Loaning Dilema. Advice Welcome Please

Antw23uk

Antw23uk

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Hi All

I've been thinking about putting my horse out on loan but I'm absolutely torn up about the whole idea of it. I love him dearly, he is perfect and I would never not want to own him but I'm just not feeling the whole horsey thing at the moment! I'm sick of being poor, I'm fed up with the commitment and amount of time it takes up and I just don't seem to want to be bothered riding so I'm resenting the mucking out ect.

I have a wonderful sharer two days a week who contributes but I guess it mostly boils down to being completely skint all the time. I always get it in the neck at home. My OH wants to go on nice holidays and buy nice things but I cant afford it. No matter what we have words about you can guarantee the horse will be drawn into it! (None horsey OH)

You hear so many horror stories about putting them out on loan, im a bit of a control freak so the thought of someone else not caring for him like I do scares the life out of me! I feel guilty even thinking about putting him on loan, I adore him more than words can say but ... well im just fed up of having no money!

He is pretty perfect in everyway so I don't think I would have any trouble finding a loan home (16.2 ID allrounder)

Any thoughts? anyone else been in this situation? A x

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Would your current sharer be interested in taking him on full time? Could you get two sharers to do him full time between them?

You will need to have a good think about your long term plans.

Would you want to take the horse back after a year or so? If so, you would need to make this very clear at the start of the loan.

Are you prepared to take him back after a long loan when he has retired? If not, then selling could be your better option.

If you can't be bothered to ride then why not consider selling him (maybe to your sharer).

Do remember that there are plenty of people out there capable of looking after your horse as well, if not better, than you.
 
I ended up putting my mare out on loan a few years ago, mine was due to losing confidence and losing interest because of this. She went out on loan with a view to but for almost 6 months but it didnt work out and she came back to me. It was the best thing I have done as 5 years laters (now retired) I wouldnt give her up again.

He is a lovely looking horse, id bite your hand off for him. :D
 
ive been a loaner and the loanee and I would say the most important thing is be clear from the start what your expectations are, who is paying for what, what can loan home do etc. BHS have a loan contract you can adapt. Also be sure to check on your horse every so often, I'd say monthly is a good time frame, you're not poking your nose in but you can quickly pick up on any issues. The reality is most loans go well and issues seem to arise out of miscommunication rather than mistreatment of the horse.

The only thing is you'd have to be prepared to take him back when loan don't want him anymore, and what will you do if he goes lame?

Maybe a loan with view to buy would be a good solution as other poster said, it would give you some time off and you can see if being without him is really what you want? Maybe it's better to keep the horse and sell the nagging OH ;)
 
I've loaned horses quite a few time with no problems. I loaned out my section D gelding 5yrs ago and he's still there now. They love him unconditionally and I can't see him coming back. I also have a horse who has been here 6yrs. Haven't seen his owner is a couple of years though I get occasional messages about him.
 
Most loans do go well but if you do decide to loan your horse make sure you give the YO where your details and any restrictions you may want to put on the horses use (better still a copy of the loan contract) so that if the loanee wants to move the horse the YO can contact you as not all loanees do this and you could turn up to visit your horse only to find out he's not there! Also if the YO is not happy about the loanees care of the horse then they can contact you straightaway. This is especially important if the horse goes out of your locality or to unknown people.
 
Before you do anything (loan or sell) have you horse both freezemarked and micro-chipped so that he can always be identified.
I think you need to consider selling your horse if you no longer wish to ride or can afford to keep him as ultimately even if you loan him the buck will end with you so if he needs serious medical treatment then you will end up paying.
However if it is you partner that is creating the issue then dump him and enjoy your horse!
 
Thanks all, its a lot to think about and not something I will rush into. Its not that I cant afford him, that's not the case. I just have very little money left over each month and it would be nice to have an extra few hundred quid in my account!
 
I currently have my horse out on loan and my experiences have so far been good with loan homes.

She has been in two homes over the past year. One was only planned to be a short term loan when I moved house and needed the time and money, and they were a really lovely family (they wanted her permanently but at 18 she wasn't going to hold up to how quickly the daughter was progressing and the level of work she was aiming for). I wish they had lived closer so that I could see them more often!

She came back, but I realised after many years of ownership, I just needed the money and time to myself for a bit. The second is (hopefully) a more permanent hacking home with a lovely lady, who also has a second horse that she finds too slow but is perfect for her children moving onto horses. I am happy to give far more detail if you want it, but essentially they are two very different homes, but horse is equally happy and settled!

I didn't choose to sell, because at 18, with competition wear and tear on her (she clearly needs a slightly slower pace of life now) and with winnings behind her and a genuine nature, I really didn't want her to be sold on and pushed to her limits in the wrong home. I know that not all homes are this way and most are decent, but she owed me nothing and I wanted to eliminate that risk, by knowing that she was either in my care, or that I had the ultimate say on where she was. I know that also whatever happens, if she does need to come back, she will come back to me. If she was young, with no potential future health issues, or I really could never afford to keep her at grass, or wanted to have horses again, then I would have sold, but luckily I have some flexibility, and so I also understand your reasons for considering loan too. Just remember that if you loaned, they can come back at any point, and if you really don't want to ride and care for a horse again for some time, selling is a safer option in that respect.

