Loaning vs Buying

[Butterbear]

Sorry if this has been done before

I want to get another riding horse for hacking, maybe some low level local shows and sponsored rides and general fun. It will need to be sensible as to escort babies out and about/ride and lead my children's ponies.

I know that there are horses around like this, I've seen a few advertised that seem to be the ticket but some are for loan. I am happy to buy as this is what I've done before, I've never loaned so a bit uncertain about the pros and cons and don't want to dismiss the right horse just because its unfamiliar territory.

What are your experiences with loaning? Good or bad? Would you do it again?

Thanks

Edited because I can't spell!

 

[w1bbler]

Loaning can be great, but I spent the whole year panicking about the tiniest things as it wasn't my horse, tiny scratch, shoild I call the vet, warm hooves this morning omg I've given him lami etc ( his owner clearly worshipped him & loaning had been a hard decision)
I returned him at the end of the year in perfect condition & everyone was happy, but definately prefer owning ☺

 

[Shay]

I wouldn't dismiss a loan horse out of hand just because it is loan only. But you do have to look carefully at the arrangement you are accepting. It has the potential to be the perfect situation for both - and the potential to be a complete nightmare! If you do accept a loan get a good and watertight contract.

From the loanee's perspective probably the biggest plus is that if the horse doesn't do what you want or breaks down you can send it back - although the contract might require financial settlement.

However it is not "your" horse so decisions about care, use, medical treatment etc may not be up to you - again depends on the contract. You should expect regular and usually unannounced visits from the owner to check that all is well. You might find that intrusive. If something catastrophic happens you may not have consent to PTS - the owner may differ from you in the decision as to when that is appropriate. The horse could be removed from you at any time - although again there may be financial settlement under the contract.

For me this comes down to how well you get on with the owner. If you step carefully, with your eyes open and get a good contract you can both live with it can work well.

 

[zaminda]

It can work really well, and if you get a good owner who cares for their horse, and you are of the same mind set there is not usually a problem. The problem arises when you have very different ideas on things.
I have put my pony out on loan, and the only issues have been a lack of communication from them when things went wrong. One home I really wish I had gone with my original feeling on the person, but I had known her a while by the time she got him on loan, and my initial feelings had subsided, as she had worked very hard to be nice. Sadly my initial feeling was accurate.

 

[KM-R]

I had a lovely boy on loan for a year, and some things were absolutely brilliant, some less so.

'My' owner was absolutely fab: obviously loved her horse to bits but passed all day-to-day care decisions over to me. I gave a courtesy check when I wanted to do something like change his feed, but she was absolutely great about all this.

I do sympathise with the 'oooh, he's not mine' worry about every tiny scratch! This worry simultaneously left me and got a lot worse when he came in from the field with an almighty leg gash, which then took many, many months of box rest to get right (complex wound healing situation....) Owner was fab about it, was clear that there was no aspect of blame and that horses were horses and it could have happened anywhere. The feeling of phoning her to say that the emergency vet was out isn't one I want again, though.

I passed him back, healthy and sound, after a year, because I was ready to buy.

On the whole, despite him being out of work for lots of the time I had him, he taught me lots, and I had the 'ownership' of a horse that I wouldn't have been able to buy: he's a proper schoolmaster, who gave me the 'this is how it should feel' feeling, which I'll be forever grateful for! The fact that it was a loan also meant that I took on a horse who was a very different 'stamp' to what I would usually have looked at, and opened my eyes to other possibilities. When I went horse shopping thereafter, he really informed what I was looking for in a horse.

I think it all comes down to the owner/loaner relationship, the quality of the contract, and the horse!

 

[Michen]

I had the most wonderful loaning experience with my boy Basil. His owner adored him but knew I treated him as my own and we never disagreed on anything relating to his care. I was due to buy him but just before he coliced and broke a leg standing up from surgery (the cruelty of what we endure eh ). I wouldn't hesitate to loan again and I really don't think I would have coped without her absolute support in the weeks after loosing B. We both understood what the other was going through and she was just fab.

 

[blitznbobs]

I have had great loaning experiences- I had an event mare the year before I went to uni - she was for loan as her 'mum' was pregnant, I had a lame horse and didn't want to buy another cos I was going away in 12 months ... the horse was fab fun and we had a great year. BUT it always felt like I was riding a friends horse we never bonded completely like I have with every horse I have owned. I guess what I'm trying to say is it worked well because it was a short term thing and was from the start, I wouldn't like to loan if it was going to be a long term horse as I could potentially lose my friend... but kids ponies I like to loan cos it saves some of the stress if it doesn't work out or they grow out of them.

