? (that is what it sounds like!) If you can't take her, can't keep both then do the kindest thing.
 
Fools Motto said:
Not sure how anyone would consider putting a 30 year old on loan! I'm hoping you meant that someone can take care of her, at home (where she is now) and treat her kindly.

I couldn't do it! Swan off on a younger horse, casting your old faithful to the side? (that is what it sounds like!) If you can't take her, can't keep both then do the kindest thing.
Click to expand...

Yes, she would stay at her current yard. :)
I did not mean for it to sound like that fools motto, Just she is used as a light hack now and I want to progress to something I can show and ride more than once in a blue moon.
Oh and, I hope you dont mean what i think you mean by 'the kindest thing'?! :confused:
 
Wow, a 30yr old for loan? that wont travel? can d still be ridden etc? Cant see many people willing to take on, and personally would never put my old lady on loan, esp after a bad experience. surely you owe her more than the risk.of that again?
 
I have no choice heresannie - I cannot take her to Uni with me as she wont travel!
Judging by the threads I have read recently there are plently of people who would loan a veteran! :confused:
 
Oh I couldn't of trusted anyone with my old lad, the thing is with oldies is that a few months of less than 'good' care could lead to painful suffering and prolonged angony. They need tip top care, which can be exspensive. I think you would be lucky to find a loaner like this.
also shes a light hack, could you really trust for her not to be over ridden whilst your away? This wouldn't be fair on her.
I hope you find someone you can trust 150%

As for a 2nd one at uni, wait. Honestly. Everyone I have known who has had horses at uni have regretted it. Enjoy your uni years, lie ins and hang overs, living off beans and cheap plonk.

After uni you will be in a much better place, with alot out of your system ;) to enjoy a new project, you could still prehaps offer your services to exercise someones horses whilst your a student still keep your foot in the door. But please think twice about tying yourself down with a second horse
 
heresannie said:
Wow, a 30yr old for loan? that wont travel? can d still be ridden etc? Cant see many people willing to take on, and personally would never put my old lady on loan, esp after a bad experience. surely you owe her more than the risk.of that again?
Click to expand...

Whilst appreciating the awful dilemma OP is in, I have to say I agree with this. There are many on here who've loaned out their horses (I'm one of them) and the vast majority of us say never again.

OK so mare would remain at current yard - that's the way I understand it, yes?, BUT who would look after her? Is that person totally trustworthy and responsible enough to take care of not just a "veteran" but a very old horse who will inevitably have health issues of some sort??

As the OP would be "3 to 4 hrs away" then basically whoever is entrusted with the mare, may well at some stage have to make a decision on the OP's behalf (i.e. euthanisia if vet recommends), i.e. if mare is injured/colicking/whatever - and the OP would have to accept this. Not an easy decision and a very unenviable one to have to make.
 
But what would you do if loaner decided they didnt want her anymore? would a retirement home not be better, and work.on her traveling between now and going to uni? Somewhere you knew she would be safe and well cared for? Just if youve hadva bad loanee in the past, could you really do it again when you are nowhere near to help?
 
I wouldn't consider loaning out a light hack 30 year old either. It's just not fair to take the risk that the loaner might not look after them as they deserve at their age.
 
iheartmypony said:
Hi, Im new to the forum...

At the minute, I have a 30ish yr old veteran 'D'. She had an accident in the trailer so now doesnt like traveling
Next year i'm going to uni roughly 3 or 4 hours away.

I am having to put her on full loan next year as i have no one to look after her whilst im away.

I have been looking for a 2nd horse to take me further on and have found my ideal one! an absolute bargain too :D

So......do I put 'D' on full loan now so I can keep an eye on her and the loaner to make sure I trust her etc - had a bad loaning experience with 'D' in the past - before I go away fully, and still get this 2nd one?

I can take this 2nd one down to Uni with me as he is a lot younger.
Click to expand...


What will you be reading at Uni?

I personally think its unfair to put a 30 year old out on loan, I sadly lost my old man at the age of 32, he did very gentle work perhaps 1/2 a month, he had been a good friend and took me heights i never dreamed - he deserved a good retirement.

I would suggest that you let him enjoy his retirement and not put him on loan even if that means you cant have another one until you get out of Uni.
 
Agreed, I wouldn't loan a 30yr old out either, unless it was to a longstanding trusted friend. If it was me, I'd pay for retirement or full livery instead of a new horse. Or if you want something to ride have the 30yr pts. But I'd never leave my oldie with strangers.
 
