Loaning to a teenager!

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 December 2008
Messages
1,809
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
I've advertised my horse for part loan, he's well schooled and I don't want him ruined or bombed about.
I've had a 17yr old show interest and I've agreed they can come to try him in the week. If she appears to be a good rider and sensible that's fine, but being that they are young I'm worried about her loosing Interest, not paying, not being able to get up some days etc.
When I was 17 I was very sensible with my horses and was showing at county level so I know not all teenagers are the same.
I'm heavily pregnant so don't want any hassle, would you loan to a 17yr old? I've noticed a lot of adverts say no under 18's!
 
Yes. On the whole I find teens more reliable than a lot of adults, & no more likely to run a horse into the ground. Assuming teenagers are no good is like assuming all adults looking for a share are numptys who haven't a clue. And teens are usually far more keen to learn, than some set in their ways adult who thinks they know it all cos they last rode at pc in 1980.
 
My next door neighbour has just full loaned her horse to an 18yr old, she was very sceptical at first but she came to try horse, they really bonded and the girl was lovely, first impressions were good, horse has gone to new home and they are getting on amaingly together. I think it can work if they are sensible and dedicated
 
I cant speak for all, but when I was 17 I was caring for my horse completely on my own, he was very well loved and cared for, in fact Id say he got more attention and pampering than my current horses.

Some very good, competent teens out there.
 
My friend is loaning to a 13yr old. Extremely sweet, mature girl. Not the BEST rider (seriously, who is?) but she loves the horse and has a great bond, certainly isn't going to run him into the ground! Very reliable too.
 
He's not leaving the yard, so I wouldn't be too worried. Does she have her own transport? If not, I would poss ask to meet the parents, and check if they are reliable, as otherwise she may not be able to get to you. I was obbsesive at 17, and the pony got very well looked after.
 
i loaned a pony from 12 till i was 15, she was 11 miles from my home and i used to cycle up there twice a day before and after school even though her owner also went up there. from the age of 13 till now i have also had full resposibility of taz and then i also got missy when i was 17 then i got rio i also look after another horse on the yard and when i was at a livery yard i worked for the YM and cared for 29 horses from the age of 15 -17 and i was often left in charge of the yard when she went on holiday. i used to get up at 6:30 and leave the yard at 7:30 when working and i never had any trouble getting up in the morning.

i never begrudge getting up to do my horses, never have, obviously there are some pain in the bum teenagers but there also some very good teenagers who will do there best as they absolutely adore the horses and realise how lucky they are to have one :) give her a chance, you may be supprised!
 
My sharer was 14 when we started our share. She's now (almost)17 and has been an absolute pleasure to share with. She has her own now but we continue to share days and duties for the herd. She took the resposibility seriously and was very proud (especially when younger) to be trusted on occassion with my beloved B1, something she never took advantage of. Despite me officially being a grown up, my sharer is a trusted and valued friend, I'd give it a go and like any loan or share keep a close eye for the first couple of months.
 
My horse is on loan to a teenager - 14 I believe and he gets so well looked after. She loves grooming him and now his older he'll let people groom him. When I grew up with him he just spent the whole time trying to escape as preferred the ridden part to the grooming side. She isn't the best rider but they both have fun. Over the years I have just come to realise the signs of when he needs to let of steam and so I get on and just go for a good canter or do some jumps. He is so good with the loaner as she is very novice, but he really does like someone competent on so he can be naughty haha hence me getting on occasionally. He is only on half loan but they get on so well it's almost just become full loan.

When I compare them to what I was like, they are very much the luckier ones as they have supportive parents. Whereas my parents always said they were too busy or wouldn't let me ride if it was raining. When I got older, it got better - late teens, I worked on several yards and got my tack dropped up more regularly. So yea as long as they have supportive parents or are able to get there by themselves easily it shouldn't be a problem.

Even as a teenager I'd say I was more conscious about loan horses than my own. I always cleaned the tack, always kept the owner updated (even though the horse stayed at the same yard), always treated every lump/bump cautiously - whereas with mine, I was/am a bit more laid back. Will go do jobs that the owners can't do/haven't got time to do without being asked. If they have horses I'd do whatever is needed with them too e.g. mucking out, grooming, bringing in/turning out rather than just the one I was paying for. Always had the attitude that you do a lot for them and then one day they'll help you out. E.g. Giving extra days or letting you go to competitions when wasn't part of the agreement.

Only had one bad experience of loaning my horse out to a teenager. But that was as much with the mum as the daughter and probably a conflict of interests as I was the same age as the girl loaning so just wasn't meant to be. Overall, think you'll find that if you have a good first impression you'll find yourself a great loan - can always ask her to come back again. You'll tell a lot from the way she grooms/handles your horse.
 
I wouldn't be too discouraged either not until you've met her! :)

I loaned my horse when I was 16 (although the owner had no interest in what I was going to do with her), my mum and dad a very non horsey and made it clear that they would not be my taxi services, and I found a way to get down every day to see that horse come rain or shine! Also as a teenager I had a lot more spare time than I do now to spend with the horse. I used to spends any free hours from school or college at the yard tinkering around cleaning tack or proabably mush to horsies annoyance, plaiting her up (practicing) trimming excess fur, I had the most finely pruned horse on the yard!
(Not that all teenagers go round cutting horses fur and hair I had a part shire who wasn't quite heavy enough to pull off the masses of feathers and beard that insisted on growing daily!)

So in short a teenager without fulltime job and adult life commitments could be for the better!

