Lending a trailer to a friend

[Katiesregan]

Ok so not strictly tack but couldn’t find another forum for it.

my friend has asked to borrow my trailer for an event which I am happy to do, my only problem is if something happened to it or any damage incurred would she be liable for it and would I be able to enforce it. I don’t really foresee a problem as her horse travels well but you never know and I wouldn’t want to be out a trailer or be lumped with a bill to fix it.

thanks ?

 

[AmyMay]

A trailer is an expensive bit of kit. It would be a ‘no’ from me I’m afraid.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

It’s a no. Get her to hire one for commercial rates from a hire place or use a service.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I think you have to be very clear that she has the ability, insurance and vehicle to tow your trailer safely and that she is absolutely aware she will need to pay promptly and without resentment for any damage incurred and return it to you clean.

 

[southerncomfort]

Nope.

I wouldn't lend mine out either. I might consider taking her to the event if she paid for petrol and bought me lunch!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

No from me. No other horses other than my own go in my trailer unless it’s an absolute emergency. I have had to transport a mini for colic surgery at 10pm on a Sunday night and would willingly do so again for anyone but for a planned event they should be hiring a box where insurance and liability are fully covered.

 

[milliepops]

I think you have to be very clear that she has the ability, insurance and vehicle to tow your trailer safely and that she is absolutely aware she will need to pay promptly and without resentment for any damage incurred and return it to you clean.

this.
I have friends, and Friends. I'd lend something like a trailer to some and not others. When I had no transport I was really helped out by the generosity of other people letting me use things, which makes me inclined to want to pay that forward. but they knew I would look after it well and make good any problems and I would only do so with someone who was the same.

 

[Xmasha]

A friend of mine lent hers out to another friend, it came back damaged. The friend who borrowed it never owned up to it, needless to say the friendship broke down. So no, i wouldnt lend it out. They are cheap enough to hire.

 

[Sprat]

It would be a no from me. I have in the past towed friends horses when they needed to move yards etc. but subsequently my trailer has ended up damaged. Friend in question paid for the repairs, but I would be hesitant to do it again. I have spent a lot of money getting my trailer safe and road worthy, I wouldn't trust anyone enough to simply wave them off with it for the day

 

[ihatework]

There are friends, and there are friends!!

I have a close set of friends that I’d lend to without hesitation. And if something happened so be it. I think it’s a sad life to lead if I can’t share with people I trust. That said, passing friends/acquaintances then it would be a no unless it was a vet emergency.

In fact something did happen a couple of years ago, friend wrote off my trailer. But it was insured and she paid any shortfall inconvenience. It wouldn’t stop me lending.

There have been times in the past where friends have stepped in and lent me transport and I’ve always been grateful and ultra careful. I have however turned down the loan of swanky mega bucks boxes just because if I damaged it I would feel obliged to repair and couldn’t risk the £££££

 

[Baywonder]

No, I never lent my trailer out either. If it was an emergency, yes. Standard, run of the mill shows, no. There are plenty of trailers to be hired.

 

[Steerpike]

Only in an emergency would I lend, even then I'd drive myself. After taking my sister in law to a fun ride an hour away and spent majority of my day waiting for her and being offered £10 for my time/diesel on my one day off a week I refuse to help anymore.

 

[AnShanDan]

I do lend trailers and my lorry, on occasion, to people I trust. Not had any issues, they are insured obv, lorry is fully comp for all drivers over 25. I know that if I needed to borrow transport in an emergency I could call on a few people and they wouldn't hesitate either.

However, if you are worried about it enough to be asking the question, I'd say no.

 

[Muddywellies]

Once and only once i took a good friends quiet pony to the vets (I offered) as she was struggling financially.
No one ever asks me as it will always be no.

 

[Michen]

Jeez I can't believe how many wouldn't lend at all! I lent my lorry to an acquaintance (though wouldn't do that again) but happily lent to close friends. And have borrowed from close friends. Would do same with trailer.

There are probably only a handful of people who I would, but they are certainly there!

 

[Steerpike]

Transport is a major outlay for some people so why would they want to risk it getting damaged by lending it out? I would only lend/drive another person's horse if they had to go to the vets as an emergency, otherwise they should purchase their own transport. I'm sorry it might sound harsh but I can't afford my transport to be off the road damaged by someone else's horse.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

This is going to make me sound rather selfish but I don’t have the funds to just go out and buy a new trailer and accidents happen however careful people are. If I damage it it’s my fault and my insurance will pay but why should I be inconvenienced if it’s off the road. It would be me that would have to arrange to get it repaired and me without transport so I just wouldn’t do it. In an emergency, absolutely yes I would do it in a heartbeat with me driving but other than that not a chance.

 

[Mahoganybay]

It would depend on the friend, if I knew that friend would do the same for me, I was 100% convinced that if there were any issues or damage then it would be sorted then yes I would lend out my trailer.

i think you would have to have that ‘conversation’ with your friend and then go from there.

