Questions about loaning a horse?

[christylauren]

Ok, first I would like to say I'm not asking for any time in the near future. If I start loaning a horse it will be in April / May 2019 . I like to research a lot in advance, so I have some questions about loaning for 2-3 days a week. Since the horse will be at the owners yard, if there aren't riding lessons available at their yard then how do I improve? To be honest I'm probably not going to get competitive or anything, just walk/trot/canter and hacks aswell as possibly doing small jumps. I heard that a lesson once every fortnight at least is a good idea though. For anyone who loans, do you buy your own tack? I know most owners let you use theirs, but I would like to have my own saddle pad and lead rope. I'm not sure why but I think it would be nice to have my own. Will any normal sized saddle pad fit on a horse? Also, if by the very odd chance I ever wanted to compete, how do I get the horse there? Do I get to use the owners trailer? Do I need a license? One more thing- if I ever go on holiday, do I get a family member to look after the horse (my aunt has worked around horses) or will the owner take care of him/her? Sorry if some of these are dumb questions :b

 

[be positive]

Ok, first I would like to say I'm not asking for any time in the near future. If I start loaning a horse it will be in April / May 2019 . I like to research a lot in advance, so I have some questions about loaning for 2-3 days a week. Since the horse will be at the owners yard, if there aren't riding lessons available at their yard then how do I improve? To be honest I'm probably not going to get competitive or anything, just walk/trot/canter and hacks aswell as possibly doing small jumps. I heard that a lesson once every fortnight at least is a good idea though. For anyone who loans, do you buy your own tack? I know most owners let you use theirs, but I would like to have my own saddle pad and lead rope. I'm not sure why but I think it would be nice to have my own. Will any normal sized saddle pad fit on a horse? Also, if by the very odd chance I ever wanted to compete, how do I get the horse there? Do I get to use the owners trailer? Do I need a license? One more thing- if I ever go on holiday, do I get a family member to look after the horse (my aunt has worked around horses) or will the owner take care of him/her? Sorry if some of these are dumb questions :b

You would get a freelance instructor to come to the yard to give you lessons, most yards are fine allowing this and most owners would
want you to have regular lessons.

Tack should be provided in a part loan as should most of the kit required, you could ask if you can buy a saddlepad but it does need to be suitable so wait until you find the share, getting your own lead rope will not be a problem also grooming kit if you want to get started buying stuff,

Competing will depend on the horse, the owner, your own capabilities and is something to discuss when you find something to look at as everyone will have different circumstances.

Holidays will again depend on the owner, I would expect them to take over the care or the yard to although they would need to be paid, I certainly wouldn't expect a family member who didn't know the horse or owner to do so.

 

[ihatework]

You will be looking for a share or part loan.
Taking lessons is a good idea and you might find some owners insist on it. There are plenty of instructors that will travel to you to teach. The owner may want a say in which instructor you use.
You certainly won’t be expected (or generally allowed) to use your own tack as it will be bought for and fitted to the horse. But using a few of your own accessories should t be a problem.

Competing and transport will be very much dependant on the owners situation, but don’t bank on access to transport. If you are lucky the owner would take you.
To drive a trailer you need a licence if you took your test after 1996, but it is possible to hire a small Horsebox for approx £100/day. Either way very few owners would be keen for a novice to transport their horse solo.
As for holidays it will depend on your agreement so best discussed up front with owner. You would hope they would cover.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Normally when you loan a horse, ALL tack is provided by the owner; I personally wouldn't want anyone buying their own stuff and using it on mine, if you get the thickness and/or fit of a saddlepad wrong and the horse isn't comfy, it can affect the way the saddle fits. So no, I wouldn't want anyone loaning to start getting their own stuff! I'd expect them to wait till they got their own horse, or full loan, for that!

You really need to discuss stuff like access to transport with the owner. YES you will need to check your licence and YES you must take a towing test if necessary in order to be road-legal. Also check with the owner regarding insurance as you will need to come to an arrangement about that for sure.

Re. holidays etc. Again, you need to discuss this with the owner. They may well have arrangements in place for when they are away, and if someone else is coming in to see to the horse they will need to be notified that someone else is going to be around. You need to speak with the owner.

Re. lessons. Forgive me, OP, but I wonder from the general "feel" of your post, how old you are? And how much riding experience have you had? Sometimes riding someone else's horse may seem "easy"......... you mention "hacking", but would this be with other horses? or on your own??? Whatever, you will certainly benefit from some regular instruction from a properly qualified professional (as we all would!!) and would need to discuss with the owner; as they may have a preference and/or recommendation for a particular instructor. As an owner myself, there are some people who I would deffo NOT want to be instructing anyone riding my horse! So you'd need to work closely with the owner on this rather than just going ahead and getting someone in.

I would also strongly recommend that if you are riding someone else's horse, that you take up BHS Gold membership which will give you Public Liability insurance for riding other people's horses. In fact, if I was the owner, I would insist upon it, and have done when other people have ridden my horses.