:) x
 
They arent all bad! My daughter, Mini TX is the same age and I know I am biased I would be happy for her to have a loan horse. If fact we had a 5 year old last year on loan while our YO was pregnant, and she was looked after as well as her own horse was. OK, she has a huge advantage - horsey mum who rides and who is prepared to run her around (well, til she passes her driving test), but they are not all that bad.
 
I loaned a horse when I was 14, and held all responsibilities... I didn't razz her about, become un-interested, took the mic ect.. I guess it's just some, but if you're confident with her and she seems totally genuine when you meet then why not? Talk to the parents and see about whats she's previously done with horses?

Not all teenagers are bad I promise!:)

x
 
I'm 17 and I'm 100% dedicated in every way shape and form!! They (probably wrongly) come before my schoolwork ALWAYS.
I think a lot of teenagers are probably much more genuine than some adults. And a lot of us really don't enjoy running horses into the ground. I know the odd one but the majority of people my age are really careful.

The head groom at my yard is 17 and is completely in charge of a yard of 16 event horses!
 
Yes i would loan to a teenager. My daughter had just turned 16 when she was given the opportunity to loan a huge, very well bred dressage gelding with the most fantastic movement. He had been sat in the field doing nothing but getting used to the easy life! She has had him a little over two years now, we bought him after having him for about a year. She now does advanced dressage with him. She has no interest in hooning around or being daft, has always kept in touch with his owner and kept her informed on his progress, spoiled him rotten and put a lot of blood, sweat and tears in to him. Not all teenagers are obnoxious little *****s with bad attitudes you know ;) Its only the same as loaning to an adult, you have to find someone who suits you and your horse and you are both on the same wave length.
 
Mmmmm, I'm not sure TBH that I would loan mine out to a teenager. My main worry wouldn't be the riding or management issue, it would be purely the ability of a teenager to be able to afford ALL the things necessary to keep a horse, i.e. livery, vets bills, vacc's, feed/bedding, shoeing, etc etc. That's not easy for any of us, but for anyone on the sort of pittance of a wage the average teenager is going to get (if they're lucky), then that's gonna be blimmin hard.

When I was that age (OMG, a LONG time ago!!!), I was lucky enough to be able to keep my pony at home so it didn't cost as much, but I didn't have horsey parents or anything, and I remember what a helluva struggle it was to see to him morning and evening - and when the evenings closed in it was even worse.

Personally I'd want to be very sure that your prospective loaner/teenager is able to afford to keep the horse and fully understands all the implications involved.
 
It depends on the seventeen year old you will have to make a judgement .
You will need to meet the parents make sure they know what's involved and that she has transport sorted.
But if it where me I would if I liked her and the parents knew what was involved I would not need them to be horsey just sensible and informed about what was
Expected of their daughter.
 
That makes me feel better. I don't doubt for a second some teenagers are better than adults. The last person who came to look at him said she was a qualified riding instructor but didn't own as her job took too much time. When she arrived her hubby told me she has only sat on a horse 5 times in 10yrs!!!! Surprise surprise she fell off when popping him over a small jump after 5 mins of sitting on him, I didn't let her come back to try him again and I then got a message saying she'd brought herself a 4yr old huge TBx, I wonder if either are still alive!
 
As long as the teenager was mature I would be quite happy with loaning to them.

I certainly spent more time and attention on my horse when I was 17 (pretty much spend all hours of the week there when wasnt at college or part time job), than I do now as an adult with a job and kids etc!

I didnt have horsey parents either and so cycled to the yard twice a day whatever the weather.

So certainly as long as they are committed and get on well with your horse I think it could be a good thing :-)

If you are unsure you could always set a trial period first?
 
When I was 15 I bought a 6 year old, 17.2, riggy Irish Sports Horse who had only ever hunted and showjumped (competed in Belgium).

I sold him when I was 18 for triple what I paid for him after totally reschooling him and winning three local dressage Championship titles, among many other things.
He is now 10 years old and is doing EVERYTHING, from BE to qualifying for HOYS Ridden Hunter next year after a successful showing career this season.

I am now 19 and I look after my own pony who I broke myself last year, he is set to embark on his dressage career next summer.

I also attend university and work part time, so yes us teenagers aren't all bad ;)
 
Teens do tend to get a bad name thanks to a small few,but certainly when my daughter was a teen she was devoted to her horses and meticulous about their care, as were most of her friends. If a teen came to see one of mine on their recommendation or with a good reputation I would have been more than happy, you'll soon know whether she is reliable or not!

On our local horsey FB page you see the same girls advertising for loans/shares/lwtvb/yards to rent and people respond and then a couple of weeks they're advertising again you get the feeling that maybe they might not be reliable, you just get the feeling.
 
So long as the girl is sensible then yes I would.
When I was a teenager I loaned a very green and unfit tbxwb mare. I don't have horsey parents/family but kept her at a great yard where there was always someone I could ask for help. I was sensible with how much work I could do with her and what I could expect from her. I did not run her into the ground or over face her with huge jumps. I cycled to get to the yard twice a day and worked at the weekends to pay for her. I think she was better looked after than some horses belonging to adults I know!!!
 
I'm 17 and part loan a TB at the moment- the owner is pregnant too
I've always tried to make a good impression and I (hopefully)! come across as sensible.
I hack out with owners mum & her pony and she always tells me how slow I go!! I dont want to come across as someone who wants to bomb around- im happy just to walk as long as im in the saddle I really dont give a monkeys!

Just treat her like any other person who is coming to try your horse. She could be very sensible or very unsensible!! and if she is unsensible just politley say no- just like you would to any other adult :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top