Nervous about getting first loan horse!

[macnamara]

I'm going to view a horse with view to loan soon, I am so nervous! I am an experienced rider but I have never owned or loaned before. The horse will be kept at a knowledgeable yard where I will get lots of help...but still..I feel nervous! Is this normal when buying or loaning your first horse? I think it might be because the horse I'm going to look at is a TB and all I've ever heard over the years is 'hard to keep', 'poor feet' etc. etc.

Any advice on your first horse or hoof care for a TB in light work?

Thanks

 

[DreamingIsBelieving]

I'm sure it's normal to feel nervous! When you say you haven't loaned, does that include part loaning?

 

[Tronk]

I was very nervous when I got my current horse on loan! Even though I'd had ponies and horses in my teens of my own, I'd had a long break from owning a horse so thought I'd forgotten it all. The first night he was here I didn't sleep a wink! Even though I'd shared him for 18months previously so knew all about him I was less stressed about having my first baby!! At least with babies you can check they're still ok in the middle of the night! It got dark and I couldn't see him in the field - had to wait until first light to see if he was ok! Needless to say he was and every night thereafter but even so I still get a flutter of worry as I approach the stable/field in the morning...

You will be fine at a yard with lots of knowledgeable people - the hardest thing will be trying to work out who's advice to take! I was lucky and my loan horse's owner didn't mind continual texts with stupid questions!!

Once I'd had him on loan for a few months, his owner kindly offered to sell him to me, which I accepted. And weirdly it then became slightly easier - after all it was just me to answer to now - if something awful were to happen I wouldn't have to explain/upset the owner. Also I didn't have to second guess what she would want me to do with her horse - it became my decision alone. Not that there was ever a problem or criticism from the owner - it was my own feelings. A little bit like looking after someone else's child!!

Loaning can be the best of all worlds in that you can send the horse back if things don't work out for whatever reason - you will be fine! Enjoy!

 

[macnamara]

Thanks for your replies! No I've never part loaned before, im in my twenties, so now is the first Time I've had the money to look after a horse. I think I will definitely be one to badger the owner with questions! I think I will feel less nervous after I ask him lots of questions about the horses daily routine, when is the last time he was shod, when was he last worked, and so on! If I loaned the mare I would want to try and keep as much the same as possible for her. She is home bred and never been loaned out! So i'm very aware that a new yard with new horses and smells could stress her out quite a bit.

 

[DreamingIsBelieving]

Once I'd had him on loan for a few months, his owner kindly offered to sell him to me, which I accepted. And weirdly it then became slightly easier - after all it was just me to answer to now - if something awful were to happen I wouldn't have to explain/upset the owner. Also I didn't have to second guess what she would want me to do with her horse - it became my decision alone. Not that there was ever a problem or criticism from the owner - it was my own feelings. A little bit like looking after someone else's child!!

*Nods head vigorously in agreement* I know exactly what you mean! I've never owned a horse but I've part loaned a couple (still part loaning the second one - see my siggie) and there has been so many times when I've known exactly what I would do if I owned the horse but I've been scared to do it as the owner might not agree with me! And I've been the position many times where I've cringed my way through putting a rug on that in my opinion does not need to be put on, or had to walk away quickly after leaving a horse/pony in a stable with what is in my opinion, not enough bedding! It can get quite wareing sometimes!
I think the sign to know when you're confident enough to own a horse is when you're starting to question what you've been told to do and you start to think about how you would do it differently.

I'm sure you'll be fine OP. Best thing to do is establish a routine. This isn't only beneficial for the horse, but for you as well. And it's usual for a horse to become a bit more bolshy and ill-mannered with a new caregiver at first - they do test the bounderies, rather like when a class gets a new teacher, they want to see what they can get away with. This is why I think it's a good idea to get a horse that you feel 100% confident with at the viewing, so then you know you can maintain the 'boss' position once you get them home.