Selling horse to loaner

I bought a horse I had on loan and paid the market price for him - by that point I loved him dearly and wasn't going to let him go to anyone else; I had him 18 years until the end of his life. My friend loaned me the money to buy him - that was 27 years ago; this year I loaned her the money to buy her loan horse.
 
I gifted (£1) a loan horse including all his tack and rugs! In hindsight I was a bit generous as the saddle was made to measure etc but the horse had arthritis so although was only 12 and going fab would be able to do less in future. My main reason was I had 2 very small children and the open ended bit of loaning where he could have come back scared me. We just wanted to get rid of the responsibility as could not really afford a horse then.
 
HashRouge said:
We gifted a horse to a loaner (well, sold him for £1). I do think sometimes it is worth it if staying with the loaner is in the horse's best interests. However, perhaps OP you could ask the loaner if she is interested in buying then ask what she could afford? If she can pay a bit more, fair enough, if not, drop the price to meet her. At the end of the day it is in your and the horse's interests to ensure she stays with the loaner.
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This. My horse cost me £1. His owner lost a lot of money with him, but what she did get was peace of mind and a great home for life. I'm sure she's have rather had both but when he failed the vetting she had a choice really. Thankfully the peace of mind was worth more to her.

I'd suggest to loaner that you are thinking of the horses future and would she want to buy. If so ask her to say what she can afford. It might not be as much as you'd hoped, but would be a compromise.
 
ossy said:
Really seems a little unrealistic, just because you have loaned a horse for 3 years shouldn't give you a right to buy it for next to nothing or be gifted it, the OP has said the intention was to have the horse back when she moved back to UK so I'm assuming the loaner doesn't expect to have the horse forever so if she now decides to sell its no different to her having it back. Yes I'd take maybe 40% off to know it had a good home but I wouldn't be giving the horse away.
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Exactly.
 
ossy said:
Really seems a little unrealistic, just because you have loaned a horse for 3 years shouldn't give you a right to buy it for next to nothing or be gifted it, the OP has said the intention was to have the horse back when she moved back to UK so I'm assuming the loaner doesn't expect to have the horse forever so if she now decides to sell its no different to her having it back. Yes I'd take maybe 40% off to know it had a good home but I wouldn't be giving the horse away.
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Absolutely. I know of several situations where a loan horse was gifted or sold for a nominal sum, but those were horses with serious physical or behavioural issues, or well over 20 years old. The OP could sell the horse to the loaner for £1 and then she could turn around and sell it for market value next year if her situation changes. The OP has stated (in the original OP though lots of people seemed to miss it) that she has family with a riding school that could look after and even sell for her if needed, so she's not in a total panic situation if the loaner decides to stop the loan. TBH from her description she should have no problems selling (or loaning again) if necessary. Sure you'd drop the price a bit (after all selling is a hassle and has costs associated even if you aren't paying sales livery, paying for adverts etc) but I certainly wouldn't just give a perfectly decent horse away unless I was wealthy enough that the money involved was completely unimportant.
 
You know I hadn't even thought of that - that she could be sold on for market value at a later date if I was to sell her for a nominal sum. The loaner is lovely and I'd like to think we have a good relationship so it's unlikely but you never know when circumstances might change. If the horse had issues or was old I would definitely gift her, but she is a nice sort and in her prime at the moment.

I'm thinking I should not rock the boat right now and discuss with my parents first. They are keen for me to sell but I need to do it properly. I did get in touch with the original owner and she's not in a position to buy her back but might know of some contacts who would want her. Im coming back to the uk for a few months early next year as my husband is being deployed so maybe I should get through the winter first and then sort it.
 
tobey said:
You know I hadn't even thought of that - that she could be sold on for market value at a later date if I was to sell her for a nominal sum. The loaner is lovely and I'd like to think we have a good relationship so it's unlikely but you never know when circumstances might change. If the horse had issues or was old I would definitely gift her, but she is a nice sort and in her prime at the moment.
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I'm in the same boat, actually selling to loaner at half of what she is worth on the open market because she is very much loved, couldn't have a better home and that means all to me. However, we have agreed that if she does have to be sold on within 2 years that she will pay me another £1000 on top of what she'll have already paid. That way, it's fair for both of us; I'm not being taken for a mug and she's not taking advantage. Could that idea work for you too?
 
