Loaning?

carthorse

carthorse

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Convince me it can work out.
My homebred coloured horse has had 4 loans and none has worked out.
First one he stayed with us and we looked after him but welcomed the loaner to do him when she could. She had full use of him and paid £25 a week. Unfortunately she had a fall jumping him, not his fault, and hurt her back so stopped the loan.
Next he went away on full loan but 3 months later came back as rider wanted to event and his wind is not good enough. His shoes were hanging off and she forgot his rugs but we got them back 6 weeks later.
Then he went to a 25 year old but her Mum was paying the livery and they fell out over a boyfriend so he came back again.
He then went to an equine college where he seemed very happy but after 3 months he got injured and has been home again for 4 months.
He is now well and back in work. A lady is riding him for me 3 times a week but she has her own horse and can't afford his keep as well and her horse is too old fo sell.
So what to do with him, ask the college if they would like him back, just stay as he is and pay for him myself or try another loan?
 
No she keeps her horse at the local livery yard which is quite expensive so couldnt afford another £25 a week. He only costs me about £15 a week in summer for his shoes and a small couple of feeds but in winter he has haylage and probably costs me £30 a week
 
Well loans do work out, sometimes, but they are very tricky to find.
I'm about to look for a loan horse but again I want to be able to event - only at a low level though.
My current horse doesn't like xc so I need to do something with him -selling not an option. He may go as a college horse but I'm sure he's going to be expelled due to his quirks and grumpy nature!
The college sounds like a good option. Perhaps in the meantime you can find a good loaner and keep your options open. I really hope you find a good permanent placement for him as I know how stressful this loaning business can be.
 
It can definitely work, I have only just given the loan up on my boy after 2 years. I would certainly contact the college again and perhaps really vet the potential purchasers so you don't end up with the eventing situation again?

Whereabouts are you?
 
Coventry really vetted each time. My daughter has seen someone advertising they want a loan but its Derby so a bit far to keep an eye on him and they havent owned a horse before
 
Hiya my horse is on loan to a BD Apprentice, she is trained everyday on him, by a top dressage name, its working out really well, i couldnt be more pleased, the horse is really well looked after, and you should see who is in the stable next to him.

Id advertise him on BD site, or somewhere like that, nice horses, as yours sounds lovley people always want them, pm me if you want any further info.
 
I have loaned one of mine out, only been for about 3 months now but it seems to be working out fantastically. The lady lacks experience with jumping and her horse can be a bit opinionated so she has mine to get experience on eventing. He is being downgraded due to an old injury which means we want to keep him at a low level but we do not have time (or want the expense) of jumping round the lower levels. We found ours purely through word of mouth (and we really didn't make much effort in spreading the word) and although they have had a few blips together they are really clicking now, winning there first ODE together (and her first ever ODE) and possibly going for an 80T together shortly.

I teach her on him and I also school her other horse once a week so i get to see him every week but i have no doubt what so ever that he gets top notch care even if i couldn't see him so often. We are very lucky to have found such a fantastic home for him, i think it's always good to keep checking on the horse if loaned out, that way you can see if things are going wrong before they really do.
 
Can I ask what agreements you use? Do you ask the loanee for ID? Also do you give the loanee your horse's passport? Sorry for the hijack!

Cart horse - have you checked the wanted adverts? Your local rc classifieds?

There are lots of homes out there potentially but it's finding the right one and then not worrying foreve that it's the right one!
 
SunshineTallulah - Our loanee has his passport otherwise they wouldn't be able to compete, we used the BHS agreement but amended a few things that were important to this particular horse. We didn't ask for ID but in our case it wasn't needed.
 
I made my own contract to zuit him but to be honest had him straight back each time as better he came back home. I've never loaned to a stranger so dont know about id. Sorry
 
We have 3 out on loan. We thought that the mare would be the easiest one to find a home, but she came back from the first 2 homes, really just becuase they werent experienced enough and we under estimated how much "horse" she is - quite sensitive. She's now with a lovely lady in Essex SJ'ing and is adored. It can work out, but be really picky and dont be afraid to say no to people.

Mare went from an advert on HorseQuest. Lots of "proper" enquires and we weeded out lots of unsuitables on the phone.
 
Loans do work if you are lucky to find good loaners! I loaned a young horse (bred to go round Badminton, by miners lamp x a 3* mare, but conformationally challenged...) to a wonderful lady twelve years ago. He has returned having given her years of pleasure as a hack/fun horse. Sadly she is unable to keep him so I am on the hunt to find him the next safe haven. He was my mare's last foal and I promised him that he would not be sold. Finding the next loaner for a 12 yr old hack will be tricky (I am fussy owner) but I am sure the right person is out there somwhere.

When you take the decision to loan a horse out, you have to be prepared for their return. I suspect I am in possession of a very large, shiny, friendly, pet/lawn mower but a promise is a promise!
 
carthorse said:
Convince me it can work out.
My homebred coloured horse has had 4 loans and none has worked out.
First one he stayed with us and we looked after him but welcomed the loaner to do him when she could. She had full use of him and paid £25 a week. Unfortunately she had a fall jumping him, not his fault, and hurt her back so stopped the loan.
Next he went away on full loan but 3 months later came back as rider wanted to event and his wind is not good enough. His shoes were hanging off and she forgot his rugs but we got them back 6 weeks later.
Then he went to a 25 year old but her Mum was paying the livery and they fell out over a boyfriend so he came back again.
He then went to an equine college where he seemed very happy but after 3 months he got injured and has been home again for 4 months.
He is now well and back in work. A lady is riding him for me 3 times a week but she has her own horse and can't afford his keep as well and her horse is too old fo sell.
So what to do with him, ask the college if they would like him back, just stay as he is and pay for him myself or try another loan?
Click to expand...

I don't want to jinx things, but I'm very happy so far. First time I've loaned, and I was VERY picky - about the person AND what exactly they wanted to do with him.

Is your horse a really nice horse to hack alone and in company, reasonably well schooled at the lower levels, and suitable for someone who isn't necessarily a novice, but wants an easy life? Maybe someone a bit older whose circumstances are fairly settled and doesn't want to move up the ranks competitively? If so, maybe try advertising through local riding clubs? I did that, and found the match I was looking for very locally. I didn't know her, but I knew people who had known her for years, drafted my own loan agreement (BHS agreement tailored by me), got verbal references and double checked her address. She was absolutely fine with all of this and I'm almost embarrassed to say my horse is now more meticulously looked after than when he was with me!! :o

I'm hoping the arrangement will continue until he's ready to retire, but there are no guarantees, unfortunately, despite all the work we do to find the right home.
 
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