Raff is going out on loan! advice pleeease...

[Bowen4Horses]

Righty ho, i never ever thought i'd be writing this, but Raff is going away on loan for a few months.

i advertised him last week... and had a million (slight exaggeration) emails etc. One stood out, head and shoulders above the rest. And so i replied. She came to try him... the rest is history...

I know i'm over emotional/fluffy, but honestly, as soon as i'd read her message, i just knew she'd be perfect for him (and him for her).

She did not disappoint, and was just as lovely in real life. Really, i couldn't fault her in the slightest.

So... i've got to go and check her yard in the week, and he can go off, pretty much as soon as she likes.

Now, i know i need a sensible side, so i'm going to do a contract etc. Not because i don't trust her, but because i want to make sure everything is black and white so everyone's happy.

I'm going to print off one of the BHS loan agreements, but thought i'd ask you knowledgable HHOers some questions:

- i am going to keep paying his insurance, i don't mind this at all, i owe it to him to make sure i can afford to keep him well, and our insurance company have been so ace over the last few months... but... who pays the excess? is that me or the loaner? it's £125

- do i cover any other costs?

- i'm going to say that she can bring him home at ANY time, because i don't want him to ever be there and not be wanted. how do i word this?

- how much notice is it fair for me to give her if i want him home? do i have to have a reason to end the loan? (other than i miss him?!?)

- what happens if something terrible happens, like he breaks his leg and can't travel home safely?

- how much notice is it fair for me to give before going to visit?

- how often is it fair for me to visit?

thankies y'all

p.s. SO excited for him, he's going to have such a lovely time. i'm strangely okay with the whole situation... bizarre, i thought i'd be in bits!

 

[Chellebean]

Oh congrats on finding Miss Perfect

As for your questions...

Loan agreement is a must

Excess I would write a bleep in the agreement, stating that insurance will be paid by you and that any need of the insurance is to be paid by the loan. Or you could get her to remburse you for the insurance payments itself. I believe the BHS state that the loaner should pay insurance.

Other costs- is only if you feel necessary. if Raff has a special condition or something for example Bute for arthritus etc

as for termination of loan- just state that Raff can be returned at any time and that you will give X notice to bring him home when wanted

not sure about the broken leg senerio sorry!

Notice to visit- should be you can turn up when ever

and you should visit as often as you like

hope this helps and good luck

 

[maletto]

Sad times Raff is off on loan but you must be relieved to have found someone so apparently suitable so quickly! How long is he going for?

You are indeed sensible to be getting a contract together.

Definitely tailor the BHS one so that it suits your circumstances and what you want from the loan. I've answered some of your questions but the only experience I have is from having a sharer, rather than having B out on loan but I hope I can help anyway:

With the excess - I put that I would pay the excess unless the injury was caused by the sharer's negligence or misjudgement. I guess you could also agree to split it? Generally I would have thought that it's in his best interest for you to be the one to pay the excess to ensure he gets the best treatment as and when, and in order that you are involved in these decisions.

Do you cover any costs? not that I can think of.

Bringing him home just say something like: "The owner agrees to give the loaner 30days notice to cease the loan, unless the owner believes that the horse is being mistreated, the loaner may return the horse to the owner with no notice period" or something.

I would have thought giving her 30 days (unless you have reason to believe he's being treated badly) is fair. No, you don't have to have a reason! he's YOUR horse!!

There is a clause in the agreement that says that you authorise the loaner to give permission in the case of a serious accident, where euthanasia is advised, to give permission for this if you can't be contacted

I wouldn't have thought you need to give her more than a couple of hours notice to turn up.

I think after the first month (to check he's settling in) more than twice a month would be a bit excessive, but she may want you to come round more and again, you need to stay confident that he's being looked after properly, so if that means you have to go weekly, then so be it!!

Sounds like you've found a really great place for him, and it will take the pressure off you for a while which seems like just what you need. I really hope it works out for you

 

[SVMel]

I have no experience in loaning, but think Chellebeans and Malettos advice sounds good.

I knew you couldn''t sell him, and am very glad for you that things appear to be working out nicely

T xxxxxx

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Well I did a contract but tbh it's not worth more than the paper it's written on.....

