NO he doesn't come with a full wardrobe!!

I would want to send my much loved, treasured horse off with a cheaper saddle and bridle that fitted and a cheap rug or two to set them off. I can understand not sending them off with expensive tack though. Yes they are getting a free horse, but you're going to save on keeping him. Even my good doers could rack up a couple of hundred in feed/care bills in couple of months...
 
I think the thing is, no one wants to get a horse and buy a saddle, which even a cheap wintec is a lot if you don't know your keeping the horse. Yes it's a permanent loan, but horse might not suit loaner or yard he would be at, so may go back within a short time frame, and then loaner would need to buy another saddle for another horse, and probably lose money in the process.

I have loaned out several horses, all have always been with very expensive tack and rugs, all £1000+ easily, but I want my horses comfortable. I have also loaned several ponies myself and had tack, be it not always good quality or fitting, but it was something to start with that until I knew I would keep the pony and buy him new tack.

I sold a horse once who didn't have rugs included, it was the start of summer and he was out naked, yet I still gave ALL his rugs, which included Rambo/horseware rugs in excess of £800 if bought new easily, purely because I loved the horse and the new owner couldn't afford the rugs, so I was happy to give them, and that truly is a gift because I wouldn't ever get them back as he's sold not loaned!

I also have a pony who I loan out now, who went with everything, literally! Even show jumps and electric fencing.

I think you should expect people to ask if tack is included, especially if not mentioned in the ad, or if you don't want people asking you about tack, go and spend a small amount of money for cheaper rugs and tack for a horse you love so he is comfortable

Bexcy-bee x
 
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I think it's entirely up to the OP whether she offers the horse with tack or not. I think it wise to include this in the advert though as it is usual that loan horses go with their tack and at least a rug to get them started. Most people will expect tack and rugs with their loan horse but if OP is clear about what goes and what doesn't, then she won't waste her time or anyone elses.
 
I bought a really comfy synthetic saddle that fits my horse really well for £75. Some of the kinkade saddles are only about £150, and are nice.

Should be able to get hold of some cheapo rugs from eBay/preloved?
 
Hi OP, I can fully understand you not wishing your saddle to go with the horse. But as a potential loaner and at this time of year I would at least expect a bridle with his usual bit, a basic saddle and at least one rug if needed to start him off - I'd be willing to pay a deposit if you wanted these items back but also assurance that you'd not want the horse back in spring once I've paid his keep, kept him fit etc. I can tell you're geniune in your regard for this horse but to find him a good home you will need to offer him with the basics .... A loaner will be more than happy to pay for rugs, tack etc as its all the fun of having a horse but you should offer a token wardrobe to make him a more appealing prospect x
 
Were it necessary to loan mine out she would go with everything as I know that everything fits and she has a rug for every slight nuance in temperature. I can't imagine not doing that TBH, if I don't trust the loaners with rugs and tack I sure as heck don't trust them not to ship her off to Potters.
 
My loan boy came with everything but the kitchen sink (literally) even sheath cleaner, brushes, mane and tail spray, stirrup hole punch, etc etc, the list is endless.

I would expect a loan horse to come with the basic rugs nd tack atleast, as it's a loan, they're not mine (even though i treat them as such) with a full itemised list of things sent, I would expect a rug or two and tack. I sent my boy back with everything he came with plus some rugs and other bits I got for him.

When I bought my mare I wouldn't have expected her to come with anything, but I bought from a friend so she gave me a saddle, anmd lent me a bridle until I could get a replacement. I was lucky though, and wouldn't have expected any of this when buying.
 
If I was to send my girl out on loan I would make sure she went with every single thing she needed. Though I wouldn't ever loan my girl out anyway unless it was to an extremely close friend - even then unlikely.
 
I also agree that I would expect a loan horse to come with everything - albiet not an expensive saddle but one suitable that fits

My young lad went out briefly on loan and he was sent with the lot. These were all itemised and written in the contract that if returned, he would also be returned with those items or in the event that they were lost or damaged (not from wear and tear) that they would be replaced at same value or money given to cover)

I now have him on "permanent loan", although I intend to buy him soon but was given everything for him. However I am a bit picky and have bought him mostly new stuff ;). Lol. At the same time, I am also wary about bringing him on too much incase the loan agreement gets revoked - I've seen it happen many a time

I think OP, you are being quite unreasonable to expect your horse to go on loan and give nothing with him. Whilst I understand perhaps not your expensive saddle, I can't understand why you wouldn't provide a cheaper alternative. However if that's the way you want to go, you need to make it clear in your adverts that he comes with nothing - although I really think you'll struggle to find someone to take him under those terms because at the end of the day, a loan is risky in the sense it can be terminated at any time, regardless of your intentions

Good luck anyway :)
 
I currently have a horse out on loan and he came naked, not even.a head collar. I knew this at the time of taking him on, but tbh this is my third loan horse and had built up a selection of rugs, etc which thankfully fit current horse, although I did spend over £100 on a new turnout rug last year.

