My sister has asked me to take over sorting a loan WVTB for her horse...

sandi_84

sandi_84

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But since the last time (first time I'd ever had to arrange a loan) I've forgotten everything I asked...

Can you all give me some good questions to ask the viewers?

Poor sis is feeling really down about it all and broke down in tears to me today when she asked if I'd do it for her as it's all a bit much atm for her to cope with :(

The obvious ones that spring to mind are:

Have they any ownership/loan experience
How much riding they've done before (to also be assessed during the ride part of the viewing)
What they would like to do with him - he's not going to win any big shows or be an event prospect for eg but might do nicely with some local shows if they put the work in
What are their facilities like - stables, turnout, field companions etc
 
Ive done this once before, well similarish, I bought a mare with a short loan with view to buy. It was stipulated how long the loan would go on for before I either bought or sent back. Insurance was a must, set up and paid by me. Tack was not supplied which was an issue and eventually they borrowed me the saddle and they wanted to see where she was coming too.
Apart from that, they wanted to sell, so didnt assess my riding etc as their priority was selling and I dont think they were too bothered how I rode etc as long as they sold.
 
Louby said:
Ive done this once before, well similarish, I bought a mare with a short loan with view to buy. It was stipulated how long the loan would go on for before I either bought or sent back. Insurance was a must, set up and paid by me. Tack was not supplied which was an issue and eventually they borrowed me the saddle and they wanted to see where she was coming too.
Apart from that, they wanted to sell, so didnt assess my riding etc as their priority was selling and I dont think they were too bothered how I rode etc as long as they sold.
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This horse is my sisters "baby" she loves him from forelock to hooves so she's having a 3 month initial loan and then if it all works out from both sides she'll sell to the loaner but she wants the best home and wants a competent rider.
He will be going with all tack and rugs too.
I feel really sorry for her and the loan girl who has him atm - my sister because of the prolapsed spine which leaves her unable to care for her horse or her daughters pony (also on loan) and the girl because she really is a lovely girl who loves this horse like he was hers, unfortunately her hours at work were cut and she's unable to cope financially anymore :(
 
I really feel for your sister, what an awful situation to be in and such a shame for the loaner.
The horse I lwvtb was for sale first and we just asked if they would consider a short lwvtb as I had had a bad experience with my previous horse. They were desperate to sell, so apart from protecting their 'investment', they werent really that bothered as long as she sold but it all ended well and I bought her.
You hear so many bad experiences and I can understand your concern. I really hope it works out for your sister and her horse. I would definately look into drawing up a contract, I think there used to be one on the BHS website.
Good luck I really hope it all ends well.
 
Louby said:
I really feel for your sister, what an awful situation to be in and such a shame for the loaner.
The horse I lwvtb was for sale first and we just asked if they would consider a short lwvtb as I had had a bad experience with my previous horse. They were desperate to sell, so apart from protecting their 'investment', they werent really that bothered as long as she sold but it all ended well and I bought her.
You hear so many bad experiences and I can understand your concern. I really hope it works out for your sister and her horse. I would definately look into drawing up a contract, I think there used to be one on the BHS website.
Good luck I really hope it all ends well.
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Thank you :) We do have a contract all written up for the loan girl so we just need to re-do the little details and then give it to the new person. Glad your situation worked out well!

Has anyone out there got any other questions I should be asking?
 
You can ask questions on the phone but IMHO by far the best is to see the person 'in action'. I've no LWVTB but just normal loan, when people phone unless they sound totally unsuitable in what they want I let them come and look.
1) hand them a headcollar and point to pony in field - if they look horrified, take headcollar back and say nice to meet you as you wave goodbye!
2) hand them grooming kit and tack - clearly they will be a little nervious being watched and may do things differently to how you would but you can see whether they are vaguely suitable from how they interact with your horse.

I had lots that I'm sure could ride but I never got as far as letting them get on, handling and management is again IMHO more important than riding for a loan.
 
Polos Mum said:
You can ask questions on the phone but IMHO by far the best is to see the person 'in action'. I've no LWVTB but just normal loan, when people phone unless they sound totally unsuitable in what they want I let them come and look.
1) hand them a headcollar and point to pony in field - if they look horrified, take headcollar back and say nice to meet you as you wave goodbye!
2) hand them grooming kit and tack - clearly they will be a little nervious being watched and may do things differently to how you would but you can see whether they are vaguely suitable from how they interact with your horse.

I had lots that I'm sure could ride but I never got as far as letting them get on, handling and management is again IMHO more important than riding for a loan.
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Thank you, this is what I plan to do - sorry I should have said :o
The idea like you say is to weed out the completely unsuitables by phone (people who've never even seen a horse, novice riders as he can be a bit spooky, people who live too far away to do proper checks on a regular basis), invite a few for a viewing and let them groom & tack up (he's going to be stabled so we don't have to keep turning out and catching with each person) and make a decision from there whether they are suitable to progress to riding. If they are we'll let them ride and see how they go, then from there I'll get some feedback and see if they are still interested, go home and have a think about who would be best for him and whittle it down some more, then do the final visit at their place and see what their facilities are like - he needs stabled, not every night but my sis want's him to have a stable as he's very prone to mud fever.

