Potential buyer asking to loan horse for a month?

sarahhowen said:
I'm actually glad that I just found this post, It was me asking if the OP would consider a loan!

My reasons for asking about a loan were purely to ensure that the horse was right for me, I am not looking for a horse that may be right for a short period of time, I'm looking for a companion for life, to go with my other chappie who has just damaged his Collateral Ligements and who is off for a indefinite period of time, yes you can drop lucky and find the perfect soul mate in one or two visits but I want to be sure that my next horse is right for me and that I am right for him.

There is also a financial aspect but I did offer in my initial email to pay a deposit and then the balance after an agreed period, the financial side of it is I am holding on to my horse fund cash as my horse may require stem cell therapy that isnt covered by the insurers and In being responisible and fair to him I need to be careful where that money is at the moment!!

When we brought Indi we took him on a six week trial period, during that period we did everything together, went out hacking, shows, lessons etc and we really had found what can only be described as a perfect partnership, Indi is with us for life and given that I am fortunate enough to have the time and the finances for a second horse we are looking for a brother for my chap, I would of happily allowed the OP to obtain references from Indi's previous owner (To vouch that we are not irresponsible) and also vets instructors etc, I have nothing to hide.

It would have been impossible to trial the horse out fully at the owners yard even though I would of been willing to travel up as the horse is not that fit and also from emails from the OP they do not have an arena, I would want the horse to be a little fitter before putting him under any pressure and also given that the horse has a issue with a "Sticky Stifle" and is for sale at over £4k at the time (has now been reduced to £3750 - Which is still a lot of money for a horse with a known medical consition!!) I would want to get the horse reletively fit to ensure that the stifle issue does indeed reduce when he is fit.

If I were to purchase the horse outright he would have to be subject to a 5 stage vetting which from other posts that the OP has made on here - she was worried he would fail a 2 stage??

I too have had horror stories with loaning a horse with a view to buy but we made sure that we had a contract in place for the said filly (Too small for me) to protect her, if at any stage I felt that her promary needs are not being attended to then we could of seized her straight back.

Rachel, to be honest, I do understand where you are coming from, its always a risk, but selling Quinn is going to be a risk, you could sell him tomorrow and then he gets passed from home to home. when I sold my youngster the only reason that I allowed her to go out on LWVTB was that I wanted to be confident that she was in the right place with the right people.
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If you wanted him so bad you would BUY him outright. She said NO LOANS!!!! She doesnt know you from Adam,you could be anyone!! I would NEVER let my horse out on loan/trial.
Too many horses go missing!!
 
I'd agree with faracat too. Also if I was the seller I might be slightly put off by the fact you only want to pay a deposit & hold onto your horse fund incase it's needed for veterinary costs for your other. While that shows you are a responsible owner for your existing horse as a seller it would put me off.
 
I can see why some people would want trials, but I don't think they're a good idea. I've been offered a trial with one of our horses, but never took them up on it - I would have been worried sick of something happening to him... Alarm bells ring when I read the potential purchaser's post saying she needs to keep her money close as her own horse may need expensive treatment... It makes it sound as though there would be no money to treat yours if anything happened, or pay for the OPs if something happened to her own horse..

Of course horses change in the first few weeks in a new home - you're on "borrowed petrol" initially, then the horse tries to find where he is in the herd and tests you out a bit. It doesn't mean the horse is bad or has been drugged etc as most people seem to try and say nowadays, it just needs confident handling to help it settle in. I think people would be better organising a good support mechanism of YOs and instructors than trial periods..

It just sounds as though you're not sure about this horse and think it has issues, so its not the horse for you. I also don't think its fair to use real names on here if people don't themselves..
 
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Honey08 said:
Alarm bells ring when I read the potential purchaser's post saying she needs to keep her money close as her own horse may need expensive treatment...


It doesn't mean the horse is bad or has been drugged etc as most people seem to try and say nowadays, it just needs confident handling to help it settle in.


