Problems with part-loaning :(

AstonishedTrowel

AstonishedTrowel

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Hi all,
I've run into a few problems with my part loan horse and I need to vent and to get opinions from people who understand!

At the beginning of summer, a friend wanted her young-ish horse bringing back into work (he had been turned away and she didn't have the time/experience, she wanted him to get out there and enjoy himself). So I volunteered to do so, fast forward 6 months and he's working nicely in the school, hacking alone/in company, jumping etc. He was put up for sale (as planned) and bought by another friend at a yard close by. It was a very quick sale, she only came and viewed/rode him once in the school before deciding.

New owner is currently studying at uni (first year) and has decided to commute home and back every week (~5 h) so asked me to continue part loaning him through the week while she is at uni, I liked him so I agreed.

However, since moving to his new home he has lost an awful lot of condition, especially his topline. I am only schooling him once a week (time/money constraints) and he is not being ridden properly otherwise. Because he's relatively quiet, the owner thinks its a good idea to allow anyone to ride him (especially beginners), she also has not had any lessons on him (as promised) and cannot work him properly either.
He has a lot of potential - he's a nice mover, very willing on the flat and enthusiastic and honest over jumps.

This is incredibly frustrating and upsetting for me, she has now increased loan payments which, coupled with other things, has prompted me to return to another part loan who is better looked after and that I get along well with.

I have now been told that he is going to be loaned out to a complete beginner who only started riding a few months ago.

I appreciate this is not my horse and I have no say in the matter, but I am watching this horse go to waste and it is infuriating. This is the problem with loaning :(

It also leaves me feeling incredibly guilty, I would have bought this horse if I had the time, money and security. It's also put me in a tough place with the previous owner (whom I work with) who asks how he's doing now and again. I also feel like I am overstepping to say any of this to his owner.

Opinions, thoughts, help, please?
 
Nothing you can do,
if you are terminating the part loan though I think I would give my reasons why I was terminating with regards to his condition, I'm not sure it would be appropriate to comment on who else is riding him though if you are only able to do one day anyway.
Always sad when they don't land on their feet and you want more for them.
 
I think you should step away emotionally and let the new owner get on with the horse the way she wants to sad though it will be. the old owner will then not be able to ask you how he is doing as you are no longer involved and if they ask why you are not riding him any more just say that sadly it did not work out and you have found another horse. that also saves you having to say anything that could be construed as negative. I am just suprised that you were paying to reschool a horse and carried on doing it after it was sold as most people would have wanted to be payed for that
 
D66 said:
Offer the new owner a reduced amount to buy him. Tell the old owner the truth about what's going on, it's not your fault.
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The OP has only had enough time/money to ride him once a week herself and said she didn't buy him because of time/money/security problems so why would buying him now be a good idea?
 
Thanks so much for your replies everyone, I don't really have anyone horsey to talk to and it's nice just to have a bit of support.

Unfortunately buying simply isn't an option - especially since I will be moving in the next year or so.
Crabbymare: I wasn't paying anything in the beginning but I am now, which is part of the reason I'm not happy about the situation. I know what you mean, but he's a very kind horse and I needed something to ride at the time so I was happy for no money to be exchanged :)

I have him 2/3 days a week but am trying to continue his jumping education (his new owner has still not jumped him) and get him out hacking alone (as this is something that has also slipped) - it's like I'm fighting a loosing battle.
 
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It's pretty much impossible to guarantee though and could take some time to find during which you need to fund his keep and ride him. And there is always the chance of something going wrong and the horse needing veterinary treatment/not being immediately resaleable.
 
If the horse is being well treated he will not mind if his potential is being realised or not (as frustrating as that may be). Horses don't dream of stardom, they're just as happy being loved by a beginner as someone who's aiming for 4*. Is the horse actually under weight now or just different to how he was previously? We are coming out of winter now so many horses will be poorer than they were last august. With the work load as it is the top line won't be maintained and it's unlikely a beginner will put the 'correct' work in. TBH it sounds like it's best to walk away and cut your losses.
 
