Loan Dilemma

Ambers Echo

Ambers Echo

Still wittering on
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Jenny has been on LWVTB over the winter. I was initially told they were considering buying but wanted a loan period so the 12 year old child could prove her commitment as she had never had a pony before. I set the date as March 1st for the loan to end as I did not want her back midwinter anyway to try and sell but was told they would make their mind up long before then.

Jenny has been 100% hoof perfect. The child is quite novicey and she has taken her out hacking in company and on her own, galloped around including towards home. Jumped everything every time. Taken a child just learning to jump to 80/85 in 4 months. Not one moment of naughtiness.

As for the girl - she has also been amazing. She has been given very little help so she walks up at 6am before school every day and again after school. So she has walked over 4 miles a day every day since the loan began. She adores Jenny and they are just such a lovely partnership. Perfect, right?

Well yes apart from the fact the dad won't agree to buy her. I have no idea why parents would allow a child to loan a pony on a 'you need to prove yourself' basis if they never intended to buy Jenny for her anyway. Or maybe mum thought dad would change his mind. Anyway I am in the absolutely horrible position of having to take Jenny off her.

The loan ends in about 4 weeks. I am tempted to let her keep her. Am I crazy? I really can't afford to especially with Amber on schooling livery and paying for Deedee to be ridden. But I feel so horribly torn and I am furious that I am the one feeling guilty! No child has a right to a pony but to me it is unacceptable to tell a child they have the opportunity to have one and then change your mind after the child has fallen hopelessly in love with the pony and has done everything anyone could possibly expect of her in terms of commitment and effort. They have not said no yet. But are refusing to say yes, just saying dad has not made his mind up. But what else needs to happen for him to decide?

Any other options I have not thought of? Offer to lease her to them? Try and talk to dad?? Extend the loan and hope they relent??? Or just start the process of selling now with viewings to start on March 1st and hope that the reality of her going will lead to a change of heart. Or just accept that the parents have every right to do this and it is not my child, not my business.
 
I absolutely would not let her stay there. Start the selling process now, they'll have to make up their minds as a result of that one way or the other. I would imagine they might be hoping you will just say she can stay on loan but that was never the deal; if they don't want her enough to commit then how they parent is their problem unfortunately - although it is pretty shonky in my opinion
 
Goodness that’s a tricky one. I don’t think I could take the pony off her. Have you actually spoken to the father? If not I think leave the kid out of it as much as possible and deal with the father. You could offer instalments, but of course there’s no guarantee they’d be met either. If it were me I’d phone or write stating that the loan period, as agreed is about to come to an end, so you will be looking forward to the sum, as agreed.

Poor kid :(
 
I'm not sure if I'm misreading your post, but definitely don't give her the pony. The father sounds like the sort of man who'd promptly sell her to the first person who offered.

I know it's tough, but in your position I'd say that you start the process of selling.

It's not you who's taking the pony off her - it's the father. And I hope the father realises that his daughter will never, ever forget this.
 
Could he be bluffing? He's got a pretty good deal at the moment, maybe he thinks you won't go through with selling? I'd call his bluff and advertise her. I bet as soon as he realises you're serious, he'll cough up and if he doesn't it's him taking the pony off her, not you. What a poor example he's setting for her. Why should she ever work hard and care for something so well ever again if it just gets taken away from her at the first opportunity?
 
To be fair they do have her on loan till the 1st March, so they may want a bit more time to make sure. But if they say no then I'd definitely sell her.
 
They have not yet said no so I would wait and think of options that may work, continue the loan? part payment? or a lease? I would be reluctant to take her back when the child is so obviously dedicated and the father may still come back with an offer, let things continue until the loan term ends as until then you cannot really start to sell although it may be a good time to get some photos taken ready to advertise early March, it may be the push he requires.
 
Ambers Echo said:
Jenny has been on LWVTB over the winter. I was initially told they were considering buying but wanted a loan period so the 12 year old child could prove her commitment as she had never had a pony before. I set the date as March 1st for the loan to end as I did not want her back midwinter anyway to try and sell but was told they would make their mind up long before then.

Jenny has been 100% hoof perfect. The child is quite novicey and she has taken her out hacking in company and on her own, galloped around including towards home. Jumped everything every time. Taken a child just learning to jump to 80/85 in 4 months. Not one moment of naughtiness.

As for the girl - she has also been amazing. She has been given very little help so she walks up at 6am before school every day and again after school. So she has walked over 4 miles a day every day since the loan began. She adores Jenny and they are just such a lovely partnership. Perfect, right?

Well yes apart from the fact the dad won't agree to buy her. I have no idea why parents would allow a child to loan a pony on a 'you need to prove yourself' basis if they never intended to buy Jenny for her anyway. Or maybe mum thought dad would change his mind. Anyway I am in the absolutely horrible position of having to take Jenny off her.

The loan ends in about 4 weeks. I am tempted to let her keep her. Am I crazy? I really can't afford to especially with Amber on schooling livery and paying for Deedee to be ridden. But I feel so horribly torn and I am furious that I am the one feeling guilty! No child has a right to a pony but to me it is unacceptable to tell a child they have the opportunity to have one and then change your mind after the child has fallen hopelessly in love with the pony and has done everything anyone could possibly expect of her in terms of commitment and effort. They have not said no yet. But are refusing to say yes, just saying dad has not made his mind up. But what else needs to happen for him to decide?

