Loan horses....

C

chestnut cob

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Just my musings....

Do people actually put nice horses out on loan, or do they just sell them?

So far about 75% of what I can up for loan are about 25yo and totally knackered, so the owner wants someone to pay for it for the rest of its life. About 5% are unbroken and the owner wants them broken, worked for 2 years, and then to have them back. 10% seem to be total lunactics that the owner is clearly too terrified to ride, and the final 10% are what seem to be amazing competition horses that I wouldn't be able to ride one side of!

Good RC horses must be like gold dust, people obvoiusly (with good reason!!) don't want to give them up!

I'm starting to wonder whether, when my girly goes back, I should just enjoy being horseless and experiencing how it feels to actually have money left over at the end of every month!!
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I have a long tale of woe regarding my loan horse (who is, it has to be said, knackered!) BUT there are others who have had long and happy loan relationships so they are out there.

Totally understand your point about having money left at the end of the month though
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My loan mare is beautiful but just wants a hacking home really now because she's had a hard life somewhere along the line. Am gutted because I just adore her and if I just wanted to hack she would be perfect, but I want to do more now
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I loan a wonderful horse out. He is a flashy chestnut warmblood 16.3 with 4 white legs and blaze. The girl who has him has done 3 intros and got a 1st, and a 3rd and went PN and got a 6th.
He is a competition horse though so wouldnt suit a happy hacking home.
The answer to your question is yes people do loan out decent horses
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[ QUOTE ]
I have a long tale of woe regarding my loan horse (who is, it has to be said, knackered!) BUT there are others who have had long and happy loan relationships so they are out there.

Totally understand your point about having money left at the end of the month though
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There are there somewhere...I put my Sec D on loan in august last year. They're just about to renew the loan contract for another year and then they're buying him. *frantically touches wood* he is 100% sound and is only 12, so still in his prime. Just too small for me!
 
I definitely don't want a happy hacker, I just want something for RC stuff. Your horse sounds fab but I wouldn't want something like that either, unless it was older and looking to have a quieter life. I would be too scared to take on someone's competition horse if they wanted it out there now competing.

Glad yours is going well though!
 
Yes, there are good loan horses out there. Trouble is most go by word of mouth. I put an ex Grand Prix dressage horse out on loan, certainly not old, knackered or past it, just not holding his own at GP among the 17hh powerful warmbloods, so now teaching someone else the ropes.

I also have loaned out an amazing SJ pony, an all rounder family pony, and an SJ horse (although the latter is not a novice ride, he is fantastic for someone who knows what they are doing - he isnt naughty just forward going).

Good loan horses are out there, you just have to look hard, be prepared to travel to see them, and give the right impression to the owner.
 
I am really thinking the way forward may be not to have my own horse at all, but to save some money and look at buying in a couple of years.

There are some very cool looking 13.2hhs out there though!! Just need to chop my legs off!!
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TBH I am just having a pouting moment and a little paddy! I know there are good horses out there but I guess part of the problem is that I remember how many calls I had when I put my 14.2hh on loan last year...there are definitely more people than horses!
 
The reason I took on my loan horse at the time was that my mare was off through injury and was in foal and I only had youngsters kicking about so had nothing to ride.

Loan horse put paid to the hope of riding when it promptly went lame about 10 mins after arriving!
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I think that if you're set on buying then go ahead and save up, if you can keep a loan horse on though whilst still saving up then that might also work.

Good luck
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There are some good ones out there......

I put my boy out on loan as I am really interested in dressage and he was interested in jumping. However I didn't want to sell him so put him out on loan. He went to a girl who loved jumping as much as him and they had great fun at BSJA.

I also have a horse on loan, a lovely mare who is 12 and is a real sweetheart. She's fab to ride and has a great personality. She is on loan to me as her owner spends a lot of time in USA but still loves her to bits and wants to own her.

They are out there. I heard about my loan horse through my previous trainer who knew my riding and knew the horse and had a feeling we would suit each other. She was right!

Good Luck with the search. there are people with decent horses who have genuine reasons for putting them on loan
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Im currently loaning out my horse. Hes 7yo jumping up to 1,30m atm. Id like to think hes a fairly decent horse. Cant fault him.
But I know what you mean, looking around its hard to find something...perhaps the easiest way is word of mouth?
 
One our horses is out on loan. She's a superstar and the family who loan her from us are having lots of fun. She's certainly not old, crocked, unsound or anything. We never sell our horses (too soft) so a great loan home with a good friend has been the perfect solution.
 
I have two out on full loan, purely because I couldn't bear to sell them.
Poppy is 24 + (dun newfie) and almost retired but still being enjoyed. Harry is Welsh A (10/11 ish) and a cracking pony, driving/riding and enjoying life.
I don't interfere, know they are in good homes. I am too soft too ISH!
 
In answer to your question if you look in the right places and actually advertise seriously then NO!

I have recently been offered around 10 different horses, one was placed recently at HOYS and has very good record, one is older but had 70 BD points and still going nicely, the others were all quality horses or ponies. If you actually put advert somewhere like Horsequest, wanted, you will be inudated with quality animals, providing of course you can provide a quality home.

My last loan horse was the lovely dun in my sig, certainly not old (8) and certainly not knackered, green maybe but had a lot of fun with him and his owner was lovely.
 
I think ZoeShiloh is right - the good ones go by word of mouth, most owners would rather they went to someone they know already, rather than advertise them and risk having them go to the wrong home.

I think you need to start horsey networking so you are in the right place at the right time. If you are a RC member then try and help out at as many events as possible so you might just bump into someone with that perfect horse to loan!
 
Am doing the networking! Have got everyone at the yard putting feelers out.

I do understand that people would rather their horse went to someone they know - I put my boy out on loan last year so I can see it from both sides.

I am just impatient!!
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[ QUOTE ]
In answer to your question if you look in the right places and actually advertise seriously then NO!

I have recently been offered around 10 different horses, one was placed recently at HOYS and has very good record, one is older but had 70 BD points and still going nicely, the others were all quality horses or ponies. If you actually put advert somewhere like Horsequest, wanted, you will be inudated with quality animals, providing of course you can provide a quality home.

My last loan horse was the lovely dun in my sig, certainly not old (8) and certainly not knackered, green maybe but had a lot of fun with him and his owner was lovely.

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I did debate putting an ad on Horsequest but there seem to be so many "wanted" ads on there and not many horses, so I wondered if it would be a waste of money. Maybe not?
 
Shame you are not in Kent! But I am afraid I would like the horse I am looking to loan to stay at my yard.
 
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Shame you are not in Kent! But I am afraid I would like the horse I am looking to loan to stay at my yard.

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That's what most people say. I originally said that about my boy but it's worked out better moving him. I've lost my attachment to him now and the loaners are just about to buy him
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