It just sounds as though you're not sure about this horse and think it has issues, so its not the horse for you.


I also don't think its fair to use real names on here if people don't themselves..
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I agree with these points.
 
Honey08 said:
I also don't think its fair to use real names on here if people don't themselves..
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This. Its not polite.

I wouldnt dare risk a horse leaving my premises for a trial or loan, after all the posts re horses going missing/injured etc. it just scares me.
 
well i WOULD let a horse on trial,and currently have a horse on trial myself -ive had him a month and because hes my last ever horse for the rest of my riding life i wanted to make sure he was right. the seller has been brilliant and left us to it and long story short as long as she thinks everythings going well when she visits next week i will be giving her the cheque! hes insured and been treated like a king, i couldnt be happier and have bonded with him and dont want to ever be parted from him. she adores him and wanted the right home for him -ME!!:D
 
I had my first horse on trial for 3 months before I bought him - granted he never left his yard as I was using their riding school and she was selling - I couldnt afford to pay for him when she first put him up for sale so I offered to loan him for 3 months until I had the money then bought him - she was quite happy for me to do this and I paid for him in full at the agreed time. To be honest, 9 years later, and now on my second horse, I dont think I would sell my own horse under the same circumstances - have read a lot of negative stuff about loaning and its really put me off - dont think I could ever put my horse out on loan at all never mind with a view to selling after reading all the horror stories about horses going missing.
 
Buyers who want trial periods need to buy from a dealer and pay a premium for that facility.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, I would not want to loan out a horse to a potential purchaser at a different venue (unless it was someone I knew and trusted implicitly beforehand) as there are too many grey areas of what could go wrong in the trial period. I would welcome them to come and spend time with/and ride the horse on my premises as much as I could allow as the fact that the horse is still for sale. I would also want to do this to assess them and ensure that they were right for my horse!

If your horse is on a livery yard then that is slightly different as the potential purchaser can try him in his current home.

Many folks are good are talking the talk but many don't walk the walk, if you know what I mean. Some people who seem very genuine are good actors rather than the real deal so be wary and say no, unless it is someone that you previously know.

Above all, use your common sense and listen to your gut instinct.
 
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I have let some go on trial, it is trial not a loan, when it has been in the interest of finding the right home and only for a more mature established horse that I knew would settle quickly, to a serious buyer. Insurance will cover for accidents immediately so I insist on the horse being insured, plus a few other precautions in the agreement.

I prefer the vetting to be done prior to trial, it proves serious intent, however I always try and sell when they are fit and in full work, the OP was not riding this horse much and had no facilities for trial.

It is a lot of money to spend on a horse that is unfit and cannot be properly tried, in those circumstances I think a trial period is a fair thing to ask for.
It really depends on how much you want to sell and also whether or not the horse is as described, if it has issues a trial may be best avoided as it may well get sent back.
 
If I can have my word here, Sarah, this post was NOT aimed at you, if you look, I posted this in January and you didn't contact me until the 15th of February.

You are also considerably more than an hour and a half away. I have had several people ask me about LWVTB and have told them all the same thing, for the same reasons.

And I am quite upset that you have chosen a forum to air our discussions. I am also not concerned about him passing a two stage vetting, as he passed one a month ago, I was just nervous about him as any caring owner would be.

:(:(:(
 
sleepykitten said:
If I can have my word here, Sarah, this post was NOT aimed at you, if you look, I posted this in January and you didn't contact me until the 15th of February.

You are also considerably more than an hour and a half away. I have had several people ask me about LWVTB and have told them all the same thing, for the same reasons.

And I am quite upset that you have chosen a forum to air our discussions. I am also not concerned about him passing a two stage vetting, as he passed one a month ago, I was just nervous about him as any caring owner would be.

:(:(:(
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Eek!


