Loaning a horse out when you aren't in the country?!

Cazzah

Cazzah

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Just looking for opinions/things to consider/pitfalls to avoid etc....all help/experience appreciated! :)

I have been offered an amazing opportunity with work to go overseas for a couple of years. Its a complete life changer and will mean that we are financially sorted when I come back. Myself, hubby and son are likely to be heading to Kazakhstan around April....which leaves us with one horse and one pony to find homes for.

After much soul searching, and even putting a 'for sale' advert up, I now think I have reached a decision where I do not want to sell. I have owned my TB for over 5 years and am so attached to him and feel a real responsibility to him. He is also the most honest, bold horse I have known and can be ridden once a week with no issues, which suits me and my manic career at times! I really don't think I could ever find another like him. I have a couple of options:
1. Find a loaner to take him (would prefer to do this through word of mouth but any other 'safe' options to consider would be appreciated!)
2. Place him on full grass livery (a waste though - he's happy competing and being out and about!). I think that this would be my 'fall back' option.
3. Sell if the most perfect home came up

I have reservations, having never loaned, and having read the horror stories. I also am concerned about getting a call from thousands of miles away telling me that the loaner needs to return the horse (though I have several good friends who I know I could call on if it needed to happen urgently). So, is there anything you can suggest that I need to consider to help put my mind at rest?

So, best places to find a competent loaner who wants to compete to a reasonable level (if i can't find through word of mouth), anything to be wary of/need writing into a loan agreement. Also, what normally happens with tack? I have no issues with everything bar my saddle, which is bespoke and worth a reasonable amount. It is insured though. Also, best for me to have the insurance in my name or the loaners?

There's probably thousands of other questions but if you think of anything else then let me know! :D Thanks for any help!
 
My sister has been in Brunei for the last 2 years (she is back two weeks on Monday - can't wait!). Luckily, her sharer was prepared to take Bea on full time until Anne got back. I go and visit every couple of months to check on her, and we have a fall back plan if the sharer runs into any difficulty. However, I have to say it has worked out really well for all parties. Anne was really lucky in that the sharer was committed (had been sharing for about 5 years).

I think if she didn't have that backup, then she would have probably had to sell the her - which would have been really sad as Anne's had been since she was a foetus (she bought a mare in foal and got a bogoff.

Good luck with the move and fingers crossed for you getting your horses sorted.
 
I did this while abroad many years ago. It fell through and the horse had to come back at short notice. I put my parents through a lot of hassle having to arrange transport and somewhere for him to go on livery (they aren't horsey but luckily had a friend who was).

I would personally put the horses on full livery now, somewhere you trust and could afford, then look for sharers/loaners. Put all the other pieces of the jigsaw in place before you bring in the other people - they are the least important bits really.
 
Could you put him on working livery, you could put him on schooling livery - possibly send him off to a competative new commer that would want the use of the horse but they do all the work?

But loaning and being out of the country what would you do if the pony went lame ? or they knackered him and then wanted to return him ?
 
Holly08 said:
I would personally put the horses on full livery now, somewhere you trust and could afford, then look for sharers/loaners. Put all the other pieces of the jigsaw in place before you bring in the other people - they are the least important bits really.
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Both are in full livery so worst case scenario they would remain there - would just be nice for them to do something other than eat!

I am lucky in that all my friends are horsey and we live in a very horsey area so should always be able to find a space. I think I will have a more 'formal' plan in place with them if loan happens.
 
I did this while I was in oz. However, my pony had already been on loan to the people for a while, and was happy. I had my ex on standby to take him back, (he looked after my others while I was away) and got regular updates including pictures via email. He was also being taught by a friend of a friend, who is very attached to him, and also got regular updates. I would say make sure you have the insurance in your name, sounds like finances aren't the driving issue, and have a friend/full livery place on standby for if things go wrong.
 
of course there are risks to loaning, but many people loan horses and are very good loaners and keep the horse or pony for a long time- we just talk more about the horror stories.
i would have a formal arrangement with one of your horsey friends, that they would visit the horse regularly and if horse was not being kept well or the loaner had to return, they could arrange the transport for you, and you would be able to immediately arrange funds for full livery.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Could you put him on working livery, you could put him on schooling livery - possibly send him off to a competative new commer that would want the use of the horse but they do all the work?

But loaning and being out of the country what would you do if the pony went lame ? or they knackered him and then wanted to return him ?
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Don't think he would appreciate working livery (unless in an environment with plenty of turnout - he came out of racing 5 years ago very sour). A competitive yard may be an option - got more potential than I have the time to do justice!

I guess in relation tp the issue of any lameness I would arrange livery accordingly if that happened. By not selling I am committing to his future welfare really. Could this be something I could write into a loan agreement though in relation to notice, i.e. if he was to be 'knackered' they have to give at least a month/two month's notice for his return?
 
Congratulations on the new job.
Personally I'm fed up of hearing how loan's go horribly wrong! I had my horse on loan when she was sixteen and she was gifted to me this year (she is 22 now). She is my absolutely perfect horse, a real horse of a life time. She was on DIY and now on full livery (due to my work commitments). I am spending my life savings to convert stables at home, so she can move home in her retirement - she has really slowed up the past twelve months or so and now just hacks out occasionally. I will obviously be getting her a companion.
I could have not have loved her more or looked after her any better if she had cost me a million pounds, rather than being a loan horse. She has always been up to date with shoes, back, teeth, vacs etc I had a saddle especially made for her and have bought her more rugs than a herd of hordes would need! She is not always the easiest and can be a little madam at times - but I love her and would not change her for the world.
Basically I just want you to know that good loaners are our there!
 