Visits- I could go whenever but usually took a week or so if I wanted to meet the loaner there too. I went 3 times in the first month, then about once a month/every 6 weeks afterwards.

Excess- loaner should pay if horse is injured whilst with her.

30 days notice for her to send the horse back, but you can obviously collect him as soon as you want. If you want him back as he isn't being cared for/loan agreement has been breached, you can pick him up straight away. If you just want him back because you miss him , I think 30 days notice is fair.

Good luck

 

[PeterNatt]

Unfortunately a number of horses dissapear while on loan.
Please ensure that Freezemark your horse on it's shoulder before it goes on loan so that it can always be identified by anyone.
Photocopy the passport, driving licence and rates bill of the person loaning the horse so that you can identify who they are.
The loan agreament should be checked by a specialist equine solicitor so as to ensure it is a legal document that will stand up in court.

 

[nikkiportia]

I feel a little odd replying on this, LOL!
I'm so pleased you're feeling great about the whole thing
I'll leave everyone to advise you for obvious reasons, but I just want to assure you that you can visit him ANYTIME you like!!! Every week if you need! I have no problem with that at all, if it were Apollo I would want to see him whenever I want
30 days notice either way to end contract is 'normal', but I'm like you in the respect that if you want him home, then he can come home whenever you want him. He's your horse hon, you don't need to give me a reason, so don't worry about that

I just want to add that you and Raff are both so lovely, and I am soooooo excited!!!!
After you've been and checked out the yard etc, he can come as soon as you like!

PS. There should be 3 references on their way to you via email and PM Let me know if you need more, lol.
Oh, and I can assure you also that Raff is not going to go 'missing'!!!

 

[Jericho]

I am so so pleased you found someone perfect - you must be hugely relieved. For what its worth here are my words of wisdom - coming from the loanees point of view. Edited to say - now I have realised who the loanee is from their above post then I dont think you have any worries!!! But anyhow......

BHS contract covers all the pertinent points so definitely the sensible thing to do. Make a list of anything that goes with him. I would also make sure it stipulates things like regular feet / teeth / vaccinations and anyother conditions such as he cant be stabled 24/7 unless under orders of vet or for medical reasons.

Re insurance it is very nice of you to pay the insurance so I would think that the loaner should at least cover the excess. If the worst happens i.e he breaks a leg / colics I agreed with the owner of my mare that I would make every effort to contact her to discuss but if I / vets decided that PTS was absolutely the right thing to do because of excessive pain that could not be controlled then I would have the right to make that decision.

Re visiting defintely go and see him in the first week or so and then maybe in a month and then maybe every other month. i always found it a little stressful when my mares owner came as I so wanted her to be happy and not find fault but we got round this by me sending her lots of updates and photos (every month or so, especially if something nice had happened or if I had taken some nice photos) so she didnt really feel the need to come and see her all the time. I also would be a little reluctant to turn up unannounced but sometimes I think just a days notice is good and maybe turn up a little early....

Re notice whatever you want but give yourself a few weeks to make arrangements (if you have a good relationship then this makes things easier as you can be a lot more flexible!)and you dont have to give a reason.

Good luck, really really hope it all works out for you all and I think the most important thing is communication communication - get her email, her mobile, her phone, her address, visit her house, get the livery owners address, tel number. It amazes me when you hear stories of people having their horses out on loan and have no contact for 6 months and then find out the horse isnt being looked after / has moved / has issues.... I ended up buying my mare after 9 months so you may need to think about how you would feel about that at some point in the future. My mare's owner has asked that I give her first refusal should I want to sell and I would honour that because we did have an excellent relationship.

 

[piggyinablanket]

And to add, as chief yard photographer I hope you are ready for photo overload, you wont get a chance to miss a thing lol!!!
Seriously though, it is great to be sensible and have a contract, that way everyone knows where they stand, and what they are responsible for. Cant wait to meet Raff I have heard such wonderful things! x

 

[Bowen4Horses]

*grins*
Thank you everyone. Excellent advice... I hadn't thought about the pts thing. How horrible, but yes, i guess it has to go in the contract.
Will write proper reply in mornimg as in bed after weekemd of traimimg and i'm on my phone which is impossible to write with! X

 

[Bowen4Horses]

better change my signature in the morning too...! X