Loaning

[CobsCan123]

So I’ve been keeping my eye out for a full loan pony/horse to loan for a couple of years while my youngster matures ready to eventually break him in. However, so many people seem to be against loaning their horses? I know a lot of people have reasons to sell vs loan, however when people advertise their horse and say things like “home more important than price” or “if i could keep him i would” or “heartbreaking to write” surely putting your horse on a full loan where you can keep in touch - and possibly get them back after a few years is ideal? Obviously i understand a lot of situations where loaning isn’t possible and a sale is needed but equally there surely has to be situations where loaning is better than selling?! It’s just frustrating when people immediately say NO LOANS.

 

[cauda equina]

We don't know why other people do what they do, but I dare say some of them simply cannot afford to provide someone with a free horse
Having to sell for financial reasons would indeed be heartbreaking

 

[paddi22]

People can find themselves in situations where they are short of cash. also with a loan you can still be faced with massive vets bills, hassle if loaners quit and you need to find a new one and at the end you still come out with an old horse who needs retirement etc. People also move and aren't around to ado checks etc. There is a lot of hassle involved in loaning sometimes. I loan horses and ponies out and you get a lot of calls if issues come up, some loaners turn out to be unsuitable, some loaners move horses to yards where horse can develop issues ets. It can be an absolute pain at times. It is much easier to do a clean break and sell for an easier life, even if you really like the horse.

 

[milliepops]

so many reasons - needing to fund the purchase of another horse, the uncertainty around how long a loan will last, how well a potential loaner would look after the horse, whether it would come back at short notice or get injured etc....

I have had loan horses in the past and always looked after them like my own but it's definitely not something that can work for everyone, nor would it appeal to many. I wouldn't loan any of mine out except as companions.

 

[CobsCan123]

We don't know why other people do what they do, but I dare say some of them simply cannot afford to provide someone with a free horse
Having to sell for financial reasons would indeed be heartbreaking

I agree, having to sell your best friend for financial reasons would be soul destroying

 

[CobsCan123]

so many reasons - needing to fund the purchase of another horse, the uncertainty around how long a loan will last, how well a potential loaner would look after the horse, whether it would come back at short notice or get injured etc....

I have had loan horses in the past and always looked after them like my own but it's definitely not something that can work for everyone, nor would it appeal to many. I wouldn't loan any of mine out except as companions.

I'm the same - I'd treat any loan horse like my own but you hear of so many horror stories where people have had bad experiences with sending their horses on loan and then receiving them back injured and things, it's awful

 

[Bernster]

Lots of risk and uncertainty on the owner‘s part with loaning. Yes there is a risk you don’t sell to the right home but you can do your best to secure their future and then no further risk on the seller’s part.

I say this as someone who unexpectedly did have a horse on loan who was up for sale. Owner didn’t really want to part with her but, for the short term, couldn’t keep her, so that did work out for us both. Horse was lovely and did really well but sadly had a tendon issue. I kept her for the full loan period, paid the vet fees (insured) and worked closely with the owner but it does show how tricky things can get even with the best intentions.

 

[Peglo]

One of my friends had just loaned out her horse on a long term loan. She doesn’t think she will want him back but she wants a bit of control over what happens him as he had a rough start. She doesn’t want him passed around from home to home. She is in the position though that if the loaner wants to put him back, her dad has a farm he can go back to (free place to stay) and a sister that can help find a new loan home for him if she’s still away. She’s very lucky and most won’t have that back up if things go wrong with a loan or an injury occurs.

 

[Leandy]

You sound as though you think lending a horse is preferable to selling it and that loaning a horse is doing the owner a favour! A horse has a value, which may be significant. Why do you think one person should just be able to have use of a valuable horse without paying the owner for it? As others have pointed out, continuing to own a horse loaned by someone else has significant risks. Personally, I will only loan out a horse that is not for some reason saleable to a good, reliable home. Otherwise, if you want my horse you will need to pay the market price for it I'm afraid! Statements made in advertisements are usually not indications that the owner doesn't actually want to sell, they are advertising "fluff" to make the horse sound more attractive! It doesn't mean they aren't sad to sell of course, we all become attached to our horses, but obviously if they would prefer to loan then they would be advertising a horse for loan not for sale! I actually think it is quite cheeky to ask if you can have someone else's horse for free! Would you expect just to borrow someone's car for a couple of years until you decided to hand it back?

 

[fankino04]

Having loaned a pony as a kid whose owner / child had outgrown him I always thought I would loan mine out if I couldn't afford to keep them, definitely preferable to selling for all the reasons you listed OP, however I lost my nerve on mine and retired her to the field as an expensive ornament rather than deal with this issues of loaning ( dealing with people mostly). God knows what I'd do now if I couldn't afford her as she's been out of work for 8 years so not likely to be wanted anymore.

 

[CobsCan123]

You sound as though you think lending a horse is preferable to selling it and that loaning a horse is doing the owner a favour! A horse has a value, which may be significant. Why do you think one person should just be able to have use of a valuable horse without paying the owner for it? As others have pointed out, continuing to own a horse loaned by someone else has significant risks. Personally, I will only loan out a horse that is not for some reason saleable to a good, reliable home. Otherwise, if you want my horse you will need to pay the market price for it I'm afraid! Statements made in advertisements are usually not indications that the owner doesn't actually want to sell, they are advertising "fluff" to make the horse sound more attractive! It doesn't mean they aren't sad to sell of course, we all become attached to our horses, but obviously if they would prefer to loan then they would be advertising a horse for loan not for sale! I actually think it is quite cheeky to ask if you can have someone else's horse for free! Would you expect just to borrow someone's car for a couple of years until you decided to hand it back?

No, I understand that in most situations selling a horse is more preferable for the seller for many reasons. I only ask why loans have become so unpopular now, and I have read all the answers that many people have given underneath this thread. I was also just asking the question of whether there are also some cases where loaning may actually be preferable to people. Yes, by loaning you are not paying the value of the horse itself but you’re still paying for everything else to take care of it and keep it at your yard etc - which in the long run, usually costs more than the actual horse itself! I didn’t mean any harm just simply sparking a discussion!

 

[ihatework]

Well I’ve just signed a loan agreement on my very valuable homebred event horse. Why? Because I love him, want him in my life and want the legal power to take him home if needed.
I am also happy to hand over the 5 figure running costs per season to the loaner!!
Could it go tits up? Of course it could. But equally the horse could have an accident and be written off under my care.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think a lot of it due to the fact that the horse selling market is good at the moment people know they can get good money for most horses.

I have even seen some horses for sale with issues that I personally wouldn't want the horse sold and out of my care with, but it seems anything is selling at any price at the moment regardless.

 

[Surbie]

There are definitely people who will loan rather than sell, but I think that often they are found by word of mouth. I am incredibly lucky to have met one who loaned me, and eventually gave me, their horse - and his owner did vet me thoroughly, visited regularly and liked being sent monthly updates.

At my last yard there were 3 of us with full loans, all well-cared for. I hate seeing the horror stories about loan horses, because I like to believe that they are the minority.