Cazzah said:
Don't think he would appreciate working livery (unless in an environment with plenty of turnout - he came out of racing 5 years ago very sour). A competitive yard may be an option - got more potential than I have the time to do justice!

I guess in relation tp the issue of any lameness I would arrange livery accordingly if that happened. By not selling I am committing to his future welfare really. Could this be something I could write into a loan agreement though in relation to notice, i.e. if he was to be 'knackered' they have to give at least a month/two month's notice for his return?
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You could.... but if it were the type of person that knackered him and then wanted to return him - then I dont think they would take much notice of the month or two months notice required -and even if you did could you trust them to ensure he was well looked after i.e. kept on box rest, or walked for the 2 lots of 10 mins not just 20 mins every other day?? Sorry to sound so negative, but some horsey folk are fine when its all going their way...
 
Gingerwitch said:
You could.... but if it were the type of person that knackered him and then wanted to return him - then I dont think they would take much notice of the month or two months notice required -and even if you did could you trust them to ensure he was well looked after i.e. kept on box rest, or walked for the 2 lots of 10 mins not just 20 mins every other day?? Sorry to sound so negative, but some horsey folk are fine when its all going their way...
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Good point! Hopefully it will never be an issue but these are the kind of things I need to consider. Would ideally love him to be loaned on his current yard as YO is second to none in terms of horse care. Something to consider properly though.......
 
Ha - well when Evie comes home in May I will be looking for a companion and hopefully another ridden horse - although not told husband about the last bit yet!
My ideal is that Evie is at home with a companion and I keep a riding horse where she is currently on full livery. Will keep my livery spot for a couple of months when Evie first moves home as need to be hundred percent sure I could commit the finances to another ridden horse as well as two at home!
My original loan contract was the standard bhs one. I had agreed to one months notice to return her and if she was returned before the twelve month loan period I would cover one month of her livery (from the place she moved from) which was rather expensive at over £1k a month! Although I knew from when I first saw her she was never going back :)
 
Just to add Evie was hospitalised a few years ago. I visited everyday -3 hr round trip - vets even let me come after hours as they knew I had to work. She is insured but I paid the excess and the extras.
She has had other illness/injury same as most horses and her care has always been my priority. Again I would like to reiterate there are good loaners out there!
Some owners don't take good care of their horses, you just need to weed out the wheat from the chaff when setting up your loan.
 
Evie91 - you sound a perfect person to loan any horse and pony, and I am sure there are many many more out there like you - however I have seen loan horses treated appalingly as they sometimes are used as a tool - without a care in the world, as face it if they go lame they can always be sent home !
 
Sorry ginger witch - just re read my posts and realise I sound like a crazy loan lady!!!! Ha ha. I fully agree - good and bad in all walks of life, including loaning!

Cazzah - mine was word of mouth funnily enough. I'd put up ads but had no response. I was coming to the end of my MA (Mature student) and although shared for years (some fab horses) wanted one of my own. I was working in a pub and talking to a regular, who had a cousin,who worked at a yard,where a woman had a horse for loan! He gave me his cousins number and the rest is history!
Went to visit Evie, new when I saw her over the stable door she would be coming home, a week later she was with me :)
I offered references but they were never taken up.
 
Thanks Evie91. I am hoping I can find someone through word of mouth - good to know that it does happen. I am fully aware that I am a bit biased when it comes to my lad but I know he would give someone lots of fun. Keeping everything crossed for the perfect person - just need to make sure my fall back plan is in place I guess!
 
Is he the horse in your sig?
Fall back plan is important - think Evie's condition can't remember if it was one or three months full livery if she was returned early was a good condition, as it would make people think twice before taking a horse on. Would give you chance to put a plan in place and pay for the horse in the meantime.
I'll be looking for another loan horse - as after I've paid for Evie's stables I'll have no savings left to buy a horse - so I'm hoping there will still be good loaners out there, not people just trying to shift problem or broken horses! So it's really nice to hear you are loaning out a nice sort - often it just seems the horses on offer are companions, elderly, have various ailments or psychological issues that the owner no longer wants to deal with!
 
He is the one in the sig and he has zero issues other than can be a bit grumpy until he knows your intentions. Will happily pop round a disco/BE100 though and is straightforward to hack and do everything with in general. Really don't want him to sit in a field for two years when he could be out having fun!

The notice thing makes sense - hopefully it would make people think twice, though I guess as Gingerwitch pointed out there are those that wont be bothered.
 
Am I correct in thinking you are prepared to keep him on full livery whilst you are abroad but would ideally like him doing something rather than nothing?

I so why don't you keep him at the yard he is on if the YO is as good as you say, and find someone to either full or part loan him, on the proviso that they have one lesson per week from your YO or instructor - they can then give you accurate updates?

What would scare me is that you won't be coming home to the horse you left. He will have been used to a different rider/s with different capabilities, so may be a better or different ride when you get back after two years (hopefully not worse in any way, fingers crossed!), and he will of course be two years older so will have different capabilities himself.

I hope you find someone suitable, best of luck to you (and congratulations on the new job!)
 
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