Loaning your horse

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Angela2604

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I have had my horse for sale for about 3 months now but I think his age (17) and the fact that he can only be used as a hack is putting people off buying him. So, reluctantly, I have decided to advertise him for long term/permanent loan as well as for sale.

I would just like to know if anyone has any advice on loaning a horse out to someone who doesn't live in the area and that I don't know. I have printed a sample loan agreement off the internet and am going to amend it with my requirements. How legally binding are these?

Would the person who is loaning my horse be required to pay for everything including insurance and vets bills? Also, would you advise that I visit the place where he would be kept before letting him go?

Someone may be coming to see him this week with a view to loan him and I want to know what other peoples experiences are of loaning their horses out and what tips you could give me for making sure the person/home he would be going to is suitable.

Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
I loaned my horse out to a girl about 3 years ago, I went to visit the place she would be keeping him and told her he didnt like being on his own, she said that would be fine as she would put him out with her mums horse. I went to check on him about a month later and although he was not out with another horse he was right next door in the adjoining field, he had thick rugs on and looked fine. Two months later I had a phone call from a friend advising me to go and check on my horse as they were concerned over his welfare, I went along straight after work and found him in a field where he could not see any other horses, he was pacing the field and although had plenty of hayledge in the field was not eating anything. I checked under his rugs and found him to be very thin, I collected him the very next day and without rugs could see just how bad he was.(I have seen neglected horses in adverts with more meat on them) It took me 2 months to get him back to normal (I had always had a problem to keep the weight off him) I would not get him out of the stable without his rugs on in the mean time, and couldnt ride him because of the condition he was in. He also ended up in newmarket having an operation on his stifle costing £2,500 the surgeon said he had had a severe trauma to that leg. I couldnt say whether or not he did it in the field when I had him or done it out on loan (when I picked him up I was told he had come in from the field lame).

So I would strongly recomend that you visit the place your horse will be going to and check on him on a regular basis, I also printed a contract off the internet. Dont let my experience put you off but just keep a close eye on him.
 
Hi - never loaned one out, but I would say a loan agreement is a good idea. I would expect them to pay for everything, possibly apart from the insurance as you may want to keep this yourself for peace of mind.

Alternatively get them to take cover out and check for proof, but they may struggle because of his age (not sure !). It would make the loan expensive for someone, but then again if they had their own horse, it would cost pretty much the same. Although not everyone insures !.

As it would still be your horse you may need to check if you still need thrid party insurance.

Like everything in life you will get good and bad people who loan. Would definitely check the place out, and perhaps do regular visits, until you are comfortable he is being looked after well.
 
Forgot to say that I kept my horses insurance going, I am glad I did because I would have had to pay the whole bill as it was I still had to pay 17.1/2 % and his stabeling at newmarket blooming small print
 
I would think very carefully about loaning your horse out where you can't keep a good eye on the situation. I loan my mare out at the moment, but she is kept at the same yard as my other horse and on full livery. I loaned her out previously and she was kept DIY on the same yard I had my horse at that time, and she was not kept properly at all. She had to have box rest once, and the girl who had her didn't muck her out. In the end I cleared out the whole bed and put a new one down, all at my expense, and gave loaner a good telling off. Then a few months later, loaner went on holiday for three weeks and didn't tell anyone!! My mare would have been left unchecked for that time if I hadn't been there. I took her tack away and left a note for loaner saying we needed words and she was annoyed to come back and find the tack away - got very stroppy! We parted company soon after. Just be very wary.
 
I have a horse on loan and I did a loan agreement beforehand. The agreement is very thorough and I amended it to suit my needs and requirements and also put in additional clauses such as what would happen to the horse should I die or be paralysed etc.
I also included clauses about neglect etc and if the horse is deemed as being neglected by me then the owner can collect the horse straightaway.
I am responsible for everything to do with the horse. I pay for his insurance ( currently costs me over £60 per month for the 2 horses, as I own another horse as well), shoeing, vet, diy livery, feed etc and tack and rugs.
He did originally come with some tack and a rug and brushing boots. This was all listed on the agreement. I have kept the rug and boots but the tack has gone back to the owner as I bought my own instead.
The owner of the horse lives nearby anyway and I have always been very open about the fact they are welcome to visit anytime. They know the people that run the yard where I am as well so all is good.
Owner trusts me completely but I am not the sort of person to let people down or animals for that matter.
Animal welfare is very important to me but sadly there are people out there who do not feel the same.
Personally if I was loaning a horse out I would inspect where the horse is meant to be kept. Get references from suitable people, such as a vet, or yard owner etc.
If they owned other animals I would like to see them as well.
Preferably I would like the horse to be kept near to where I lived ( even better if on the same yard).
The loanee would be responsible for everything, vets, shoeing etc and imo they would have to prove to me they were both competent enough to look after a horse and also show to me that they were financially able to. Maybe the production of bank statements etc.
Maybe people will think I'm going too far in suggesting the latter but really if someone is going to be looking after your horse as if it was their own they would have to prove to me that they were completely capable of doing so.
I think it also depends on what level of loaning you are providing full or part as there is a huge difference.
Make it clear from the start what you expect the person to be responsible for if they loan the horse and possibly initially loan the horse out for a short trial before full committment.
Also make sure you have additional witnesses present when signing loan agreements. I had 2 other people present as well as myself and the person who owned the horse when I did.
Good luck and I hope you find a suitable home
smile.gif

Cazx
 
I wonder if people are being put off from buying your horse because you are asking too much money? I would never loan a horse out as even with a contract there are just too many ways it can go wrong. Likewise, I want to buy a couple of shetlands and there are two nearby whose owner insists that they are loaned first with a view to buy. When I read the contract she wanted me to sign I have immediately backed out.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, this is a really difficult time for me and I'm sure a lot of you have been in the same situation as I'm in right now. After thinking about it a bit more I think I might only considering loaning him if the person is local, therefore I would be able to keep a regular check on him and be able to visit the stables first.

I would prefer to sell him and then I would not have the constant worry over whether he was being looked after properly. Of course I realise that once I'd sold him I wouldn't have a say in what happened to him but I would only let him go to a good home that I had vetted first.

I don't think the reason for him not selling is the price as I only have him advertised at £895 with his bridle & rugs & I would sell his saddle as extra. The price I get for him though is at the end of my list of priorities. If I knew someone who would give him a good home for life I would give him away. Obviously you can't advertise a horse 'free to good home' as this would attract the wrong type of people. I would welcome your views regarding if I am asking too much for him.

Thanks
 
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