I'm afraid I'm with everyone else, OP. I couldn't put a 30yo on loan with someone I didn't know extremely well...even then you can't always be 100% sure. Put her on full livery at a good yard and still have someone you trust keeping an eye on her care, or have her pts. It sounds very harsh but there are far worse things that can happen to horses.

As for uni, I'd definitely wait until you can judge the work load, finances, available time and your inclination. I joined the university's riding club during my first degree and only then had time for one hack a week...during my Masters I had no spare time at*all.

Good luck with whatever you decide :)
 
What about sending her to a retirement home and letting her have her twilight years lazing about at grass? Could be a challenge to get her there, but worth it in my experience for the oldies!

Also, I took my horse to uni (BA through to PhD), picked up another couple, and loved every second of having them there. I wouldn't've had half so much of a good time without them!
 
pookie said:
I'm afraid I'm with everyone else, OP. I couldn't put a 30yo on loan with someone I didn't know extremely well...even then you can't always be 100% sure. Put her on full livery at a good yard and still have someone you trust keeping an eye on her care, or have her pts. It sounds very harsh but there are far worse things that can happen to horses.

As for uni, I'd definitely wait until you can judge the work load, finances, available time and your inclination.
Click to expand...

This ^^^^^
 
What on earth is she supposed to do with her then?! The horse won't travel after an accident, so unless there is a retirement livery in walking distance the horse can't go there. She can't take the horse to uni because she doesn't travel. She can, however, put her on loan to someone.

Not all loans go bad. I loaned my novice eventer out whilst I went to the USA for several months. Shoot me now for being a bad owner. Except it was all fine, horse looked after exceptionally well, loaner had a ball.

OP - try and do the loan via word of mouth, so even if you don't know the person directly you know enough people who do know them.

I don't think this is the crime of the century other people seem to think it is! Even if she doesn't loan the horse it can't go with her, so why not loan it to someone who wants to hack? Either way the horse has to be left in someone else's care...
 
SpottedCat said:
What on earth is she supposed to do with her then?! The horse won't travel after an accident, so unless there is a retirement livery in walking distance the horse can't go there. She can't take the horse to uni because she doesn't travel. She can, however, put her on loan to someone.

Not all loans go bad. I loaned my novice eventer out whilst I went to the USA for several months. Shoot me now for being a bad owner. Except it was all fine, horse looked after exceptionally well, loaner had a ball.

OP - try and do the loan via word of mouth, so even if you don't know the person directly you know enough people who do know them.

I don't think this is the crime of the century other people seem to think it is! Even if she doesn't loan the horse it can't go with her, so why not loan it to someone who wants to hack? Either way the horse has to be left in someone else's care...
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this, word of mouth is not always the best but im sure if she's quiet there would be many people ripping your arm off for a horse who dosnt need to be kept fit would suit fair weather rider who just wants a ride once in a while and to look after.

I'm at uni and now that i have two they are kept at home as cannot afford to keep two in area of my uni my mum looks after them although not super horsey. If I had the money I would defo have them with me although you sacrifice your social life it's totally dependant on what you want your uni experience to be. I ride at uni twice a week one lesson one team so still ride 4 times a week :) even though I'm a couple of hours from home.
 
SpottedCat said:
What on earth is she supposed to do with her then?! The horse won't travel after an accident, so unless there is a retirement livery in walking distance the horse can't go there. She can't take the horse to uni because she doesn't travel. She can, however, put her on loan to someone.

Not all loans go bad. I loaned my novice eventer out whilst I went to the USA for several months. Shoot me now for being a bad owner. Except it was all fine, horse looked after exceptionally well, loaner had a ball.

OP - try and do the loan via word of mouth, so even if you don't know the person directly you know enough people who do know them.

I don't think this is the crime of the century other people seem to think it is! Even if she doesn't loan the horse it can't go with her, so why not loan it to someone who wants to hack? Either way the horse has to be left in someone else's care...
Click to expand...

I agree with this too. OP - it is your horse and only YOU know how much work it is still capable of. If your horse is still capable of having a bit of a plod around the lanes and is still kept at your home, then find an older lady who is happy to do a bit of a plod - there are loads of them out there!

Best of luck at uni! And best of luck with your new horse - you are certainly not casting your old faithful aside you are looking towards the future, allowing your old friend to take life a bit easier whilst you move on.
 