As long as you are honest about what your horse can do, the length of the loan (if not permanent), any prerequisites of the loan or your horses care, and make sure to take your time with selecting the right person, you are really minimising any risks, and should be fine. I would seriously vet the person, ask them to come and visit and ride your horse at your place a few times, ensure horse and potential loaner are happy, then visit the yard they want to keep horse at. Speak with other liveries, the owner, gather references and contact numbers, and don't be scared ask plenty of questions.

Once this is all done, make sure you have a very good contract in place! (BHS have a really good free template).

If/when my horse is PTS, I certainly will consider sharing or loaning, rather than buying again. There are plenty of people out there looking for a loan horse for whatever reason! I would die for a horse like yours to come along at the right time!

ETA- speak with the sharer first too- who knows, they may be happy to take on more, or full responsibility and cost if they are able to?
 
I can't offer massive words of wisdom about loaning - although I do confess we did loan my daughter's first pony from his owners before buying him and he now has a home for life. He has sharers - but I would never loan him away from home.

However - what did strike me was your last comment "I could do with the extra few hundred quid in my account...". No doubt horses are a massive drain - but my experience is that the few hundred quid will quickly go somewhere else if not on the horse and is not going to be in your account at the end of the month! What you choose to spend it on may be different - but odds are it is going to be gone one way or the other!

Seriously - good luck. Its a tough decision which you are clearly thinking through seriously.
 
I have loaned 2 horses, very successfully. Was very careful who I chose to loan. My feeling is that a nice uncomplicated horse is going to be easier to find a good loaner for, and your boy looks lovely. My main worry when loaning was that if I had to have the horse back suddenly, because I had him on livery I would either have to keep paying for a space 'just in case' or run the risk of whether i could find somewhere at short notice. I wrote a comprehensive loan agreement which I think helps avoid misunderstandings, but the most important thing is to pick the right person and vet them carefully.
 
Perhaps you could find a riding school who does working livery who will use him in the school and therefore take over some of his care in return for cheaper livery, and then you can still turn up and ride and only have half the chores to do?
 
Priorities! If this is a long term relationship and your OH is not going to change his views you need to seriously think about your priorities. The horse is a long term drain on finances, he could be with you for a long time, is this always going to cause a problem between you both. It does sound as if you are starting to resent the horse a bit tbh, causing a strain on your finances and your relationship. One word of warning though. A very long time ago I had to choose between my horse or my man, I chose wrong, ended up getting divorced as well as losing the horse. Just be sure he is worth it if you choose your man :) I know he is not making you choose, just the way the post comes across is that the horse is causing a bit of an issue for you. Good luck, tough call x
 
I currently loan a big boy similar looking to yours - who is gorgeous and I am such a sucker for a grey!

Our loan agreement works very well, I regularly contact his owner and send her pictures (she got a Xmas card from the horsey) and my contract ends in December when I shall be purchasing him. The most important thing was that she was honest about him and I was honest with my abilities. I went and tried him 6 times in tons of different environments.

I would suggest word of mouth and vetting wherever he goes if you do decide. The good thing about loaning is that if you're not happy you can have him back - if you sold him you'd have no comeback.
 
benz said:
ive been a loaner and the loanee and I would say the most important thing is be clear from the start what your expectations are, who is paying for what, what can loan home do etc. BHS have a loan contract you can adapt. Also be sure to check on your horse every so often, I'd say monthly is a good time frame, you're not poking your nose in but you can quickly pick up on any issues. The reality is most loans go well and issues seem to arise out of miscommunication rather than mistreatment of the horse.
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^^^^ This basically.

I've loaned my boy out in the past, and also have an old schoolchum's lovely Welsh D mare on long-term loan.

The key words are communication and trust. You need to really KNOW the person you are loaning your horse to, and you must keep the lines of communication open between you. There will inevitably be problems when the horse goes to its new home and you both need to talk through any issues openly.

If your sharer likes the horse, and you trust her implicitly, I'd be inclined to work at how she might take him on (always providing she is financially able and has somewhere to keep him? - or she takes on a "full" loan, if you like, and continues to keep him at current yard).

I did have a bad experience when I put my traddie on loan a few years ago: the girl that had him hadn't really thought through how she would afford the livery, and it transpired that from Day One she'd paid diddly squat for his livery - five weeks into the loan she said she "couldn't afford it", so I had to bring him back home to my own yard (and build another stable for him!!!). Also the Yard where he was at put him out without his sweet itch rug the first weekend he was there and he rubbed his lovely mane and tail which I'd spent so much time cherishing, to red and raw :( This in spite of a loan agreement which was at tight as a duck's @rse saying that he had to have it on at all times.

