Loaning Worries

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otter2

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I put my horse up for loan and I thought I'd found a nice girl to loan her (after dozens of people claiming to be better than they were!). The girl isn't the best of riders but she's accepted to loan on the terms that she must have a lesson every week and she isn't to jump as she's not advanced enough yet.

The girl is only 15 so I've been dealing with her Dad mainly but now it's come to starting up the loan they keep making excuses?! Either the girl has an after school thing she can't miss or she's got an appointment they forgot about or they can't organise a lesson for x amount of days (which is a load of tosh because their instructor is someone at my yard and they tried to book it the day before their loan was supposed to start even though we arranged that date over a week in advance!) and it worries me they will just not turn up on their days. I'm on full livery so my horse wouldn't be affected but I obviously don't want a loaner who isn't committed.

I don't know what to do? We've both signed the loan agreement but now I want to back out as they've really put me off. I go away for 2 weeks over the Summer and I'm dreading leaving them unsupervised.

Advice? I've never loaned a horse out before
 
Her life seems very full already without loaning a horse as well. How is she going to manage in winter when its freezing and cold if the summer months are inconvenient ?
I'd be worried too.
 
What would you do though!? I raised my concerns but they just said they were committed and the loan is now meant to start tomorrow after it was meant to start last tuesday, then wednesday, then sunday, then today...
 
Sorry but they are taking the P!ss big-time. Either they want the horse or they don't - and the bottom line is he's YOUR horse and its up to YOU to decide who has him.

Personally I'd be inclined to say that the loan agreement is null and void - and that he is no longer up for loan.

Then, if you are worried about going away, make other arrangements for him.
 
I'd give them a bit longer but if they are still lacking in comittment have you a notice period in the agreement? Then if still not happy, I'd give notice and either re-advertsie or go back to 2nd choice loaner (if you had one).
 
Who matters most to you - your horse or the loaner ? I'd be calling it off asp. She has been given several chances to get started and has let you down.
 
Personally I would cancel the loan, I know you have both signed a loan agreement but they don't seem to be sticking to there half of the deal!
 
I'm afraid to say if they're making excuses and seem unreliable before the loan has even begun, then it can only get worse!
I had exactly the same situation with my mare, in the end I had to stop the loan. (and yes in the winter it was worse.)
It's just not worth it!
 
Personally if you have worries and doubts now before the loan has start properly then would call a halt to it now. Those worries can increase ten-fold with an unreliable sharer - especially in winter months.

Good luck - hope you manage to sort it out.
 
I would be perfectly honest and explain the concerns as you've put on here. You never know, they may secretly be relieved - if however, they turn funny, then it just confirms that you've made the right decision. At the end of the day its your horse and the final decision rests with you.

Just don't understand people tho - had a sharer for my old pony - no £ involved and a free rein to do as they wished - taking into account his OAP status and it was no end of hassle. Would have given my eye teeth for an opportunity like that .....

Good luck to you.
 
well you could do it 2 ways, first way is to lie and say a change in your circumstances means you no longer need/want to loan the horse out, or you can be upfront and say that due to their lack of commitment you feel it's best for both parties if the loan is voided:)
 
Yes, I think you're wise to call it off!

You need not be rude, just say something like because you're going away etc etc., you need to be sure that everything is fixed and in place well before you go .... and potential loanee is obviously rather busy at the mo and you simply don't wish to impose your horse on them during what is obviously a stressy/busy time for them and so you'll be making other arrangements ..... that's the polite version.

OR you could say straight out that basically you don't feel the loanee is interested, full stop, and you're fed up with the uncertainty of not knowing (a) whether they're committed and whether (b) if they're not committed to the loan in the first place then you're worried about whether they'd be looking after your horse OK.

Personally I think a 15 y.o. girl is way too young to take on a loan for a horse without support and I woudln't touch it with a bargepole. She's basically getting a horse for "free" and has messed you around bigtime, and there's plenty of other girls who'd give their hind teeth for such an opportunity. If she misses this one then its her own fault innit.
 
yeah i really don't understand them!!
i advertised for a minimal contribution (that doesn't even cover 1/4 of my livery bill) for 3+ days a week and the opportunity to compete (she's affiliated to BS) but it's all far too much hassle than it's worth! i only wanted someone to give her some attention while i had my exams but they've finished now so i don't need one anyway!
 
_Charli_ said:
yeah i really don't understand them!!
i advertised for a minimal contribution (that doesn't even cover 1/4 of my livery bill) for 3+ days a week and the opportunity to compete (she's affiliated to BS) but it's all far too much hassle than it's worth! i only wanted someone to give her some attention while i had my exams but they've finished now so i don't need one anyway!
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If you are on TRF, then from what I can recall your mare doesn't need an unreliable novice! You want someone who can continue her education and keep her ticking over at the level you want her.
 
i've text them (says it all really that communication is via text!) saying i'm not happy with the situation atm but if their circumstances change and they would be more committed after my holiday then we could reconsider (which is a total lie i just didn't know what to put haha)
loaning is far too stressful for me!
 
