Not sure whats best, re horse and uni.

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SnowGo

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I'm currently at uni and had originally left my horse at home in Derby with a loaner looking after her. I was happy with the loaner (and still am to some extent) and thought it was for the best as it seemed to much hassle to keep transporting my horse (who is a pain to load) back and forth, especially as I wasn't sure where I would keep her back at home in the holidays.

But now I'm really wanting to have her down here at uni with me, I miss her terribly and there are a few things I'm too happy about with my loaner. She's put my horse in a martingale and there was a flash on her bridle (though I'm not sure if the flash has ever been used). When I bought my horse she had a fair few problems, most pretty much went when her "buck-stop" was removed, so I'm quite funny about putting unnecessary tack on her. I think my loaner is mainly putting the tack on to look "fashionable" which is frustrating but not the worst thing in the world i suppose.
My loaner has also been teaching her husband to ride on my horse, which in principle i don't mind, her husband is very good with her. But he is very well built, and quite frankly I was only happy with my loaner (who is not the weight of her husband) riding my horse because she said that she didn't jump. My horse has a long and slightly swayed back so I don't want so much weight being on her. Especially as she is very tense in her back (has been before loaner) and needs work doing to correct this. And of course, my loaner hasn't booked the mctimoney lady who should be doing my horse, which was supposed to happen almost a month ago. My loaner has been ill, but I don't see why she couldn't have asked me to book it myself and drive down to be there myself. I'm only an hour and a half away and she knows I have a car now so can travel. She's also taken my horse's overreach boots off which drives me nutty too.

I suppose in short, no one looks after a horse the same, and the other person is always wrong! :rolleyes:
I feel really stuck on what to do, I really want my horse down at uni with me, and there are plenty of yards in the area, one decent one currently has a space. But I don't want to just take her away from my loaner, who i know does really love her. And I don't know what to during the holidays with my horse. I wouldn't want her going back to the yard she's currently at ideally (nor do I think it would be possible) but I don't really know of yards in the area which would be happy to do short term livery over summer & christmas?

Any opinions on what I should do? I feel a bit trapped in the middle!
 
Did you not draw up a loan agreement stipulating exactly who should be riding the horse during the loan period and what tack she should be wearing, etc? If not, I would have a chat with the loaner and explain that you are not happy for someone of her oh's weight to be riding the mare and that you are unhappy with the tack she is using. Just a nice friendly chat - if you didn't explain all this before loaning the mare out then how us the loaner to know. I would also get a loan agreement drawn up asap if you haven't already, stipulating exactly what is expected from each of you during the loan period.

The point of a loan is so that you can still keep some control over the horse - if something is happening you aren't happy with then say so. From reading your post it would seem that loaning the horse out whilst you're at uni is the easier option for you so just keep friendly and on good terms with the loaner and all should be well. Good luck :)
 
I would have a chat with the loaner and raise your concerns and see what happens. If it still doesn't work out then perhaps think of taking her to Uni with you, I wonder if you could find a yard that does DIY/Ass DIY in the term time, but then full livery on holidays. Are you in halls of residence? A lot of the Uni's I know only allow first years into the halls and then you have to find a house/room to rent. If this is the case with you then it might be easier as you don't have to go home for the entire holidays?
 
We haven't got a loan agreement written so if she stays with the loaner I will write one. I've just spoken to her about the overreach boots and the mctimoney lady so they should be getting sorted. Will face the martingale and her husband riding another day, they don't do too much riding with her anyway.

I suppose I'm just sitting here feeling a bit jealous of my friends at uni with their horses. I'm at an equine college and 2 of my flatmates, my best friend and about half of my course mates all have their horses with them on campus or nearby!
I was considering trying to find somewhere that would full livery her here over the holidays, but that'd be the time when I'm most free to be with her iyswim? I've just found a yard near home that mentions holiday livery, so figured it would be worth asking if they would take my horse in over the holidays.
My uni offers accommodation for all years and we can stay over the holidays (apart from summer but I think we can stay quite late and come back quite early) and I also have a friend with a house in the area, so if worst comes to worst I could probably ask to rent out her room in the holidays
 
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