Pony out on loan and I'm a bit concerned- opinions greatly received.....

nikCscott

nikCscott

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 January 2011
Messages
1,212
Visit site
3 years ago I bought a just 4yo scrap of a Reg'd Sec A because I felt sorry for him i probably shouldn't have bought him as he was far from right for my daughters at the time but.......

I worked with him for 2 years upto him being confident enough to have successful season showing on the lead rein, my daughters were too inexperience to bring him on off the lead so made the decision to loan him to an older child.

After sieving through hundreds of duds we found a lovely family with an eight year old and he has been coming on a treat including a couple of little shows off the lead :D I was planning another 6 months on the loan then bring him back so the girls had a pony each for next years season, camp and hacking out together will make life easier and more interesting for the girls.

I am a mum of 2 and my husband works abroad and I'm exhausted at the end of the day with 2x children 2x dogs and 2x horses (one mine and 1 loan pony for the girls who I will buy in the next few months). I have just heard that the loaner is now pregnant with her 4th (3 under school age) and I can't see how she will have the time of energy for the pony too. I realise its wrong to judge others by your own situation. I have to do all the parenting alone so my situation is different.

There is also the point that the loaner has asked move him closer to home as she doesn't drive so makes sense, but it transpires that at this place he will be alone and she will not have the support she'd had up to now on hand. He's not a good doer and with the new baby i fear that perhaps his needs won't be a high up the order of priority.

But the whole point of the pony being on loan is for him to be ridden and continue his education. My eldest is probably not quite ready for him (experience wise) yet and I'd rather not have 2 ponies for the winter at this time but obviously I would love to have my boy back if the loan situation isn't in his best interest.

I'm going to visit next week and have asked to see him ridden to assess where he's at now to hopefully make more of a informed decision. So hard as he's done so well up to date and the family have always done their best for him, but feeling uneasy :(
 
I wouldn't have one of my horses being kept on their own - that alone would be enough to terminate the agreement for me. I don't think though that you can say she won't have enough time up front. It depends on her support network and indeed the children involved. I have quite a few friends with 4 children and they still manage to pack an awful lot in, in fact often more than the ones I know that seem to find one child a struggle.
 
Agree. I wouldn't let someone take my horse to a yard where it's on its own. Could you suggest they just ride him at your yard? It sounds like you're being really considerate to them, as well - you could just highlight your concerns and say you'd really like him back but obviously as it's worked out well with them in terms of riding and they sound like they like him, perhaps a sharing arrangement would work better? Might be better for them too, esp as you say he's not a good doer so you'd probably be helping them out as well, if they didn't hvae to worry about feeding him every day. Worth offering?

If it was me, esp as your pony sounds like he used to be unconfident, I would also say straight out that I wouldn't want him moving to somewhere where he is on his own.
 
I think you should terminate the loan and bring him home as I wouldn't like the fact he'd be alone and she may not have as much time for him any more. And if your children aren't ready yet to ride he could always spend some time just getting to know them and going for little in hand walks etc and doing things to keep his brain occupied. I hope it all turns out okay when you go to see him :)
 
I wouldn't let a pony/horse live on its own, so I would certainly tell them that isn't on.
Regarding the time, I wouldn't worry about it. Even with a newborn the 8yr old would be just as keen as ever to ride. And ime when a mum has a new baby they often go overboard to make sure the older kids don't feel their being pushed aside. Although I only have 1 child, two ponies, dog & two cats, I work ft too & her father isn't involved, neither do I have family. If I didn't work, let alone if I was married I think I'd manage 4 kids easily. It's more a case of what you're used to.
 
I've seen a few loan contracts other people have drawn up for theirs and some of them have said words to the effect of "horse not to be kept alone". I've put my boy out on loan in the past and whilst he would be OK to keep on his own it would be something I'd put in a loan agreement i.e. he'd have to be kept with other horses.

So I'd say straight out - sorry but to keep pony on his own isn't acceptable and therefore you will take the pony back. If he's been with others up to now he's gonna be an unhappy little man if he's suddenly expected to live on his own and there could be all sorts of issues with this, like I've seen a pony try to climb over a five-bar gate because it was alone in the field (there were other horses in another field nearby) - so basically this would be a reason for me to finish the loan coz you don't know how he'll react to it do you?

Had you thought of getting a sharer whilst keeping him at your own yard??? That might well be a better solution long term as then you could keep an eye on the situation and give you peace of mind but also you'd not have the worry of him being out on loan and is he OK.

But keeping him solo; would be a big NOPE from me I'm afraid.
 
Agree that keeping him on his own is not acceptable, so yes, I'd bring him home for that reason alone.

I'd have a chat with her about whether she'd have time for him now she's expecting again. Everyone is different.I recall having endless energy and being really organised when I was having my children, 6 in 8 years. Wish I was as fit now as I was then.:o
 
I worded OP a bit wrong there are other horses in next door fields but there won't be the teamwork involved in horse care like there has been up until now so no one to change rugs if loaner can't get up there etc.

Too far away to share. But I think J will be ok on him and we'll utilise friends older children to help school him on a bit when were at shows etc. Wish i was a couple of stone lighter but maintaining 10 stone is bloody hard for me and can't see that I could get any lighter without chopping a leg off :(

I think I have made the decision to bring him home just wanted some outside opinion.

Thank you
 
Do they know that you are planning on taking him back anyway in 6 months time ? . I wouldnt keep any horse on it its own, majority would hate it.
She might not want to keep it all winter for you to take back in the spring perhaps ?
 
Yes they know as we have done it on 6 monthly rolling and we had a chat a couple of months ago as she can she through my Facebook how my daughter is progressing and has always been the plan to reunite them when the time was right for them both and I suggested March.

Now how to word it.... :confused::eek::(:o

Looking forward to family hacks for the rest of the summer and the cheeky little chap stealing my car key and generally "expressing" himself! :D
 
I think you just need to give her a buzz and be quite truthful.

Tell her you're not comfortable with the pony being kept on his own, and the chance of no support for her if she can't get there - so think it's best to end the loan now.

Then agree a mutually convenient date on which to collect him.
 
Being kept alone wouldn't worry me but the no support for her when pregnant would unless I knew there was a good back up system in place that a friend would always check and do things for him if she was unable to see to him herself. If no such back up available then yes, I'd bring him home although I'd probably leave it until after the summer holidays for them if possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top