With regards to tack I already had a bridle which fitted, but have bought various bits and boots, etc.. I have also bought him a gp and dressage saddle second hand and had both fitted, yes this seems excessive but the way I look at it is the saddles are a cash asset . If and when the current horse went back (it is a permanent loan but say for instance owner was moving far away and I didn't want to buy him) I know that I soon would be looking out for the next loan or would buy and if my tack and rugs didn't fit I would simply sell them and buy things that did.

Yes I agree that a loan horse should come with at least some basic tack but on the other hand I wouldn't want fork out for a wow if something happened to it .
 
If I took on a bog standard fitting horse on loan I'd not be bothered by buying it something on the lines of a thorowgood or wintec etc.
A horse that's difficult to fit would be a nightmare...and it wouldn't be fair on the horse either.
If I sent any of mine out, which I won't ever, they'd go with what fits them, it's not fair on them not to IMO.
 
SatansLittleHelper said:
I find it completely fascinating that someone would hand over a living, breathing animal but then baulk over the saddle etc...my mind boggles :/
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I actually agree too.

You have a faithful old servant you want to send out on loan and you won't even spend the £200 or so you need to spend to ensure he has correctly fitting tack? Really?! That sounds bonkers to me. If he owes you nothing then surely, for the sake of his welfare, you could sort him out some cheap but well fitting stuff to go away with.

Obviously you aren't obliged to but if he were mine I would definitely make sure he was provisioned for...
 
Kat said:
Buy him a cheap bridle, a well fitting saddle (secondhand or synthetic) a cheap headcollar, leadrope and either let a couple of your older rugs go with him or buy a couple of cheap unbranded ones. It will make him easier to loan and give you peace of mind. You can get all of the above for under £500 even if you buy it all rather than use your own old stuff. You can list it in the loan agreement and security mark it so it comes back. You can even take a deposit for it all.
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ester said:
I might hesitate to send the wow out tbf but would send everything else with him and acquire a 2nd hand saddle that fitted (small cost for the peace of mind IMO).

A permanent loan is still a loan - they may have a life disaster and decide to return or you may ask for him back. Permanent means that the intention is that it is open ended from both sides but the reality isn' t always that.
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When I loaned my boy previous to buying him, I was loaned basic tack, but I bought my own bits and bobs.
I think it's unfair to expect someone that (if we're being honest here) is taking a horse that is no longer useful to you off your hands, to buy all the gear aswell.
As quoted above, loans CAN end, and where does that then leave the loanee if they have spent a fortune on tack for a horse that technically isn't theirs?

Having said that, my YO has just got her pony back off a year long loan. He was sent with a good quality wardrobe (well fitting rugs/ tack), and he has been returned with a couple of his actual rugs shredded, and some rugs in place of ones he was sent with, which aren't useable for one reason or another. He also has white hairs on his back which weren't there before, leading YO to think that well fitting saddle has been used on loaner's other pony, and he's been fobbed off with a different one.
For this reason, I wouldn't be sending the top quality stuff, but just something that you know fits and a basic starter pack of rugs, especially considering the time of year. The deposit idea above is a good one.
 
There is no right or wrong way of doing anything. Just because one person 'expects' loan horses to come with tack, it doesn't mean they all have to. I have loaned (and still am loaning) over the years both children's ponies and my riding horse. I don't mind if they come with the odd rug but I don't like them coming with a saddle. I prefer to get my own saddle fitted. I don't understand why people have said 'why would anyone spend money buying a saddle for a horse they don't own' which seems a very random way of thinking. Even when/if the horse ever returns to it's owners, you still own the saddle that you bought.
 
I think if you care about the horse enough not to sell him but do the permanent loan you should also care enough to either send him with the tack that fits, or buy some cheaper stuff that also fits to send with him.

Since its an expensive saddle you could sell it and buy the horse a cheaper full kit with the proceeds perhaps?

Or sell the horse, that way you can keep the tack.

:-(
 
tickety_boo said:
There is no right or wrong way of doing anything. Just because one person 'expects' loan horses to come with tack, it doesn't mean they all have to. I have loaned (and still am loaning) over the years both children's ponies and my riding horse. I don't mind if they come with the odd rug but I don't like them coming with a saddle. I prefer to get my own saddle fitted. I don't understand why people have said 'why would anyone spend money buying a saddle for a horse they don't own' which seems a very random way of thinking. Even when/if the horse ever returns to it's owners, you still own the saddle that you bought.
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But saddles are worth peanuts secondhand so they would be hugely out of pocket, OP could end the loan after a few months, theres no guarantee that wouldn't happen.
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
But saddles are worth peanuts secondhand so they would be hugely out of pocket, OP could end the loan after a few months, theres no guarantee that wouldn't happen.
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Agree with this. Although if I did have to buy a saddle I'd probably just get a thorowgood T4 as they seem to fit most horses, there's about 5 horses on our yard who are varying sizes yet all have the 17" medium/wide one. They're not too pricey and tend to have a reasonable resale value so I'd be pretty confident I wouldn't lose too much money/could be used on new horse.