Had you thought of loaning yours on working livery OP to an equestrian college? I've done this in the past and it worked very well for both me and the horse. He was looked after very well and I had no concerns over his care; the only possible difficulty is in holiday times when you'd either have to pay the going rate (which can be pricey at college establishments) OR find alternative livery.
 
As others, I'd ask your current sharer if she's interested as a first step.
I've had horses on loan for the last 13 years or so - I'd like to think (well, actually, I'm certain) I look after them very well :) They want for nothing and I stress and worry over them just as much as if they were actually mine.
A loaner may not look after your horse exactly the same way as you would, but different is not necessarily worse ;)

Word of mouth would definitely be the best way to find someone IMO. Perhaps a long term loan wvtb if it all works out well?

FWIW MiJods I would discount loaning to a college - a friend of mine loaned 2 horses and although one coped, the other became very withdrawn, and neither were returned in a good state. I suppose there are some places better than others.
 
Just be bloody careful if you do loan him and watch him like a hawk. First inkling of anything wrong, act on it even if just a gut feeling.
It doesn't take long to starve a horse.
I've one old girl who's now having health problems some fourteen years after being returned off loan in a terrible state.
I'll never know if that short period of neglect caused her current problems but her older sibling is as healtby as a two year old and was never neglected.
It's a risk.
 
I had my horse on loan. I didn't know the owner at all but we had a bhs loan agreement. I had the horse for many happy years. She had evented prior to coming to me and we did low level stuff, she came on holiday, was fab to jump and to hack - just perfect really. When she retired I spent my savings doing up stables and having fencing installed so she could come home ( she had been on full livery up until that point)Unfortunately she was put to sleep in March this year and I'm lost without her.
Good loaners are out there - my horse (she was gifted to me when she was 21/22) wanted for nothing. I used to send the owner a card at Chrismas and text or Mail on the horses birthday. Owner visited once in all the years I had the horse, we kept in touch up until the horse was put to sleep.
Horses are a huge drain on finances but no longer having one is difficult. I'm not in to material things so extra money for clothes etc is of little interest. Not into keeping up with the Jones so ok with how the house is - I don't have all the latest gadgets, newest furniture but I like and care for what I have. I only have so many days annual leave a year so opportunity for amazing hols is limited too. I feel like my reason for working (apart from just to live ie to pay bills etc) has been taken away. Having a horse made work almost worthwhile! I spent time with my husband anyway - he liked the fact that when I was with the horse I was happy - sometimes it would be a rush to get done and get out but for the most part I found the rewards of having a horse outweighed the cost. I have more time now - but for what - not found anything yet I enjoy as much!
At least if you loan your horse you can get him back if you change your mind :)
 
I am in a similar position. I bought a project pony last year who has racked up vet bills of approx £9k. Most of this has been covered on the insurance thankfully, however she was supposed to live-out without shoes etc but ended up needing to be on assisted DIY with shoes all round which meant her general keep costs went up by £150-ish a month which simply I didn't have but had to keep finding. She has now gone back to the lady I bought her from for the summer for me to re-group some cash and have a breather (it's been a very long year) but also to see if a change in scenery and rider helps as she is currently *touch wood* sound. If she comes back she will be coming back without shoes and onto grass livery as it's the only feasible way to do it. So no, I don't think it is the worst thing in the world to want/need space and time without them.
As some-one who has previously loaned a horse, I can promise you good loan homes are out there but sound/sane horses seem impossible to find on loan so if it was in a few months time I'd be biting your hand off and I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding some-one for him. However I would say (having had my heart broken when the owner saw how well pony was going and just turned up and took him back) be clear about how long you expect the loan to last, have a contingency plan for if the horse breaks and ensure you (not the loaner) keeps insurance going for him.
 
Evie91 said:
Oh and with no mucking out and limited riding I've put on weight!
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Yes .......... nearly two stone in my case though I have problem knees as an additional excuse. I had to give up my boy, and was lost for a year, probably I will still lose the will to live over the winter months, but I am going pony trekking for just a few days at a time, and other horse related things, visits to the National Stud, to the races etc etc. There are holiday packages which combine lots of diverse interests eg horse riding with bread making/ fishing/ hill walking etc to suit your OH.
 
Thanks guys, much appreciated. I actually have a lady coming over Thursday to have a chat and a ride. Its through word of mouth which is reassuring as my friend would be on the same yard/ same barn as her to give me an extra pair of eyes and ears. He would be fairly local as well which was a big must have for me and the facilities are amazing.

I went on a great sponsored ride at the weekend and he is such an awesome horse I just love him but it wasn't the make or break I thought it might be. I was pretty sure when I had finished the day I would be adamant about keeping him and im not, I still have to keep thinking its not just about having a break its also very much about taking a financial break. We shall see! Thank you all x
 
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