Any other options I have not thought of? Offer to lease her to them? Try and talk to dad?? Extend the loan and hope they relent??? Or just start the process of selling now with viewings to start on March 1st and hope that the reality of her going will lead to a change of heart. Or just accept that the parents have every right to do this and it is not my child, not my business.
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I think that you need to have a proper conversation with the parents. Maybe there financial situation has changed?
Then if you want to sell and they don't want to buy, start marketing her but be aware that loaners may not want to pay while you are selling so it may come back to you.
 
Ambers Echo said:
I would not gift her the pony - just let her keep loaning. But I don't think that is realistic. And you're right. It is not me taking Jenny off her, it's them and I need to let go I think.
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Possibly you let her keep riding Jenny until she sells? Although that might make it harder for her, dragging the farewell out rather than it being swiftly done.
 
Well the Dad (and mum) are obviously thinking they're onto a good deal here - lovely pony, happy child and although they pay livery, they haven't had the initial cost of buying a pony. I can see why they don't want to buy.

Tell the straight, the pony is being put up for sale and do they wish to buy her. Alternatively, you could tell them the loan is ending but they can lease the pony (for a substantial amount per year). Might force their hand into actually buying?

Either way, poor kid - and she's done nothing wrong.
 
They have not said no but they originally said they would not need till March to decide. They were talking more weeks than months. And what can another 4 weeks possibly tell them that 4 months hasn't? Jenny is perfect and the girl is looking after her beautifully. I would not expect payment early. I'd just like to know if they are going to buy her at the end of the loan period so I now what I am doing. As I need to make plans if they say no.

I will give it another 2 weeks. Then I will say that she will be being advertised in first week of March if they are not having her and start getting some sale pics together. Once the loan ends I will take over the livery payments again and let the child decide if she wants to carry on caring for her or riding her in the meantime. I just feel very sad about it.
 
I agree you need to speak with the parents. If they absolutely don’t want to buy but are committed to continuing the loan, extend it by another year.
 
Amymay said:
Fair enough. I’d still offer to extend the loan.
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Why? Ponies can go wrong at any time - worst case scenario pony breaks under care of loaners and AE is left with a huge bill and a pony that needs to be PTS. Now this could happen the day she comes back but as it stands AE has a valuable saleable pony and some people who have had a very nice time not having to stump up the cost of buying a good pony and all the tack etc that goes with it who know that if it all goes wrong tomorrow they can just wash their hands of the situation!
AE has no desire to keep the pony in the long term - it was always going to be sold it's just a question of to whom. A 4 month loan to trial is more than enough time to make a decsion
 
it would be a nice thing to do but I don't think I would extend the loan. This was LWVTB as the intention always was to sell the pony.
I think I'd give them notice that you still intend to sell and then see if that makes Dad get a move on. If the little girl ends up disappointed that's sad but ultimately not your problem. She's still had a wonderful experience over the winter.
 
Ambers Echo said:
They have not said no but they originally said they would not need till March to decide. They were talking more weeks than months. And what can another 4 weeks possibly tell them that 4 months hasn't? Jenny is perfect and the girl is looking after her beautifully. I would not expect payment early. I'd just like to know if they are going to buy her at the end of the loan period so I now what I am doing. As I need to make plans if they say no.

I will give it another 2 weeks. Then I will say that she will be being advertised in first week of March if they are not having her and start getting some sale pics together. Once the loan ends I will take over the livery payments again and let the child decide if she wants to carry on caring for her or riding her in the meantime. I just feel very sad about it.
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I think this is sensible. The loan hasn’t come to an end yet, but it might force them to make a decision .

Is the pony hundreds or thousands?
 
A frank chat with mum and dad. Explain that the pairing is perfect and that the girl has done a wonderful job of looking after Jenny showing real commitment. You may be jumping the gun by applying pressure now as the loan isn't due to end until March, I agree with you that another 2 weeks would be good. I really hope this comes good for the kid.
 
I would stick to your deal . Loan to end on the 1st March . But have the conversation with the parents now that either they purchase her on that date or you advertise her for sale . Explain the daughter can keep the ride until the pony sells . That way you keep the pony in work and the daughter may just get a couple more weeks out of her . Plus March is definitely a better time to start advertising her .
 
As you are nearly 4 weeks from the end of the loan, I would be putting something in writing about what you are expecting to happen at the end of the loan, with a date that a decision must be reached by. Personally I suspect either things have changed financially, or that they were always going to be tight, and the needing to be convinced thing is to if they can afford it, or that Dad is one of those, and likes to have a hold over the daughter.
I had my pony out on loan, and didn't take him back when everything was screaming for me to do so, because the girls parents were getting divorced, and I have regretted it ever since, as he ended up with laminitis, which was ultimately the end of him.
 
Skib said:
Unless they cant afford it.
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But the mother's said he just hasn't 'made up his mind' - so if everything is as they say it is, then I think that's the best way. Dad needs to realise a decision is needed, rather than things just trundling along happily as they are and him not needing to do a thing - poop or get off the pot, as they say ;)
 
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