Loaning out my Dressage baby - how hard??

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Zoolander

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Hello there,

Posted a few times a while ago but due to having a rather rubbish past few months, have been out of the loop pretty much. Due to Transport issues (Isn't there always something :( ) I am looking to put my wonderful youngster out on Loan. I haven't got the time/transport to get him out as much as he needs/ I'd like, so would like him to go to someone who will really enjoy him etc. He's very well bred for dressage, awesome paces, moves for fun with a super hind leg, plus a lovely puppy dog temp, he always has a happy face! Very clever and very trainable.

He turned 5 in July and is now ready to knuckle down with the training and competing. Also jumps (which he loves) and has been lightly shown (sports horse classes) would do well in WH too maybe. I think he'll really do well in BD. He can be a tart and have a peep at a scary leaf now and then (typically tractors, bikes, trucks, scope festival and pygymy goats running around he doesn't bat an eyelid at :rolleyes: )

My question is (as i've never put something on loan before) how easy will it be to find someone to loan him? Do people want this kind of thing? I see a lot of adverts just wanting schoolmasters so i'm not sure.

Could suit someone who has another baby to run alongside, groom on a pro yard, or someone who can't afford to buy something decent outright. He's based in Lancashire, but with a good contract i'm happy for him to go pretty much anywhere.

Any thoughts much appreciated!
 
Hmmm it's a tricky one, but you might get lucky. With a 5 year old, i'd only really loan with a view to buy, or alternativly because I'd be schooling the horse on, I wouldn't want a full loan, I'd want to pay minimual costs because I would be investing so much time and effort into it.

Good luck anyways! :D
 
I'm sure that someone will be looking for that. Someone competitive who like you have said can't afford to buy something as smart as your baby!
 
Well I loaned one of that type last year and now I own him. He was much nicer than anything I could have afforded to buy at the time so I was happy to school him on (and he was much more babyish, didn't canter or jump when I got him) so I think yes. And then when his owner needed to sell him I bought him. More fool me :p

If I didn't have two already it's exactly the kind of thing I would go looking for on loan. I really don't think you'll struggle.
 
jesstickle said:
If I didn't have two already it's exactly the kind of thing I would go looking for on loan. I really don't think you'll struggle.
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That's my thought too! I am looking for one at the moment, but I want real quality, and unfortunatly I can't afford to put livery fees etc into someone else's horse. Shame, as OP's horse sounds like a rare one.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. I do appreciate some people may feel that way, But i'm quite willing to make very fair contributions to his upkeep, obviously I would be paying his insurance, vets and shoes etc. I don't want to sell him, as he's fabulous and i'll enjoy watching him doing really well. I could send him to a pro rider to produce, but i'd rather him have someone 121
 
Zoolander said:
Thanks for the replies so far. I do appreciate some people may feel that way, But i'm quite willing to make very fair contributions to his upkeep, obviously I would be paying his insurance, vets and shoes etc. I don't want to sell him, as he's fabulous and i'll enjoy watching him doing really well. I could send him to a pro rider to produce, but i'd rather him have someone 121
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I wish I lived closer now. :(
 
Zoolander said:
Thanks for the replies so far. I do appreciate some people may feel that way, But i'm quite willing to make very fair contributions to his upkeep, obviously I would be paying his insurance, vets and shoes etc. I don't want to sell him, as he's fabulous and i'll enjoy watching him doing really well. I could send him to a pro rider to produce, but i'd rather him have someone 121
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You definitely won't struggle in that case!
 
I'd love something like him - but I'd want some security I wasn't going to pour time, lessons & money into something that an owner would take back. Been stung before like that!
 
We are based in Lancashire. I don't want to sell, and would rather help out someone who can't afford to buy but has lots of talent to enjoy him and give him lots of cuddles and kisses which he loves! I doubt he would get that on a pro yard. May suit someone local who would like the ride? I can keep him fit at home and they could meet him for training and to compete. Not sure if this would be popular either?
 
Zoolander said:
We are based in Lancashire. I don't want to sell, and would rather help out someone who can't afford to buy but has lots of talent to enjoy him and give him lots of cuddles and kisses which he loves! I doubt he would get that on a pro yard. May suit someone local who would like the ride? I can keep him fit at home and they could meet him for training and to compete. Not sure if this would be popular either?
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I have PM'd you?!
 
I am sure you will find someone,possibly a talented younger rider without funds to purchase. I would go to a BD comp and see if there is anyone that you would like to see on him a direct approach would be worth a try.Maybe put up an ad at your local centre, you are offering a great opportunity and I am sure someone will jump at the chance.
Contact a good trainer and see if they can recommend anyone.
 
You could post a thread on the British Dressage Forum - it's free to register, and there's regular posts for people looking for loan horses.

You also have a number of good trainers Lancashire - Clive Halsall is also involved in Byrds (or was). He also teaches. There was a thread last week of someone asking for trainers in the area, and a whole load of names were listed.
Why don't you contact a few and see if they have any clients looking - someone may have an injured horse etc, or just lost one - you never know, but definitely a route I would pursue.

Good luck
 
I get so frustrated because I miss out on things like this all the time because I don't live in the right area. I would snap this up in a heartbeat but I'm in Bournemouth so pretty much the other end of the country. I've resigned myself now to keeping quiet over winter and looking for something just like this in the new year. Gutted! But have no doubt you'll find someone. Lucky person!
 
Gosh I'd absolutely bite your arm off for him, my current mare Connie (was on loan to me, but owner went AWOL - so I have assumed ownership - very long story) is now semi-retired, I dream of schooling and competing again, but just cant afford to buy another and all the running costs of two, mainly due to Connie's farriery!

I'm sure you'll find someone to snap him up really quickly, if not let me know, we have empty stables at our yard!! (I'm in Leicestershire by the way!)
 
Thank you for all the helpful replies. Millimoo I shall try putting an ad up and possibly contacting some DR trainers locally, although like I said if it was a watertight loving home I'd be ok with him moving away. He jumps, shows and hacks wonderfully too so possibly someone looking for a very classy all-rounder. I just know he'll excel DR.
 
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