Rehoming from a charity - who's done it?

GlamourPuss86

GlamourPuss86

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Looking at having something on loan, and thinking about the race horse charities.

Has anyone taken a riding horse (rather than companion) from a charity? How did it work out? Was the horse what you expected?

Stories good and bad please!!
 
It very much depends on the charity. I have run a very small one for several years, and have quite a few horses out on loan. I would absolutely not let a horse go unless I thought the home and rider/handler was the right one - I pride myself on getting the right match because it wouldn't be fair on either otherwise. Especially the horse who may have had a rough time before he came here, it's up to me to make sure he is happy wherever he goes to.
But I don't know how typical that is - I do initial and twice yearly home checks (they may lapse when I KNOW for certain the horse is loved and treasured, and I may delegate them if it is out of my area) and encourage potential loaners to come and try the horse several times before they decide, and then keep in touch. That would give you an idea - how much the charity invests in seeing that you and the horse get on well together and your skills match.

Oh, and I do have an ex Irish Chaser looking for a permanent home. :)
 
My horse Izzy is from a charity on loan.

I volunteered for the charity for 18 months before I decided to loan so they knew me well. At first it wasn't ideal as I was novice in riding terms and Izzy was a bargy, rude git and pretty green. But I think they knew us both well enough to know that I was determined and that Izzy was actually a fantastic horse once he had a job.

They check on us every 6 months and checked the yard he was going to. Although I give them an update letter and pics every 3 months anyway.

It has worked out amazingly well for us and I love Izzy to bits. He has gone from obese, rude cob who liked to scrape me off on the fence or buck me off to doing our first solo endurance ride of 32 km last weekend in the fastest time possible, 12 km/hour.:D Taken us 3.5 years but we do everything now: gymkhana, endurance, fun rides, cross country, jumping, nannying people on hacks and a bit of stressage. Even did an endurance demo at Plumpton College on Wednesday!

Go for it - just pick your charity.
 
Looking for something that'd be brave enough to do xc but be a good riding club sort and do a bit of everything, 16.2+ gelding, nothing against mares but I just don't like them that much (i like big horses and at 5'9 i need them!)between 6 and 12 ideally.
 
GlamourPuss86 said:
Looking for something that'd be brave enough to do xc but be a good riding club sort and do a bit of everything, 16.2+ gelding, nothing against mares but I just don't like them that much (i like big horses and at 5'9 i need them!)between 6 and 12 ideally.
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Reg is 17hh and has done fun rides. He is one of those horses who struggle to stay still though, and has no topline. He suffered from gastric ulcers late last year and isn't the biggest eater so I was waiting to let him have some field rest on decent grass before starting him on the lunge etc.

This is him looking as good as he has looked since he has been here


August2012.jpg


He was found emaciated and hours away from death in a field in January, having been put on a lorry to go to slaughter at the end of his racing career :(
 
Oh bless him :( poor boy!! I've seen a nice bright bay 16.2 that looks to have nice straight confo if a little short in the back.

Speaking to the friend with the land tonight and then give them a ring and see about a visit. ideally would like to wait until the weather dries out more, bit i can't imagine they move that fast with home checks etc.
 
I think you have to look very carefully into the terms and conditions that the loan will be under.

There is a charity near me, that I have briefly looked at. However the horses came with so many condititions, ie must be kept in a post and rail fence, with one other horse, and must be stables at night, and only the loaner is allowed to ride (ok so I've just made this up)...

BUT the point is that the conditions of loan were far to onerous for me to even contemplate taking one on.
 
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