 

[Limbo1]

In general I prefer to loan.
I have only had one bad experience when an owner refused to take horse back but I had failed to get a written agreement.
My kids have both had ponies on loan. We have little contact with owners just occasional Xmas cards and emails.
My horse is also on loan. I have more contact with her owner as she thinks sun shines out of her ##. Luckily she does not live close or it could become an issue. We speak/email once every few weeks.

I like loaning as they can go back. Having bought and lost money on horses in the past the reduction of risk is great. Not sure I would buy out of choice again.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I full loaned my horse before I bought him (it was not originally a LWVTB) and it was one of the best times of my life. I loved him to absolute pieces and the owner, whilst appreciating updates, let me get on and make all decisions as though he were mine. In this respect it was really no different to owning.

I did have a mild feeling of panic re: would she ask to take him back, as he was out of work for a couple of years before I got him and I put in a lot of work and he became a VERY nice horse. So I then offered to buy him, which she had to think about as she loved him just as much as I did, and we agreed on a price. I still kept he updated, however as it happened I only rode him a handful of times after buying him before he went lame, and ultimately was put down for severe Navicular and related structural damage.

The moral of what I am trying to say is go for it, it can be amazing!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I've had two on loan; the first, Welsh D mare, came, and never went back to her owner basically! Her owner was looking for someone to take her on as she was needing a home where she'd have a rather quieter life, and left her with me for the autumn half term, just for the week. The mare had to seriously take me in hand and taught me how she wanted to be ridden (as only a Welshie mare can do!!), and I loved her to bits. If I'd had her on trial tho', I'd have undoubtedly send her back as at that time I'd have considered her too forward and opinionated for me.

Her owner (an old school chum), eventually gifted the mare to me; it is the most precious thing I've ever been given.......

The second loan, an Exmoor pony who was with me for a year (just gone back), was from the same friend. She was a little monkey, and taught me a lot as well.

Loans can be good for both parties. But the key words are COMMUNICATION and HONESTY. My owner only lived 8 miles away, and we'd already good a good relationship, and this is vital. There has to be communication between loaner and loanee to sort out any problems - and there will be some, horses are horses and a change of home will probably mean an issue or two surfaces. Also there has to be honesty on both sides, loaner has to be honest as to their expectations and standards of care; loanee needs to be honest if they feel they've got any questions or concerns, or need help to cope with any challenges which may present themselves. Also there needs to be honesty and transparency about the time-span of the loan and not let things go on without discussing any concerns about when/if the horse goes back to the owner.

 

[Butterbear]

Thank you all . It's good to hear the positive stories, I'm concerned about the what if something goes wrong scenario and about someone being ok with the lifestyle I have available, live out all year in a mixed herd with no coming in option. But as you have said above this comes down to finding common ground with the owner and communicating openly to make sure they are happy with that and that it is the right fit all round. I will not discount loaning but make sure I have my eyes wide open if that is the route I go. Thank you

 

[Sukistokes2]

As an owner of a horse on loan I say it can work. I have a pony who is just to small for me, I didn't want to sell because I adore him but it was important to me that he was worked. First loan home was terrible and I brought him home. So far the second has worked and he looks well and happy. He is five minutes from where I work, I can pop down and see him over the fence. Communication is the key and following the loan agreement. I still want to know about my horse. In this case it's ok but my horse is loaned by the least FB obsessed child inthe world. Just my luck. Some minor infringements of loan agreement but nothing to worry about and corrected at once. He looks happy, that's what is important to me and I am sure most genuine loan owners feel the same.

 

[isabellexrupert]

I have loaned my pony for 4 years and he is the best horse/character i`ve met! his actual owners are so helpful and leave us to treat him like our own and after a couple of years asked us if we would like to buy him ( we have not as we know we can keep him forever if we want!) he has given me so much confidence and i never worry about his every move as his owners and us know that horses will be horses and you cannot control what they do to themselves! we are continuing to loan him for many more years and it was the best thing i did. Also it is a lot easier to get rid of the horse when you don`t want it anymore as you can give it back to the owner ( i doubt that will be me as i think i`m going to end up with a collection! ) Also my horse found me... i posted an add saying what i was after and the owner contacted me and so i was the only one to view my pony and the owner seemed to like me and everything felt right... which i hope other people get too! once they meet a horse or owner.