 

[WandaMare]

I have lent my lorry to real friends because I'm happy to help, they would do the same for me. One of my friends qualified for one of the county shows last year and she was nervous of going so far in the trailer, so I lent her my lorry at my cost, they were able to stay overnight in it (despite the living being a bit manky) and had a really fun weekend. She bought it back a lot cleaner than when it left my place.

The ones to beware of are the shallow people who pretend to be friends so they can take advantage of your stuff. These are the sort of people who would also be less likely to pay up if they caused any damage. OP is this person a proper friend who will do the right thing if something goes wrong? If you don't know or you're not sure then I would back out gracefully.

If you think its someone you can trust then I would discuss all scenarios with them up front and also talk to your insurance company for advice.

 

[pinkypug1]

If your trailer is well insured your friend is covered to drive it and she is sensible trust worthy sort then I don’t see an issue. I think it feels good to help and support friends to enjoy their horses and if I’m not using my trailer and a good friend wants to use it then I have no issue. In general I do find a lot of ‘horsey folk’ very precious over their stuff be that a shavings fork or a horse box!! whereas I would lend the coat of my back to help a friend out

 

[scruffyponies]

I remember very well being dependent on borrowed trailers and favours. Without the RDA trailer, I would have never got my kids started at pony club. For this reason, I am hanging on to my old Rice pony box, which is old enough and cheap enough for me to happily lend it out... as well as very useful when I need to move a sofa!

 

[jnb]

If you're not happy to, then tell them that you have checked your insurance and it's not covered for use by anyone other than yourself. Not for hire or reward should cover it.
My lorry is for me - I sweated blood and worked 2 jobs to afford it - however, in a life or death situation I would (and have!) transported someone else's horse to the vet. Sadly it didn't come back - but I had nothing on my conscience.

 

[Muddywellies]

Jeez I can't believe how many wouldn't lend at all! I lent my lorry to an acquaintance (though wouldn't do that again) but happily lent to close friends. And have borrowed from close friends. Would do same with trailer.

There are probably only a handful of people who I would, but they are certainly there!

Not only is there the possibility of it coming back damaged, but even more of a worry for me is if someone else's horse was to be injured in my lorry. Its old, and I save very hard to pay to keep it on the road and maintain it, and I'm confident enough to put my own horse in it. But its that sods law thing isn't it.

 

[dorsetladette]

I would lend my standard trailer out to a couple friends on the proviso 'you bend it you mend it' (and promptly) lucky it never had to be mended. But I would not lend my lorry or the Equitrek trailer out to anyone. I would help people out with vet visits and the like.

Shows and competitions I often offered a space in the trailer (not been out since we had the lorry) to accompany us. Its odd though I have turned down many offers of accompanying friends in their lorries.

 

[Annagain]

As others have said, there are friends and friends. I would gladly lend my trailer to some friends but there are others I wouldn't let borrow a broom. In fact my closest friend has sent me a text in the past saying "got a flat tyre on the trailer have had to borrow yours" and that is 100% fine with me as I know she was in a hurry and would do the same for me. We both keep spare keys where the other knows to find them.

If you know your friend would be mortified if they damaged it and would happily pay to put it right then go ahead. If there's the slightest doubt that would happen don't.

 

[Tiddlypom]

No, never, ever ever.

Done it, been handed back the damaged trailer to sort out at my own expense.

Ditto clippers.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

I borrowed one once and another car took it out. I paid for all the repairs.

A friend lent me hers whenever I needed it.

I've very often taken others out and about in my lorry, but never lent the lorry out.

 

[milliepops]

I remember very well being dependent on borrowed trailers and favours. Without the RDA trailer, I would have never got my kids started at pony club. For this reason, I am hanging on to my old Rice pony box, which is old enough and cheap enough for me to happily lend it out... as well as very useful when I need to move a sofa!

that's so kind of you. I was so lucky when I was younger, to have someone who was kind like that and without her I would have missed out on so much.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Define friend.
My closest friends who would do the same for me? Absolutely. Others? No. I can’t tow yet so my dad takes me and my horses out and about, (I call him top groom, which he absolutely is!). On a couple of rare occasions, (twice) he has trailered not so close friends horses around, but he was driving his own car etc, and he charged them for his time and fuel.

 

[IrishMilo]

Jeez I can't believe how many wouldn't lend at all! I lent my lorry to an acquaintance (though wouldn't do that again) but happily lent to close friends. And have borrowed from close friends. Would do same with trailer.

There are probably only a handful of people who I would, but they are certainly there!

Me too. I obviously have incredibly generous friends as I have always been offered boxes and trailers happily. I always more than cover petrol if someone gives me a ride and I think (and hope) people know that I'm the sort of person who would pay for any damages I might cause with no question.

I lend out anything I have to friends happily - clippers, friend borrowed my newish monoflap for a good while while she sorted one for her new horse, lent out expensive stirrups etc.