I've been both a loaner AND someone who has been given someone else's horse on loan, so I can see things both ways. The keys words, IME, are Communication, Transparency, and Honesty. In any loan, there WILL be difficulties arise, particularly at the start when you're getting used to a new horse, and you'll need to be asking the owner and communicating with them, as to how things go. And vice versa.

 

[JulesRules]

Regarding the lessons and what you can do with the horse and potential to compete are all things to discuss with the owner of any potential share horses once you start looking. What the horse is suitable for, the availability of lessons and the potential to compete in due course are all things to consider, although don't forget the owner will be sussing out your suitability for their horse as well. As others have said most owners will probably want you to use their instructor to ensure consistency.

Once you have found a suitable horse I'd suggest having a chat with the owner before buying anything. I wouldn't mind a sharer buying a saddle cloth but if they turned up with a big poly pad I would have to ask them not to use it as it would affect the saddle fit. I also get irritated when sharers start buying loads of stuff and then leaving it at the yard as storage space is limited, especially when it's something that the horse already has such as loads of grooming kit.

Most owners will make alternative arrangements for their horse on days you can't do, but will expect you to let them know in advance unless it's an emergency. I've dumped sharers in the past who kept letting me down with no notice.

Remember with a share it has to work fir all parties to be sucessful - that means it has to work for the owner and most importantly the horse as well as working for you.

Good luck finding something suitable.

 

[Equi]

Ok, first I would like to say I'm not asking for any time in the near future. If I start loaning a horse it will be in April / May 2019 . I like to research a lot in advance, so I have some questions about loaning for 2-3 days a week. Since the horse will be at the owners yard, if there aren't riding lessons available at their yard then how do I improve? To be honest I'm probably not going to get competitive or anything, just walk/trot/canter and hacks aswell as possibly doing small jumps. I heard that a lesson once every fortnight at least is a good idea though. For anyone who loans, do you buy your own tack? I know most owners let you use theirs, but I would like to have my own saddle pad and lead rope. I'm not sure why but I think it would be nice to have my own. Will any normal sized saddle pad fit on a horse? Also, if by the very odd chance I ever wanted to compete, how do I get the horse there? Do I get to use the owners trailer? Do I need a license? One more thing- if I ever go on holiday, do I get a family member to look after the horse (my aunt has worked around horses) or will the owner take care of him/her? Sorry if some of these are dumb questions :b

No such thing as a dumb question. Ive part loaned/loaned and been the owner with a sharer.

Lessons - get as many as you can afford/want. Lessons are invaluable. If they only allow the yards instructor use them - if they allow outside ones find one you like.
Tack - use owners if possible as long as it fits you and doesn't make you sit too back or forward on the horse so you can't cause it any pain/issues from it. If the saddle really doesnt fit you, talk to owner about getting one fitted to you and the horse - problem is if you do that then stop the loan you will have a saddle possibly only suitable to that horse. Unless the horse NEEDS a particular headcollar/rope i doubt any owner would care what rope you use as long as it is not going to cause an issue to the horse.
Pads - They come in general sizes. I doubt owner would care what pad you use as long as you use any other bits they need (like a half pad/gel pad etc) and you leave their own back on it.
Travel - it will be up to the owner if they are happy for you to travel or not, and if they want to take your or not. I doubt many would just let you use their trailer. If you want to tow one though, you WILL need a licence. Can't really tell you a definitive answer on that.
Holiday - If youre away owner will either ask yard to cover or do it themselves..some may let whoever you say do it too but again its up to them. You will still be expected to pay for the week if they say they will do it themselves in most cases.

As a part loaner ill say right now the most annoying thing was that if something didnt meet my own expectations i was annoyed - for example the owner would only allow 1 new bale of bedding a week to save costs...i could have used 3. Eventually i took over the cost of bedding jsut to satisfy myself. I also hated the saddle, so convinced the owner to let me use her other one for her other horse..i can be a little bossy

As a owner sharing, the thing that annoyed me the very very most was loaner would come at say 1/2pm and do everything then put him back out meaning i either had to go down and bring in myself anyway, or pay to get him brought in. If you have a day, mean to have the whole day!

 

[Maesto's Girl]

If you have a day, mean to have the whole day!

This! If it is your day, that's morning to night. If you have to go twice, then that's the way it needs to be. If I ever got a sharer for my mare (unlikely as she's a bonkers Arab who is a very one person horse) I'd want them to take over the day(s) as I'd be doing it for time rather than money

Lessons - as the others have said - are SO important and freelance instructors will go to yards. Have a conversation with the owner to see if they have recommendations. For competing, I would want to know that the rider was capable and the first few times would want to be there.

I have also shared and did buy the odd thing for her - a saddle cloth, saddle cover and some treats here and there but mostly just kept with what the owner already had

I think the overarching thing is to have a good chat with the owner prior to any written agreement (also important to have in writing) so you know where you stand