Loan horse nightmare scenario..advice?

S

Sugarplum Furry

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 June 2006
Messages
3,573
Visit site
I'll kick off by saying this isn't happening to me....it's a friend in dire straits who needs some help.

Horse has been on loan to my friend for 6 months. The loaners, on the day, 'forgot' to bring the loan agreement with them, but my friend took the horse anyway with a promise that the loan agreement would follow on. It never appeared, despite numerous phone calls from the loanee.

Over the last couple of months my friend has not been able to contact the loaner at at all, phone calls blocked, address changed. He has since discovered that the loaner has changed livery yards several times, been thrown off premises for theft and asking to borrow horse passports.

Last week he had a phone call out of the blue asking for the horse back. He's now very worried that the horse in question doesn't even belong to the loaner, but has no way of proving it. No contract, no passport (even though it wouldn't prove ownership).Soooooo advice please?
 
I've already advised him to get the vet to do a scan for a microchip, and have a look through the stolen horse register.

Good idea re. previous yards Tharg.

He really wants to keep this horse and is now considering claiming him as his own. This means the loaners would have to take him to court to prove otherwise, which might be difficult if they don't really own him in the first place.

Trouble is, loaners are dodgy as f**k, and probably would just the heavies in.
 
I had this, I was GIVEN a horse, I'm going back to yr 2000 now, so passports not so prevalent. I had the horse, a lovely arab, allrounder, for around four years when suddenly the owner, whom I had never heard of! phoned me, apparently she got my number from the person who had supposedly been loaned the horse, and had given it to me as a gift!

Anyhow, I gave it back to her, she was not as angry or cross as I thought she should be, horse was in immaculate, fit and well condition and she had only just started searching when she got me.

So, in this person's position, all he can do is give it back, not too much to worry about other than that. It sounds as though it may be nicked. If the real owners find it well and happy and falsely loaned, then get it back or continue to loan it, all should be fine without charges pressed on your friend.

Let's hope the dodgey loaner gets his come uppance!
 
Definitely tell the police about the dodgy loaner, IF THEY'RE at all interested of course.

It may be wise for your friend to say you're scared of what they have done/may do.
 
Armhole (LOVE the name, used to know someone called Armpit) what a shame. Yep, this is what I'm worrying about for this guy. Maybe he's just going to have to hand the horse back and write it down to experience i.e. insist on a contract next time or no deal. But it's a bit scary that he's willing to fight it, these are not nice people that he's dealing with.

I've just emailed a police contact I happen to have in his area to do a search on the horse's owners...we'll see what comes up.
 
I have a police contact too if you like, but you can see where I am , let me know if it may come in handy.

Good luck to your friend.

I hope the real owners end up loaning it to him properly. I hope you all stay safe.
 
If the loaner has the passport and could PROVE BEYOND~ REASONABLE DOUBT the horse was his to loan your friend would struggle. The police would certainly side with someone who had documentary evidence that the horse belonged to them. If your friend is willing to spend money then the civil court may well be an option - your friend would be looking to prove that the loaner is not the legal owner or that the horse will not be properly cared for. Obviously if via horsewatch etc the loanee can prove the horse is stolen police would certainly be interested!
 
Could be risky if he tries to keep, especially if he doesn`t know who actually owns!. Does the loaness know where he works and lives.
 
LOL Lucy!! Slurpy kiss back to Echo!

I spoke to my friend late last night, he's giving up the fight and the 'owners' are coming to take the horse back early this morning.

Personally I would have put up more of a struggle, but he doesn't want any trouble.

So sad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top