Putting a horse on loan

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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As I'm moving to Italy in the summer :eek: :D :D :D I need to find a temporary loan home for my lad. I think I've found a fab home for him but I'm so apprehensive.

I adore Andy, he is literally my world and I've put so much time, effort and money into his training the last year or so I'm worried he's not going to come back the same horse because he will be ridden differently to my methods.

Also hearing all these horror stories about loans gone wrong I'm scaring myself to death.

Most of all I'm going to miss him so much, I don't know what it will be like not seeing his happy little face over the stable door everyday (I found it hard enough for a week when I went on holiday.)

Any non-horror loan stories people can share with me to put my mind at rest.
 
I'm loaning a horse who I and his owner feel has progressed hugely with me. She didn't have the time because of her kids to bring him on properly. He's come so far that on the bank holiday we went to a little show and he placed top three in all his classes! His ground manners are better and he's getting the attention he needs:) I've only had him about 8 months but I couldn't be without him and it's going to break my heart when he has to go back.

Not the same situation I know but just trying to reasure you that not all loaners are stupid people who don't feed/ride/muck out properly. Some of us are alright, promise :) :rolleyes:

Hope you find the right person for your boy, just try to make sure they won't get bored and leave you in the lurch...
 
Just make sure you cover due diligence to protect yourself...,so inform your passport provider he is on loan, register him as on loan with NED. Have some sort of agreement signed to show horse cannot be sold on and do take up references. It can work but sadly it seems people have to be less trusting nowadays.
 
I am loaning a horse who was semi retired and miserable, he is now happy and as supple as a 6 year old at 20. He has had all manner of things bought for his comfort and well being and he is spoiled rotten but worked nicely, I have weekly lessons and he gets hacked, lunged, schooled, jumped and all the vetinary care he needs.

I am totally gutted that I have taken the decision to give him back as I want to buy a youngster of my own, owner is gutted too.

Without being big headed I hope you find someone as loving as me :)
 
I loaned a horse last year and loved her to pieces, treated her as one of our own (if not better!) and I was heartbroken when she went back - as the others have said, there are good loaners out there, who will treat your boy like royalty - I'm sure you'll find somewhere lovely for him. My loan horse had a huge collection of tack, rugs, accessories, endless lessons and days out and we had a lot of fun together, I'm sure his perfect loan home will be out there somewhere! As Luci07 said, inform NED & his passport agency that he's on loan, just to be on the safe side.
 
Sadly a number of horses dissapear while on loan.
It is important that however much you trust the person you are loaning your horse to that you ensure that your horse is freezemarked in a place where it can be seen when being ridden and also microchipped. Ensure that your horses record on www.nedonline.co.uk is ammended to include the freezemark and microchip numbers and that you have the record ammended as 'horse on loan not to be sold'.
Ask to see the original copy of the passport, driving licence and rates bill of the person that is loaning your horse and photocopy them.
Draw up a loan agreement and then ask a specialist equine solicitor to check it out. Then get each of both copies of it signed and dated by both parties and counter-signed by a witness.
Thoroughly check out the stables your horse is kept at and check your horse regularly or get someone to do it for you. Keep in regular touch with the person loaning your horse.
 
Make sure you have covered the fact he may be sent back without notice. It happened twice to me through no fault of my horse even though they signed that they would give notice
 
I want Andy!!!! :D


Lol.

In all seriousness....if you need to find him a really good home, my loan pony also happens to be returning this year....which means she is looking for a new horse. She was looking to get something 15.1hh+, but, she does have till next year before she outgrows 14.2hhs [she is tiny built, just leggy!].


I have 1 horror loan out of 4 loans, the one not so much in the fact of being classically neglected as such, but came back obese beyond reason. Nearly killed with kindness as the phrase goes.

It's just been common sense really as far as the people go. Go with your gut and keep check of them. One of mine I'm now good friends with and have always been kept up to date on facebook and if anything, I'm the one always asked to come over and see her and have a ride lol! I've seen her a couple of times plus seen all the daily status and photo updates for the past 3 years now lol, so I'm more than happy. We chat on a regular basis [not to check up on her, just general chit-chat]. I got her when I was of a similar age to the girl and did all the schooling with her from scratch, so have been happy to give her any advice over any issues or thoughts - ie, bitting, how to ride her, certain jumps, etc. I'll give my input, but then am happy to leave her to her own devices for trial and error too, as it's how you learn. And it's worked out really well :) I want to try my damndest to find her a perfect substitute, as whoever takes over ponykins shoes, has some big feet to fill!

Other horse is still in the same place near enough, with a lady who does the yard owners horses and wanted something to hack, which he's perfect for. So he just got moved to the 'private' yard [pooosh boy ;)] and I still see him virtually everyday and he honestly looks a million dollars. So again, never been happier :)


Of all my horses, I had more issue with the one I sold, than ones loaned!!!
 
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Positive loan experiences here :)

Daughter has had a pony on loan for my grand daughter for a year now... This pony is her owner's two eyes, she'd had her 15yrs and she was terrified about loaning - but a toddler, young baby and returning to work... Pony was cresty, footy and terribly over weight because her mum just didn't have time to ride/exercise her... We send her photos, she knows she can nip over whenever she has time and bring her eldest for a little pootle in the saddle or have a quick baz around herself...

I had a pony on loan for my rugrats to learn from scratch with... Gorgeous girl and if she'd been a hand higher I'd have bought her for myself... We had her for a year before son outgrew her and grandma bought my daughter a little pony after she'd proved her commitment and son was ready to progress to having lessons on our 'rescue' TB...

Haven't long started loaning a 19yr old, semi retired, ex eventer as a placid hack for me for the next few years until my youngster is backed and settled... She's a gem, is making great headway with my confidence during lessons and came with the benefit of being a schoolmistress over jumps for my son to learn with... Again, her owner has had her for 14/15yrs...

Two lovely comments recently... #1 was the pony's owner telling the horse's owner as a reference that the best thing she'd done was loan her pony to us... #2 was the horse's owner bringing her mum to the yard for a visit/cuddle/spot check and commenting that she was so pleased to have found a home where her horse was as loved and well cared for as she would herself... I found that terribly touching... She did howl with laughter seeing her girl in a pink head collar for the first time though... :D

It can work and we've been immensely privileged by these ladies trusting us with the care of their much loved friends when they've not been able to ride/spend as much time with them as they would choose to...

:)
 
Thanks for all the good experiences everyone :)

I'm not so much worried him getting stolen as I know these people wouldn't do that but I#m worried he won't come back the same, what if they shove a stronger bit in his mouth because he's strong, what if he looses condition because he's a poor doer (luckily I'll be back by winter) he's lost his confidence xc so what if that happens with his sj?

Arghh over thinking, why can't he come with me :(
 
If you're stressing that much m'duck, why not turn him away over the summer?

Have you seen the person ride him? Any reason to think she'd put a stronger bit in?

Have you written out what he needs feed wise?
 
I agree with MrsMozart, esp if you are going to be out of the country and things happen and maybe the loan has to end suddenly, what then !!
 
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