I can see why are disappointed but I don't think there is much you can do so probably terminating the agreement is your best option and look for something else to ride.
 
I would echo that - you need to move on. It is always frustrating when something you have produced certain way is then used differently or in a way you would not personally have done. But unless the horse's welfare is genuinely at risk then really there is nothing you can do. You are better off cutting that connection so you are not upset by what the owners choose to do with their horse.

Obviously if there is a genuine welfare issue that is another matter and you should alert the relevant authorities.
 
Walk away. I've found that when I start feeling frustrated by a loan/share arrangement then it's best to remove the source of frustration from your life. Plenty of other horses out there.
 
Just because a horse has lost a bit of topline muscle doesn't mean it is a welfare case!
Sorry it's not being kept exactly how you would like to keep it yourself but as it's not actually your horse it's not your problem. Good luck in finding a new share that you are happier with.
 
There's not much you can do, but if I were you I'd take the new owner aside and point out how special a horse he is and say you feel he would be really wasted with a beginner. No harm saying it nicely to her, whether she listens is a different matter. I'd do it, purely to save the horse!
 
Once again, THANK YOU everyone for your support!

He has lost pretty much all of his topline, his shoulders are narrower than before and you can see a couple of ribs. He is a Sec D and has ad lib haylage + a feed, he's also rugged and stabled at night.

I don't *think* it's a welfare issue, but as shadeofshyness rightly said, I will report it in an instant if I feel it's truly a welfare problem!

MagicMelon, I really really want to do this but the horse I intend to work with is on the same yard and I don't want there to be any friction (you know yard politics....), however, as above if there is no improvement I will be having a word!

Thanks again everyone.
 
Doesn't sound like a welfare case at all, just undermuscled due to the type of work he now does. Not your place to "have a word" with the new owner IMO. He may be a talented horse and "special" in your eyes, but he could be considered equally as special in his new owners opinion, due to being quiet and honest enough to be ridden by novices. It's a trait a lot of horses don't possess. That you don't want this life for him is neither here nor there, because he's not your horse.
 
He's lost his top line because not getting the same amount of work, or schooled properly. That's not an issue!

Not all people who buy a horse is required to ride it, and just because horse is being treated differently doesn't mean it's wrong. You should be pleased that you have produced a horse that a beginner is able to ride safely!

Don't dwell on horse, look for another you can part share, but tbh if you are only riding once a week you may be better going to a riding school rather than deal with issues sharing a horse comes with.
 
Well, after only 3 months of owning him she has now decided to sell him, possibly as soon as this week. So now it truly is none of my business and is well out of my hands.

Very upsetting, but then that's life I suppose.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my thread, I really appreciate it.
 
If the horse isn't being mis-treated and is being cared for and loved then I cannot see the problem. You imply that the new owner isn't as good a rider as yourself, which I feel is a bit unfair to judge her that way. If the horse is gentle and kind then why can't he teach a novice to ride? In fact I expect he will last a lot longer being loved and ridden by a novice then jumping and competing at a high level. That type of high mileage does nothing for a horse's longevity. Please try to be happy that the horse is in a caring home - it could be a lot worse.
 
AstonishedTrowel said:
Well, after only 3 months of owning him she has now decided to sell him, possibly as soon as this week. So now it truly is none of my business and is well out of my hands.

Very upsetting, but then that's life I suppose.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my thread, I really appreciate it.
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I can see why you've found it upsetting to see a horse who you've invested time in, set up nicely for future improvement and who by the sound of it you like a lot, be managed in a way which isn't ideal to continue his development (and might damage it). As others have said, perhaps if he is now for sale again that might not be a bad thing.
What a shame that you're not in a position to buy him yourself - but very brave of you to think about that in such a sensible way. Have you told the old owner that he is up for sale again?
 
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