Loaner help

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gill84

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I loaned my now 19 year old mare out last winter to a lady who keeps her at the same yard as one of my mums horses. Everything has gone smoothly until now. My mum was concerned about her weight and asked me to go and see her. She's a true Irish draught and has always been quite heavy although at present she's carrying less weight than my thoroughbred. She's no muscle on her withers, she's ribby compared to how we know her to be and god knows when she last had a bath or even a brush.
She hasn't been worked in 3 weeks, hasn't had a farrier since Easter, this is 1st summer in 12 years of having her that she's been off hard feed and looks awful for it and her coat is more yellow than white!
I've said nothing to the loaner because I don't want to cause friction when my mum still has to be on that yard but I feel awful thinking that if she's just going to leave her in the field then I might as well have her as a field ornament than the loaner and know she's being looked after properly.
I've told my mum I'm going to keep a close eye on things for the next 2 weeks and if things are no better and she's still had no farrier or clean up then I'm going to confront the loaner. Maybe I'm being too soft and should be questioning her now but I don't want to make things difficult for my mum. Because my mums on the yard I have no loan agreement in place other than she's the loaners responsibility until I decide she's ready to retire or until the loaner doesn't want her. Thoughts please???
 
I would call and say you popped in to see her and wonder if there was a problem as her feet look overdue and she appears to have lost some weight.
 
You need to say something. If you haven't got any sort of agreement in place over her care, then you should speak to the loaner.

Is is that she's inexperienced and doesn't realise the condition of the horse, or she neglectful? If she's ribby now, when most people have have loads of good grazing, what will she be like next winter?

I think the welfare of your horse is the most important thing here. I know it's difficult and you're thinking about your mum, but if the loaner is the sort of person you can speak to without her getting defensive and without you getting confrontational, it's a conversation you need to have sooner rather than later.
 
Personally I'd confront her about it, she's not taking proper care of her, if she's skinny now it will be extremely difficult to get weight on her through winter, so should start trying to put weight on her sooner rather than later.

Just voice your concerns, you don't have to say you went down specially to check on your mare, but that you went to see your mum and her horse.

Confronting her about your mare can be done nicely, so as not to cause too much friction between loaner and your mum?

Hope it all goes well.
 
You don't have to do things in an agressive way that makes life difficult for your mum, why not just mention to the loaner that you've notices she's not been riding recently and you were wondering whether she would like you to take the horse back for retirement?

You can't guess what's going on so you may as well just ask and then take it from there - the loaner might not have time/ money etc and be happy for you to have your horse back, the loaner might be going through a bad patch and a comment from you might spur her into better behaviour.
 
That's the thing she is the type to get defensive. She can ride and rides well but seems to lack any horse care skills.
I even went back when I knew nobody would be there and gave her a feed. The manager doesn't seem to take notice of things and I know if I approach her she's only going to go running telling tales.
Think you lot are right though, I should perhaps say I noticed her feet are looking a bit cracked and need of a new set of shoes and ask if there's a problem causing this to have not been done.
 
She got another horse, which has since gone, in the spring and my mum made a passing comment about my horse being a field ornament in favour of the new one. She flipped and told my mum to mind her own business and that it wasn't her fault she was working 50 hours a week to keep 2 horses and didn't have time. Don't understand why anyone would put themselves in that pointless situation of working to pay for horses that you haven't got time for coz your w
 
*stupid phone* your working too much to keep them but there you go. It works for me having her on loan as I have a youngster I'm working on but I'm trusting her to look after my mare. Ok she's far from neglected but she's not looking after her to a standard I'm happy with. It's just how to gently approach this without her blowing up at me
 
Your horse is months overdue for the farrier. She is underweight and uncared for. The loaner has been rude to your mum and actually admitted she doesn't have time for the two she has. You've even felt that you needed to go in and give her an extra feed (which is nice, but isn't going to make much difference is it). Surely your mum doesn't want the horse to suffer just so she can have a quiet life. I'd have the transport sorted and be taking the horse back. Now.

Blimey - I've just noticed she's shod! And hasn't seen a farrier since Easter? Is this for real??
 
Hmm, I'd be inclined to take her back. Wonder why you didn't when she flipped at your mum, it seems she has been getting at best mediocre care for a while, and while she may be a good rider, she hasn't actually been riding so what's the point? Bring your horse back, don't wait two weeks, get it healthy and fit and start again with a new loaner. This woman sounds like a let down and a liability
 
I dont understand how your mum has watched this unfold and you havent addressed the situation. I would lay down the law to the lady now, dont wait two weeks - you arent interfering, its your horse! If she doesnt want it, cant afford it and doesnt have time for it then take it back.
 
Sorry to be blunt.
But why have you left ot so long?
You mum must see the horse alot.
Dont be soft.
This is your horse and your horses welfare.

Speak to loaner now or take horse back.

Why hasnt horse seen a farrier since easter?


Why is horse so lean?
there could be a medical reason but either way you need to find out and rectify it.
 
If she were my horse I'd take her back. I couldn't leave her there knowing she's not being cared for properly. The potential conflict is neither here nor there. The loaner has no right to get defensive, she's in the wrong in this situation. Be firm and state facts. That way there's no room for confrontation.
 
People are generally over defensive when they know there is a problem. When they can't give a reasonable explanation, then they attack to try & avoid the question.

No loan agreement, so don't take any rubbish. Horses welfare more important than anyones feelings. Maybe offer her a part loan? Where you go up & cover a couple of days a week to help her get through this time? If she isn't interested, or you can't, just get the mare back. As you say if she is an ornament better one under your care than neglected.
 
Sounds like there is no way to approach this woman without her blowing up in any case. I would have though seriously about removing when she blew up at your mum and the condition and feet issues are also serious enough to justify removal. As others have said don't wait remove her now whilst she can still put on condition there are some simply awful tales on here where people have trusted others to resolve issues.
 
please take your loyal servant home and retire her to be a field ornament, she doesnt deserve to be neglected, no point even wasting time asking questions clearly the owner is too busy working 50 hours a week, say no more.
 
Your mum must have known the horse was in a bad way for a while. Why have you not gone to get her back? Not seen a farrier since April?! :(
 
I would get the horse back, and say to person who has it on loan that as she has lost so much weight you think it is time to retire her. You say that your agreement was to have her back to retire, so there's is nothing to stop you.

Sounds as if loaner has taken too much on and is stressed with working long hours, so discussion with her at this time is always going to be difficult

The horse comes first, the loaner is an adult and is not be having very well, so just do what you know is right.

Good luck sorting this out, it is a horrible situation to be in.
 
The fact that she hasn't seen the farrier since easter would be enough for me to take the horse back immediately. I would also look at any medical reasons for the weight loss, but I would be asking questions as to why she hasn't been fed this year for the first time ever. You would be better having a sharer than someone who sounds like they are struggling to pay the bills.
 
you can't leave it another 2 weeks, you must act now! she's your horse, you cant leave her in that state! is it a big yard? I'd have wanted to know a lot sooner if my horse wasn't being cared for properly! get her back, now! please
 
Any update on what is happening?

We dont mean to be to rude or blunt.
But basically you cant be soft or try to spare someones feelings when there is an innocent animal involved.

Do something about it NOW!
 
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