My brain has just died about what questions I should really be asking ha ha! Stupid brain! :rolleyes::D
 
I'd ask about the types of horses they have ridden previously - experienced riders should have tried a whole range of horses
You could also pose a couple of scenarios and ask who they would handle things? Eg horse appears lame when bringing in from the field, what would you do? Vehicle approaching you on the road towing a rattly trailer, how would you react? Think about general care issues, veterinary issues as well as ridden and handling ones. You are essentially interviewing this person for a very important job :)
 
unicorndreams said:
I'd ask about the types of horses they have ridden previously - experienced riders should have tried a whole range of horses
You could also pose a couple of scenarios and ask who they would handle things? Eg horse appears lame when bringing in from the field, what would you do? Vehicle approaching you on the road towing a rattly trailer, how would you react? Think about general care issues, veterinary issues as well as ridden and handling ones. You are essentially interviewing this person for a very important job :)
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Thanks! I wouldn't have thought of things like that really, I could ask about how they would treat mud fever too as he is prone to getting it quite badly :)
 
sandi_84 said:
Thank you, this is what I plan to do - sorry I should have said :o
The idea like you say is to weed out the completely unsuitables by phone (people who've never even seen a horse, novice riders as he can be a bit spooky, people who live too far away to do proper checks on a regular basis), invite a few for a viewing and let them groom & tack up (he's going to be stabled so we don't have to keep turning out and catching with each person) and make a decision from there whether they are suitable to progress to riding. If they are we'll let them ride and see how they go, then from there I'll get some feedback and see if they are still interested, go home and have a think about who would be best for him and whittle it down some more, then do the final visit at their place and see what their facilities are like - he needs stabled, not every night but my sis want's him to have a stable as he's very prone to mud fever.

My brain has just died about what questions I should really be asking ha ha! Stupid brain! :rolleyes::D[/QUOTE

I keep my 2 horses out all year at home. I do have stables if there was an emergency but prefer them to be out (they are v happy outside rugged with adlib haylage). Just because they live out doesn't mean they'll suffer from mud fever anymore than a part stabled horse will. Some people say mud fever is caused by an organism that is in the soil so in some places horses are more prone to it, not sure if there's any truth in that though. Don't rule out a home which may want to let their horses live out 24/7 if it is otherwise the pefect home for your sister's horse.
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A suggestion of questions that I've put together based on your posts + some of the replies on this thread and some other things that I thought about:

Where do they live? Since you want to be able to do check ups on a regular basis (at least while on loan), you don't want them to live too far away, also are they okay with you coming for a vetting visit before they get to loan the horse?

What is their experience, both in riding and in taking care of a horse/pony? Have they owned, loaned or in some other way been responsibe for a horse before?

What sort of horse do they prefer to ride/are used to riding? Are they better at using their aids to brake or to push on?
Are they used to horses that spooks, how do they react when a horse spooks and how do they deal with it (I presume that keeping calm and being confident is always a plus)? If they meet a vehicle on the road towing a rattly trailer, how would they react?

Ask for references.

What do they want to do with the horse? Make it clear what his limitations are (as in "might do nicely with some local shows"), tell them a little about how he is to hack and school.

What stables, shelter, turnout and schooling facilities do they have/is available for them? If he needs field companions, do they have it?
Is there other experienced horse people at the yard that they can ask for advice or help if they need it, or if they have the horse at home, do they know someone with experience that they can ask for advice and help if they need it?

How much do they estimate that it costs in average to loan/own a horse in their area? What do they think it costs to insure a horse, to have the farrier out, to have a horse's teeth floated, basic cost to just have the veterinarian come to your yard without actually doing anything to your horse (I presume that UK veterinarians also have a base fee as over here), and do they understand that there can be unexpected costs when you own a horse?

What do they know about mud fever, colic, laminitis, Cushings or some other more wellknown problems/diseases that can affect horses? What do they know about intestinal parasites and deworming? What do they know about tetanus and horse vaccinating?
What do they know about first aid for horses? If the horse appears lame when bringing in from the field, what would they do?

What do they know about feeding a horse? Can they mention some plants that is toxic to horses (Ragwort, Yew etc.)?


Make it clear that it is a loan with view to buy. Make it clear that there will be a contract, stipulating for example how long the loan would go on for, before either buying or sending back, who is responsible for paying the insurance and in case an accident happens, who is responsibel for paying the veterinary care etc.

Tell them something basic about his bad and good habits (how he is with the farrier, to clip, catch, groom, if there is something he dislikes etc.)
Tell them if he needs special food or special ointments/care due to mud fever or something else.


As said, it is just a suggestion, good luck with finding a loaner.

:)
 
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