Owner/Loaner contact

McNally

McNally

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My old horse went out on TRIAL loan last weekend. The loaner said she would calld me that evening and let me know he was settled and ok- she didnt so i text her the next morning "Hi just wondered if he's ok and settled last night" (he's super sensitive) she replied and said he was very stressy and hadnt eaten, she couldnt do anything much with him. This is to be expected and i had told them this.
So i text again on Wednesday to ask if any better, which he was and she said she was going to ride and would be in touch on saturday- she didnt, so i text her again but have had no reply.
Now normally i dont think id worry too much but have lost a horse on loan once before so have been uber careful this time but am getting slightly antsy!
secondly he is a difficult horse hence the trial to make sure she can cope.

Am i being ott? Once i know they are ok together i'll be fine Id love to hear about him as often as she wants to get in touch or as little as we are both happy with (ie a check in every few months and the odd "he did a show this weekend type thing)
What would you expect?
 
In the early days I'd be looking for regular communication. If loaner hasn't been great then tbh I'd do a quick spot check visit in the next couple of days.
 
Yes to unannounced spot check.
Having bought a horse I would not expect hassle, just the odd text saying he's settled for peace of mind and updates if wanted very occasionally. Having loaned a horse I would expect that I would have contact on occasion the first few days, settling, first ride etc and then regular contact weekly/monthly.
Having gone out on trial loan I'd expect checks on horse and me and I'd continually update.

He is your horse, he is sensitive and quite frankly a lack in response to me would sugest things not currently going to plan and them trying to hide the fact. A spot check will put you mind at rest as to whether your happy (bear in mind he may get a bit wound up seeing you again in somewhere new, so go physically as well as anything very out of character) or want to pull him out of there.

Pan
 
I would be spot checking her today! Having loaned and been a loanee on both sides, have been in touch re: first few days, first hack out, first show and then probably every couple of months at a max!
 
I'm usually a person who over worries about things and people tell me to calm down! by your replies i think im right to be concerned. Unfortunatly i really cant get over there today as per my other recent thread our pony is not well and im waiting to see the vet again to discuss his treatment.
I'm going to try getting in touch again with her, if i cant i will head over after work tomorrow. I'd planned on visiting him on saturday morning anyway.

She was quick enough to reply before i agreed to them trying him :-(
 
i wouldn't be panicking but i would be slightly concerned,perhaps things didn't go to plan on saturday and she's worried that if she tells you this you'll want him back:confused:
 
Like others have said, do a visit but don't assume the worst, as already said they might not want you to think they can't cope. I've only loaned once, a first pony for daughter who has spent the last 20 years in successful loan homes. I still sent a quick text each day for first few days, told them to call or visit anytime & then we'd speak once a week for first month. After that I sent the odd picture message when daughter & pony did something cute or they'd call me to say hello once a month. Think this may have been slight overkill, but they only loaned her so she could be exercised & from my Pov they had a waiting list for pony so wasn't going to risk them wanting her back.
 
I think she is probably just being a bit forgetful but that's no excuse! I always update my owner and I am a sharer so she still has the horse the rest of the time. It just makes sense, the owner can usually reassure you if things aren't going well to start with and make suggestions. She probably isn't thinking about how worried you are but she should be!

I think texts/emails are good as they are non-intrusive and you can reply anytime. Have you said to her 'please make sure you update me I just want to know he is settling in OK' or something to that effect? You have every right to do an unannounced spot check though and you should certainly do an arranged visit after he has settled in anyway, she should realise that and welcome it and understand you have to if she has not updated you!
 
littlelegs said:
Think this may have been slight overkill, but they only loaned her so she could be exercised & from my Pov they had a waiting list for pony so wasn't going to risk them wanting her back.
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Haha I think that's what people should be doing! I always think I am texting my owner too much and he probably thinks 'oh her again' but I know anyone would prefer that to never hearing from me!
 
Mandwhy- I know the owners of the pony we had would love to have her back home but with no jockey if she isn't on loan & worked she spends her time in a lami paddock, a text isn't intrusive anyway & I know they liked updates.
 
I agree that an unannounced check up is probably a good idea, just to put your mind at ease. I personally would expect a bit more communication this early on, especially as its a loan trial, but it could just be that they're still trying to work things out / settle him and she doesn't want to worry you into thinking that they can't cope and therefore take him back. Let us know how it goes, hope your pony is ok x
 
Ok got hold of her, apparently she had left her phone at a friends and had only got it back today..... However news is it's not going well at all. I think he's coming home. I'm gutted she's gutted! I have no idea what the heck to do with him! Poor boy- anyone want bit of a challenge?! Lovely rewarding loving horse if you can get things right for his sensitive special little soul!
 
McNally said:
Ok got hold of her, apparently she had left her phone at a friends and had only got it back today..... However news is it's not going well at all. I think he's coming home. I'm gutted she's gutted! I have no idea what the heck to do with him! Poor boy- anyone want bit of a challenge?! Lovely rewarding loving horse if you can get things right for his sensitive special little soul!
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From a loaner perspective I think it's fair to send oodles of updates initially and then maybe taper off a bit... We've just taken a lovely veteran mare on loan and her owner was obviously on pins at first - I added her on FB and tagged her in photos, sent the odd text and she popped up once with her mum (with half hour notice so I told them to carry on and I'd speak to them later) and that really put her mind at ease... My daughter has a pony on loan for my grand daughter and her owner gets a piccie and update by text once a month or so - that's a year down the road...

If he does come home, maybe see if you can advertise your lad for loan again on the understanding that they spend a week or two back and forth to your place so you can check there's potential for a good relationship between horse and loaner before he's moved... I did this with the pony my children learnt to ride on... In the meantime, maybe even see if there are any people around looking to ride... I've got a lovely student from the local university who pops out when she can to take my TB out for a bit or school him - it's not a true share as she doesn't pay anything because it's a benefit for me (and him) - she copes very nicely with him and he's a happy bunny when she gets up there...
 
To be fair, a week is not long for him to settle if he is stressy. My first horse, it took her a MONTH to go back to the placid dobbin that we loaned. She was the POLAR opposite to the horse we went to see, but once she settled in and got to know us and the area she relaxed.
But then we had her at home and I was a kid so I spent a LOT of time with her.

I think she needs to give it a bit longer than a week to decide!
 
Normally no I'd agree but the fact is he can't under and circumstances be kept with/ near mares as although he will graze nicely with no problem try and get him away from them!.....I had said this but he was put straight with a mare. This will take months for him to get over tbh and he won't settle at all now he knows she's at that yard as even moved apart he will want her! They came back and fore for weeks before taking him as we all wanted to be sure. He needs careful management from day one at a new place. At mine he was the quietest chilled horse. Even loading and travelling him is going to be a nightmare :-(
 
To be honest I would have him back anyway, if you specifically said about the mare thing and then they went and did it the opposite anyway?? When I loaned my mare her owner was very specific about her needs and I ensured that they were carried out after all she knew her horse best at that time!
 
Miss Bean, I completely see where your coming from my problem being he went on loan as i cant keep him. I thought id permenantly rehomed him to a fab home last year but recently they said they could no longer keep him. Ive advertised lots but the place he's at is the only response ive had.
My yard is tiny just my horse and my daughters- if he was we would never be able to ride together as he cant be left alone (expecially as i have electric tape) it would be dangerous. Also tbh hes too much for me to ride and i just cant afford him. Ive struggled with day to day horse keep bills recently and am about to fact BIG vets bills for our pony.
My heard says go get him right now and keep him but my head knows its just not possible.
 
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