KVH said:
If you are on TRF, then from what I can recall your mare doesn't need an unreliable novice! You want someone who can continue her education and keep her ticking over at the level you want her.
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i am haha. the girl would have been okay, because she wouldn't have jumped her and she was only allowed to ride under supervision but she certainly wasn't ideal!
this whole situation has reinforced my negative views on loaning out to teenagers though! not to generalise ;)
 
If you had doubts you are probably right. I think if someone is not truely interested they wont care if they ruin your horse or it gets ill sick lame etc as at the end of the day they dont own it!

My sister lost her best horse to a loanee who didnt put a grazing muzzle on as soon as the horse was dead/colic ruptured at vets so what a horrid death.The lady was out looking for the next loan horse! My sister was devastated. A proper written loan agreement was in place with all the instructions etc and they were ignored.

We have had people ride our horses on and off, one horse we asked them not to canter due to its age etc and out walking the dog came across mother and daughter having a good old canter on it!

I am off to see a loan horse and I hope if it works out I will endeavour to care for the animal just as if it was my own. But I like animals anyway so wouldnt be negligent etc.

Good luck
 
I think Pink Lady has it - their communication skills are obviously pants so you have to give them a 'get out' excuse and see if they take it or not.

If it was me, I would call/text and say some to the effect

'look, if you are getting cold feet about having a horse on loan, thats fine, just let me know. If you do, lets have a serious chat about dates as my diary is getting complicated"!

Good luck.
 
It sounds like they did it on impulse, did not think it through, thought it was a cheap way to get riding, now realise you are laying down guidelines, which they find difficult to comply with, just forget the whole idea, tell them the deal is off, they should at least have the decency to come and see you as it must be obvious you are not happy.
I have seen 14 and 15 year old girls do a good job of taking on loan ponies, but they can also be unreliable if it suits them, and in one instance, I am talking about the same girl!
 
it's the dad i've dealt with the whole time though so he's the one who's bad at communicating haha.
they haven't even replied to my text raising my concerns that i don't think it will work out! classic
 
Um, sorry if teaching grannie to suck eggs here ...... but you have got a loan agreement prepared haven't you???????

You'll need to cover things like vets fees, insurance, what you want done (and not done!) with the horse, wear & tear of tack, shoeing, and also the awful situation of what happens if the horse needs euthanising and you can't be contacted.

Sorry, you've no doubt thought of this already. But whatever, make sure they sign the loan agreement BEFORE the horse leaves your yard.
 
PiebaldPeril said:
Um, sorry if teaching grannie to suck eggs here ...... but you have got a loan agreement prepared haven't you???????

You'll need to cover things like vets fees, insurance, what you want done (and not done!) with the horse, wear & tear of tack, shoeing, and also the awful situation of what happens if the horse needs euthanising and you can't be contacted.

Sorry, you've no doubt thought of this already. But whatever, make sure they sign the loan agreement BEFORE the horse leaves your yard.
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I'm holding a stick here PP, and I think I've got the right end of it!
 
PiebaldPeril said:
Um, sorry if teaching grannie to suck eggs here ...... but you have got a loan agreement prepared haven't you???????

You'll need to cover things like vets fees, insurance, what you want done (and not done!) with the horse, wear & tear of tack, shoeing, and also the awful situation of what happens if the horse needs euthanising and you can't be contacted.

Sorry, you've no doubt thought of this already. But whatever, make sure they sign the loan agreement BEFORE the horse leaves your yard.
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Yeah i'd done all that don't worry!
it was only a part loan and she was staying at the same yard, i've ended it all now though and said because of their lack of commitment etc she isn't available to them any more.
 
I think you have done the right thing but I am looking at it from the other side of the fence, having always been the loaner or sharer. I used to share/loan one of Kombikids (member on here) horses who was fantastic. I was very novicey - I could ride but more horse care was more limited. I spent plenty of time with her and the horse and was keen to learn and do everything her way. In my opinion if you are loaning or sharing someones horse you should endeavour to look after them to the very best of your ability and in my experience following the owner's routine and guidelines is a lot less disruptive for the horse and a lot less likely to throw up problems!

I think you have done totally the right thing, I was only 18 when I loaned my first horse but was very keen and certainly not wanting to postpone. Her behaviour, to me, smacks of thinking that loaning would have meant free riding yet she didn't factor in mucking out, turning out, filling haynets and all the jobs that come with it!
 
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