loaning a horse to an equine college?

philamena said:
Auslander said:
Talland were advertising for schoolmasters recently. Its a long time since I was there, but the horses were always beautifully cared for and well ridden back then[/

I can only speak honestly of my experience going for some schoolmaster lessons, but I wouldn't send one of mine there. Think maybe things have changed since you were there.
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Didn't want to say anything but I thought the same,I had a school master lesson there and the horse was very sour. I have emailed wellington though as its so local and always seemed well run.
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I would never loan to an equine college. I spent 2 years studying at a well known college and the horses were miserable. I actually got so used to horses pulling faces and biting i forgot what looking after a normal horse was like! Most were shut down and depressed and fairly dead in the school as they very rarely did anything else. Quite a few would go lame and they did some odd things to try get them sound. And the minute they looked sound they would be back to lessons twice a day with no gentle build up.
 
I left a college because I didnt like how the horses were looked after. No turnout, every other one had a stable vice, miserable looking lot. They also over jumped a friends horse, did his tendon. The minute he was better, he was jumping again with them. I don't know why she didn't remove him, but hey ho. Also saw things like stiffness and arthritis issues being treated with box rest?! Thats only one college though, couldn't speak for others.
 
I sold the most beautiful natured gelding to a girl, and a year later got a call from her mother asking if I wanted to buy him back because he was so aggressive, biting and unhappy. They had sent him to an equine college. I didn't want him back and they sold him on to a private home. During the conversation she said he was fine when back at home for the holidays. I had to beg her not to send the poor little horse back there when term began again!
 
I'm not sure I understand the benefits of a college over a standard (contracted, vetted, well researched) private loan home. The horse sounds quirky but not difficult, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be grateful for the opportunity to loan him. You then wouldn't be subject to having to pay shoeing, or holiday livery, and you could see your horse in a one on one relationship. Having loaned (and adored) a horse for 7 years, I would say it can absolutely work.
 
flipthelid said:
Why do you say this? PM if you prefer!
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close friend had a horse there, it was overjumped and had all sorts of novices riding it despite owner ASKING for riders of certain standard to ride said horse.

ruined by time it was returned......

May have changed in the last couple of years but I compete their regularly and same people up there as far as running it so I doubt much has changed.
 
I have no idea what BCA is like now but when I was there the reason they did not run stage 4 exams was the lack of horses not riders and all the horses were well looked after and mostly happy, like any situation it did not suit every horse but the majority were. It may well have changed as that was 10 years ago...
 
I would also be wary. I have known two horses who have been to college and came back.

The first, I went for a trial ride as the owner wanted a new rider for him, as since coming back there was no one to ride him. The minute we got into the school he got down and rolled on me. Turns out he didn't have any actual turnout so was just let into the school for a quick run about and roll. I didn't know this horse before going to the college, but apparently he had come back a completely different horse which the most atrocious manners.

The second horse also came back with awful manners. He was a bolshy, opinionated Highland anyway which is the sort that if you give an inch, he WOULD take a mile. Took a week or so to get the manners firmly back in place. I also think they had been jumping him when they had agreed he was to do no jumping, I think he has a curb or something like that.

I did actually end up studying at the college both of these horses went to. Whilst they were "well" looked after and looked great, a lot of them were very unhappy. Only a select group of horses were allowed turnout. Then again there were some horses that were thriving and looked really happy.

The horses they take on are put on a trail, but TBH, when I was there, it was only when the behaviour had become darn right dangerous on the trial that they were sent back. I had one bucking/rearing/tanking off with me, luckily I managed to hang on for dear life that he wasn't on the car park
 
unicornystar said:
close friend had a horse there, it was overjumped and had all sorts of novices riding it despite owner ASKING for riders of certain standard to ride said horse.

ruined by time it was returned......

May have changed in the last couple of years but I compete their regularly and same people up there as far as running it so I doubt much has changed.
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Hmmm, definitely not how it is now I can assure you. I can't imagine anything being over-jumped as they only do 2hrs work per day each, and jump a Max of 3 times per week.

I totally agree that some of the larger colleges don't have adequate turnout etc, and I'm sure they have some issues because of this, but not all colleges are the same! Our horses have the workload described as above, the majority of them live out and the ones that don't get turnout every single day. They also hack twice a week as part of their workload to keep life interesting and the yard is small enough for each horse to really be treated as an individual and all are adored by the students.
 
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