Bit of a difference imo between loaning out an eventer, or a rideable horse & a 30yr old light hack. Agreed if it won't travel options are limited, but if the expense of full livery at current yard is out of the question what happens if oldie retires, goes lame etc? It will be 34 when op leaves uni & anything could happen in that period due to age. Yes, options are limited, but when you take on the responsibility for a horse, you also take on the responsibility for either rehoming suitably or pts when the horse no longer suits. And leaving a 30yr old with strangers hours away isn't my opinion of suitable. Loaning to strangers on current yard would only be a consideration for me with a trusted yo who would supervise loan & I could afford to pay for full livery if the loan went wrong.
 
christine48 said:
Is this a genuine post? Who in their right mind would consider loaning out a 30 yr old. You need to find a retirement home!
Click to expand...

So you'd put a 30 yr old non traveller through the stress/trauma of travelling to a retirement home then? :confused: I wouldn't.

OP I agree with spottedcat I think you need to ask around locally to see if anyone is interested and get good references. Are there people on your yard who will also keep an eye on her care for you? Yard owner?

I think that you may have to be prepared not to find someone for her though and to make a different decision if you cannot happily move her.

I think taking a horse to uni is a completely separate issue, my best mate/housemate took hers and it worked well though she was on full livery.
 
Personally i wouldn't loan out a 30yr old or take one on for that matter. The older they are the more care they need and IME i wouldnt trust a stranger with an oap. However since you really are stuck for options and dont want to pts, then as was said before loan out via word of mouth but be prepared for it to be a long slog to find the right person. Also do you have any friends who would be local that could check on your oap whilst shes on loan? It might be an idea to maybe ask for them to check every few days to start, then once a week so your mind is kept at peace. Maybe give them a bit of cash, or a nice treat for doing you a favour? I really hope you sort something out as i cant imagine this is an easy decision.
 
Why don't you just put him on full livery where he is? You don't appear to suggest that you can't afford to keep him so that would be my option in those circumstances. He would feel secure and his current yard would understand yours and his requirements.

Frankly I wouldn't take on another horse until you get to the other side of University. You are going to be busy and very probably broke a fair bit of the time so another horse would only add to those kind of concerns. I hope you do well with your course and that you make the right decision for your horse. I do think that at his age it would be kinder to him to keep him in the situation and with the people that he already knows. I would not want to take on a horse of that age myself, particularly if it belonged to somebody else. I would never sleep again for worry that something would go wrong.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
Not sure why it's different loaning an eventer than a hack. What if my horse had done a tendon eventing? Or had a recurrence of his ulcers? Or had colic? Or whatever?! Either way, the horse has to be left where it is as it doesn't travel. So it won't be moving yards. So why is it so much better to have it on full livery at current yard than to have someone loan it from current yard? Presumably the YO will still be able to keep an eye on it. Plus the OP is moving 3/4 hrs away, not to the moon (or the other side of the world like I did!!). Frankly she's in a better place to come back in an emergency if needs be than I was. Yet somehow it's ok to loan my horse as he's an eventer?! What, do all the people who hack for some reason offer a lower level of care than someone who competes?!

HHO is a frankly bizarre place sometimes!!
 
SpottedCat said:
HHO is a frankly bizarre place sometimes!!
Click to expand...

Agree. I'd loan it, vet your people well, your fellow liveries should be briefed about the animals welfare and given contact details if in ANY doubt. Check on the horse often as you can.

I'd rather loan it to someone who wanted it, than leave it just to be full liveried, if those were my choices.
 
Where did anyone say someone who wants to hack would be less likely to care for a horse than a competitive rider. My point is that loaning a rideable horse is entirely different to loaning out a 30yr old only physically able to hack lightly. There's far less takers for an old light hack than a good riding horse, & rather than just the chance of accident there's a high chance of age causing problems. Apart from being personally upset I had no qualms selling my eventer, however my 23yr old I would pts, despite her still being healthy & capable of pc before I loaned to a stranger. I just think there's far more potential for loaning an oldie to go wrong. We'll have to agree to disagree, I'm always going to believe passing on oldies isn't on, regardless of how inconvenient or how much owners don't want to pts, no matter what the circumstances.
 
I'll admit that I haven't read all the posts, but, I wouldn't put a 30 yo horse out on loan, I most certainly wouldn't travel the poor creature for 3-4 hrs, and in the event that I couldn't trust an existing full livery, I'd send my faithful and loyal servant off to meet her maker. Better that than to live with the responsibility of neglect.

Alec.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top