But absolute no to the months trial. The only time I knew it was done was for a horse that the vetting threw up with quite a problem. He went on trial for that reason but still she paid a non refundable deposit to cover the owners costs. And for the people who are saying its the only way to ensure a good home.... Utter rubbish!!!! OP doesnt know any of the would be vendors so is having to take their word, buyers have plenty of opps to try out and actually if someone is very focused on having the perfect partner.....a month is not long enough! I was asked for a months trial of the big lad I just sold. A resounding no and he sold quickly to the next person. Horse and hound seems to be really working ATM and as your horse is under 5k, then you would pay £55 (or there abouts) for a photo ad for 2 weeks in the magazine and 4 weeks a online. I saw my new boy twice plus vetting. I expect his behaviour to change a bit now he is with me and it has. Would I know everything about him after a month? No!
 
sarahhowen said:
There is also a financial aspect but I did offer in my initial email to pay a deposit and then the balance after an agreed period, the financial side of it is I am holding on to my horse fund cash as my horse may require stem cell therapy that isnt covered by the insurers and In being responisible and fair to him I need to be careful where that money is at the moment!!
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Clearly you are NOT the person that the OP posted about, but how damned unreasonable is this behaviour?

You want not to pay for the horse in case your other one needs stem cell treatment.

And if it does, what then? Would you just return the horse to the seller and back out?

The only "responsible and fair" thing in this situation is to stop looking for a new horse until you are in a position to buy it.

OP I would on no account loan a sensitive horse for a trial period and most certainly not to Sarah!
 
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cptrayes said:
Clearly you are NOT the person that the OP posted about, but how damned unreasonable is this behaviour?

You want not to pay for the horse in case your other one needs stem cell treatment.

And if it does, what then? Would you just return the horse to the seller and back out?

The only responsible and fair thing in this situation is to stop looking for a new horse unless you are in a position to buy it.

OP I would on no account loan a sensitive horse for a trial period and most certainly not to Sarah!
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Thank you, I am quite upset that she didn't stop to think that this was not about her!!

I'm just trying to find the right home for my boy and be honest about him, but it seems I should have kept quiet for the hassle I am getting for it, no wonder there aren't many genuine sellers out there, they started out like me then became jaded by the cold cruel harsh horsey world ;)
 
Your absolutely right about using your name, I shouldn't of done that and I have just logged in to ammend it, giventhe response it seems a bit like closing the gate after the horse has bolted I will ammend it when I get home as I'm at the yard and can't do it from my phone - to be honest it didn't cross my mind it would be an issue, but I will apologise and take it on board!
 
I agree that the buyer should not be purchasing until she knows what treatment her other horse will need.

Also - I do not agree with trials. If you like the horse in his/her normal surroundings and you have visited many times then I personally feel this is the best judge of a horse you can get prior to purchasing. Of course its risky...everything to do with horses is! but a 1 month trial will not tell you much, a sensitive sort would not settle in that time and will be very different.

From the sellers point of view its too risky, I wouldn't do it unless I knew the person well or had VERY strong recommendations.
 
Some people agree with trials - others dont,

I have actually reported my own initial post to ask the moderators to remove the OP's name out of the post as in hindsight I shouldnt of named names!! So for that I do apologise.

If it came across I was saying your horse is overpriced, that was not my intentions, indeed initially I would of happily considered the original asking price, my reasons for mentioning it are that would be a contributory factor in asking for a loan. The asking price I believe to be fair.

The financial aspect of it only came into play recently, Initially I had offered a deposit and then the balance after a loan/ trial period to ensure that the horse was right and that we were a good match, when my horse had his MRI 3 weeks ago that was when I emailed the OP after seeing the horse relisted to ask again if she would consider a loan and explaining now that my reasons were xyz because of the results of the MRI, the loan period would of been for a period of time that would allow me to do both the Stem Cell and purchase the horse, it was not an either or, still its all moot now.

To the OP I truely wish you all the luck in finding a great home for your horse and apologise if I offended you, sometimes its not easy to say what you are trying to say on a forum and it can be easily misconstrued.

