loan horse woes, advice please

I don’t know why you are speechless, as people are only speaking the truth. When you take on a 17 year old horse, with problems (be it on the ground or ridden) you should have been prepared that you will have to fix them – and fixing things costs money, especially with horses!

You said a couple of pages back that the horse had stood in an allotment doing nothing – sorry but if a horse was “competed” in the true sense of the word, and by anyone that had a clue, he would not be being kept in an allotment. Also, if he was any good at competition and remained sound and good with half a brain, chances are he would still be being used.

The key with horses is to go in with your eyes wide open – sorry but in this instance you blatantly haven’t. Loan or not, you took on the responsibility of a ‘project horse’ and in doing so, should have considered that his owners did not want to/could not afford to keep him (or else surely they would have kept him and he would be ridden) and, given his age/problems etc, probably new he was unsellable, so have loaned him out to you. One thing is 100% certain, they don’t want him back and they don’t want to pay for what you say he needs.

You have given him a chance by taking him on loan, now you have two choices – to continue pumping money into the horse, or to send it back.

My Dad’s favourite saying is “Horses are very efficient at turning hard earned cash into fertiliser, in most cases things grow from it, but in some it doesn’t – and in that case its worth giving up and growing something new”
 
I've been in a similar situation as it happens (not exactly the same. but similar_ and unfortunately, when you build a bond with a horse as you so obviously as, it is SO hard to just say 'oh cut your loses. give him back' etc etc.

You sound like a lovely person who really cares for this horse. Offer them as much as you can afford. £1 if it's all it is and see what they say.

love to you. pm if you ever want to talk.
 
i have been on contact with the owners and i have offered a nominal fee for the horse. If they do not want to accept my offer they have been advised that they can collect him and do right by him themselves. I am awaiting a resonse.
 
KingCharles said:
My point is that they knew he had a back problem when they owned him and they never disclosed it. Also may i add that you have nothing constructive to add, that you butt out of it. If my post bores you then why read it!

I took this horse on loan in good faith. This all could of been avoided if they had just been honest with me. They have effectively passed the buck. If you think that is reaonable behaviour for a horse owner then you should stick to your cats!!
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Firstly, dont be so rude.

Sencondly, this thread

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=7737202#post7737202

Clearly discusses her writing A loan advert for the horse, and people praising her for saying he had soundness issues…also that you have him on permanent loan - to me the basis of which is the loanee pays for everything?

So what is your problem?
 
i was told his soundness issues where that he was footie with out shoes, that with shoes he is sound. That is the only problem i was told about. I have corrected his feet over time, yes it is still work in progress, and i am not quibbleing this. the fact is that he has a back problem that was not disclosed. I would never of taken him on had i known about the back problem. They also knew that being out of work i woudl nto of know about it intill he started to work again. I was never told he was unsound, i was onyl told he was a project becasue he was aggresive, and was on loan due to lack of time, the owner was off to college for 2 years. thats the only reason for the loan.
 
It's not a matter of having nothing constructive to say - I am simply trying to understand what the point is of listing all the owners posts - which tell you that the horse has a problem. As for the disclosure to you in person - well of course it stands to reason that you should always be given as much information as possible. But we only have one side of the story here.

Bottom line is, however, that you have had a horse that has cost you some money to keep on the road (on loan), and have asked for some financial assistance in keeping it on the road. The owners don't want to spend any money on him and have said no.

This puts you in a difficult, understandably, position.

But as your last post has indicated - you've offered them some money for him, which they'll either take or not.
 
These people should be giving him to you. I expect they really did want the best for him but gradually over time the horse becomes a big millstone round their neck and a source of hassle and stress, specially if they weren't getting on with him.

TBH the very last thing they would want is the horse back, not in a million years. I do think they have a cheek asking for all the stuff back just the expensive bits really, they should be pleased to home him. I am speaking as someone who lives overseas and loaned a nice horse out in UK for him to be ruined and nearly at death's door by the loanee who was a BHSII. I love my neddy but I now have to pay his livery, shoes and keep and physio and I only see him once a year. He is being looked after and rehabilitated as a very big favour by a friend. I would be overjoyed if someone was going to take the time and care you are taking and wanted to keep him for the rest of his life. It would be a massive weight off my mind.

It may be that they are asking for money having read the "should I give my horse away" threads where a lot of people advise that a more caring home is had if people pay. However I don't think it's applicable if someone has already been on trial loan so to speak.

Please don't pay them for the horse, you'll need the money for the treatment. You will find many more just as needy horses free to a good home, mine included! PS. from the pics that horse has a very bad headache and in pain when he has the tack on and he looks very unhappy in the video of the lunging.
 
KingCharles said:
i have been on contact with the owners and i have offered a nominal fee for the horse. If they do not want to accept my offer they have been advised that they can collect him and do right by him themselves. I am awaiting a resonse.
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I think this is the best thing you can do, If you are willing to put the horse right (if possible) and they are willing to sell him to you then good luck and i hope you manage to get a nice ride able horse at the end of it all.

I really hope for the horse’s sake that they accept your offer and that the poor horse finally gets a responsible owner.

:)
 
It is clear that the 'owners' don't want the horse back. They cannot afford him & have no where to put him. They are trying emotional blackmail with you but don't fall for it & turn it back on them. Offer them a token £100 or even less for him. & additionally prepare a bill for everything you have spent on him getting him right & you can mention that to them & possibly that amount will scare them off & they will sign him over to you for the nominal amount. Additionally if they want his tack back make arrangements for them to collect it, it would cost you a firtune to send it to them.

In the end they are trying to make a bit of money on a lost cause & if you stand your ground they will more than likely back down.

Good Luck
 
Having read all these posts and many of the original ones about the post I think the best thing here would be if OP and the owner talked to each other directly and sorted this out for the sake of this poor chap.
 
Been in your position and they obviously thought I had mug written all over me.

what it comes down to is you obviously have formed a bond with this horse and dont want to return him. The £500 they are asking is blackmail - so ... why not ring up the local slaughter and ask what the meat money on an old horse would be - am willing to be its not £500! and if they were going to have him PTS at home, then that would cost between £3-500 - unless they maybe call on the hunt? and I dont know what they offer? if the tack isn't worth anything, then say they can COLLECT it - why should you pay to send it back? and call their bluff and offer them the meat money minus the cost of collection.... I am being harsh about this, as I think you were very specific about the physical condition of this horse and were lied to.
 
i have been in contact with the owner on the phone over the weekend. They always tell me they will get back to me via email. Its almost like they have to think long and hard about what to say! Some times i wait for adges for a reply. Sometimes they dont have the time to talk at all.
 
I would only offer meat money if he doesn't have the signed bit in the back of the passport. If it is signed to say not for human consumption then they cannot take to the slaughter house.

I should imagine that when they read this post they will have made the decision for you.
 
I just feel for the poor horse.
I do think you are being taken for a ride, but sadly the owner has the last say, no matter what. All you have to do is come up with valid reasons written on paper so that she can 'think' about it in her own time. Include the cost of PTS options even if it means contacting her local hunts, slaughter houses and get them to give you a quote written on paper plus the vets fees.
Go through the contract and if anything looks 'fishy' or you simply don't understand the meaning highlight it and ask the owner to clarify what she means, even if this involves 'back issues' or what problems the horse has had leading upto your loan and therefore who is liable to pay for what treatment.
Have you got photos of the horse when you first got him? Compare that to now.
Add your saddle compared to her saddle in pictures so she can see what the difference is.
If you return the horse, ask if he should be returned in the same condition or better and include a bill of all his feet treatments and feed while your at it!!??
I wish you all the best.
 
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