I'm still not sure I'd want to kit out a loan horse right off the bat though and think OP might struggle to find someone at this time of year who is willing to.
 
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i had a permanent loan a few years ago and i bought all of the tack and rugs off the owner, it was a lot of stuff that they didnt need anymore as they didnt have any other horses and it all fitted him -it was a good answer for both of us,and i think it showed i was able and willing to look after him and wasnt just looking for a wonderful horse for nothing!
 
My Welsh Cob recently went out on long term loan (hopefully). I explained to the potential loanee that he will not be coming with a saddle as I was currently using his saddle on my other horse. She was 100% fine about it. I did have one girl viewing him - she expected everything, grooming kit the lot. That did shock me a bit, I have to say!
 
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OP I totally understand where you're coming from. I certainly wouldn't basically give someone a £1500 WOW saddle forever for free, even if I DIDNT need it for something else!

However, I do think that the following is a good idea -

DragonSlayer said:
If you don't want your posh tack to go, get a second hand wintec for him. I picked a lovely one up off FB for less that £100, got it fitted by my saddler, perfect for the job. You could do this, AND a second hand bridle too, that way....no worries over your good stuff. :)
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And this is also a good point -

Tiddlypom said:
It would cost less to kit him out with a decent second hand wardrobe to go with him on loan than it will be for you to keep him on as a long term retiree.

Eta I know you have the horse's welfare at heart in wanting to loan rather than sell, and I admire you for that.
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I've had a horse on permanent long term loan - he came with the lot.

However if I was going down the loan route again I'd be happy enough to buy the odd bit of kit.

As someone else said, there's no right or wrong answer. It's whatever works for both parties.

I also think it's an entirely reasonable question for any potential loanee to have asked. In fact I'd be concerned if the question wasn't asked.
 
As stated, there is not right and wrong here. Loaner: it is up to you the terms of the loan, and Loanee: It is up to them whether to accept these terms and take the horse on.

I do think you will find it hard to find a loan home (permanent or not) who is happy to outlay the expense of fully kitting out a horse who they have no ownership over, and could be removed at any time. You can say now that this would not be the case, but life happens. Things change and you cannot garantee (can never spell that word!) the future.

Personally I would want to know that my horse was going somewhere with tack that fitted it well: I would not send my very expensive prized tack, but would source a well fitted second hand/synthetic saddle to send with them. I would also want to know that they were being ridden in the bit that I know they are comfortable with. Yes, loaner may change tack at their disgression, but at least I know I have sent them as I want them to remain. I would also be sending the horse with at least one turnout rug, and stable rug if they are to be stabled, and any boots which the horse required.

On permanent loan I would expect to buy some items for the horse, but not to fully kit them out, as at the end of the day I could be left high and dry with a potentially expensive wardrobe and no horse to wear it.

I wish you luck and hope that you are able to find someone to loan your horse on your terms. Personally I think you are driving a hard bargain. :(
 
zigzag said:
If you loan, I would expect tack and rugs to come with it
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When l loaned, everything came with the horse...sometimes I even got haynets!

The point of loaning is you don't have to pay the purchase price...having to buy a saddle and rugs could easily cost £1000.

Just because they don't want to make expensive purchases for a horse that they will get no financial recompense from (ie selling) doesn't mean they aren't going to take good care of your horse. That's just offensive.
 
When we loaned a pony, she came with saddle, bridle and a rug. I was happy to buy a heavier rug. I paid all her bills including vet bills whilst we had her. I would again expect basic fitted tack and possibly one rug if it was autumn/winter when I got it for a horse I was loaning. I also don't think you can say permanent loan, situations change and you may want the horse back, or the people want to send it back.
 
I have loaned/leased out ponies several times and they have always gone with bridle, saddle and rugs. We have a horse on loan at the moment, and he came to us with bridle, saddle and rugs also. So it is the normal thing, and I can quite understand why potential loaners are expecting it. I know with our loan horse we would have been a bit dubious about splashing out for a new saddle for him at the beginning, although now he has been with us a couple of years we have bought him a new bridle, new rugs and are probably going to get a new saddle too.

However, it is your horse and your equipment so it is up to you what you want to do. However, you do need to make it very clear in any adverts that that is the situation. You also have to accept that it may put a lot of people off, so if you are finding it difficult to find a loaner you might have to have a rethink. On the other hand, you might find someone who used to have a horse the same size and already has rugs and a saddle that fit, you never know!
 
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