I'm now bowing out of this conversation!!
 
I think it's safe to say you've blown it with the OP Sarah, you've basically told her that you want to trial her horse that you dont actually have the money to buy at present, and of course you've stormed on here and not bothered to check when the OP first asked the question. My advise to the OP is to tell u to take a running jump :(

I'll answer the initial question though:
I let my daughters pony go on trial for 10 days, and it worked out great. They left a substantial deposit and we had a written agreement. Previous pony they bought was so dangerous it had to be shot and being a mother myself I sympathised. End result is a happy child and pony and I'm happy knowing she's in a wonderful home.

Would i do it again? No, but that's nothing to do with my personal experience, more the horror stories i have read. Although I would to someone I know and trusted :)
 
Welshie, I wouldnt expect anything else - Indeed he wouldnt be the horse for me.

Trials have there place, I wouldnt buy a horse without one as I dont put much faith in vettings, on a good day a lame horse can fail a vetting and on a bad day a sound one can fail a vetting, I've seen it happen time and time again.

Maybe I was just lucky with my current chappie that the owner was happy for him to come on a 6 week trial and thats what I am going to hold out for, going with the view that if its ment to be, well it will be!!
 
Don't do it! You could end up with a ruined or broken horse. There are a lot of people out there who think they are capable of owning and riding horses decently but really aren't.
 
I once let a horse go on trial - got her back after three weeks hopping lame with a nail (carpet tack) through her sole so never again. (Not told she was lame just that they had changed their mind).
I would say any trial here - which would include any time or activity (appropriate to the horse's training & ability) and the owner could easily stay at a local B&B for a week & make a holiday of it.
 
I did it once and I'd never do it again. I went to visit him and was appalled at their fencing, concerned about an aggressive horse separated only by a very low jump between fields, and I worried about him for the whole week. At the end of the week they returned him to me and said that now the girl had to choose between having him for her 18th birthday present, or a car. Nice, it would have been good to know the decision hadn't been made before he left home! In the end, they did buy him, but it wasn't worth the worry.

As above, I'd allow any amount of trial for a week without the horse leaving home. I'd even take it to a competition for them if it seemed the right thing to do. I have done that three times, and it worked well.
 
I have never doubted the ability of Sarah to either own or keep horses, my reasons were purely down to the horse being a type who stresses in new surroundings, as he did with me when I first got him. And for the reasons that most other posters have pointed out, that you just don't know what can happen to them, I wouldn't lend my car to a complete stranger, so why would I lend my horse?

If it was someone I knew and trusted, then it may be different, but I will stick to my guns on this one. Whenever i have bought a horse, it has been on gut instinct anyway as to whether we will get on or not, and if I genuinely like the horse.

Indeed, he has gone from a horse I thought I had made a mistake with,(unheard of! lol) as he took quite some time to settle, to one my completely novice sister was riding around on bareback just this morning.:eek:

I'm holding out for the right home though.
 
sleepykitten said:
I have never doubted the ability of Sarah to either own or keep horses, my reasons were purely down to the horse being a type who stresses in new surroundings, as he did with me when I first got him. And for the reasons that most other posters have pointed out, that you just don't know what can happen to them, I wouldn't lend my car to a complete stranger, so why would I lend my horse?

If it was someone I knew and trusted, then it may be different, but I will stick to my guns on this one. Whenever i have bought a horse, it has been on gut instinct anyway as to whether we will get on or not, and if I genuinely like the horse.

Indeed, he has gone from a horse I thought I had made a mistake with,(unheard of! lol) as he took quite some time to settle, to one my completely novice sister was riding around on bareback just this morning.:eek:

I'm holding out for the right home though.
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Agree with all of this. No way would I let one of mine out on trial to a stranger, I would just offer coming to ride them more, taking competing etc. It sounds like you did the complete right thing, especially if the horse fund might be tied up with the existing horse!!

Good luck with selling him
 
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