Hmm, Im not for this nominal sum thing. Yes fair enough the person has been riding the horse and putting work in, but the owner still bought the horse initially. Its like selling a house to folk who rented it for a nominal amount, no one would do that.
When our pony was on loan they asked to buy him, but we said no - he was returned within a week as obviously they did not want to put any more work in. If I was to have sold I would not have accepted a nominal amount as yes they rode him, but I had paid to have him backed and had been looking after him.

You could of course accept instalments if the loanee agrees to the price you wish. We did this when we purchased our original pony.
 
Maesfen said:
I'm in the same boat, actually selling to loaner at half of what she is worth on the open market because she is very much loved, couldn't have a better home and that means all to me. However, we have agreed that if she does have to be sold on within 2 years that she will pay me another £1000 on top of what she'll have already paid. That way, it's fair for both of us; I'm not being taken for a mug and she's not taking advantage. Could that idea work for you too?
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^^ this sounds a good idea.
 
I bought my loan horse, though mine was slightly different in that I asked to buy as I was moving and couldn't bear to part with him. I was lucky in that his owner at the time was happy for me to buy him. I would've been devastated if she'd said no. He is worth much more than I paid for him now due to the work I've put into him but I'd never sell him on as he is most definitely mine for life. I think you can but ask her and see if she's willing to buy at a price you are happy with, you never know she might be like me and willing to pay so not to have to give her up. Sounds like even if she doesn't your horse will still sell for market value to someone. Or you could do what the previous posters said and put a stipulation in place if you sell her below market that she has to pay you more if she sells her on for a higher value...

I think you've got lots of options! Hopefully one will work out!
 
I found a lovely loan home for my old ex-hunter, years ago. But, despite his monetary value, I could never quite get to grips with 'parting' with him.

I'm just an old softie like that :D

He lived with his loaner for the next 20-odd years and died, peacefully, at a home that he was very happy in. What more could I have asked for, for him?

(Not sure this has helped :( )
 
I've been in this situation 3 times. Once as the owner, once as the loanee and once with a a livery.

With the horse I put out on loan he was quirky, heading towards his 20s and the loanee was the perfect match for him. He was gifted for a nominal amount but with the understanding that I would get the option of him coming back if they were ever to sell. They still have him 5 years later.

As a loanee I inquired with the owner if they would be thinking of selling and originally they said yes and we came up with a price. They'd bought the gelding as a youngster. I'd taken him on, had him for 7 years. He'd spent longer with me than with them. Then out of the blue just coming out of winter I got a message saying they were collecting him. They'd put him up for sale at a larger figure than what I'd agreed to pay due to him now hunting, showing at county level and being well schooled. Completely different from the bargy, bronky creature that came to me. Sad thing is horse is now sat in a field not doing anything as he has gone back to his old ways.

A livery here had a pony on loan from my ex employer. She hadn't had him long and asked to buy him. Ex employer said no and loaner went up in arms demanding to send pony back because she didn't want to put any work into a pony that could potentially sell to someone else- even though he wasn't for sale at the time.

If it was myself I'd keep things as they are for now and have a chat with your parents. When it comes to the discussion with the loaner, maybe offer installments if she is unable to provide the full amount straight off or a similar agreement to one mentioned above where if the horse is sold within a set period then she pays xx amount more to yourselves if she hasn't paid full market value. I wouldn't sell her to her for a nominal amount.
 
I bought 50% of the horse I had on loan.
I retain full decision making rights and costs. The breeder retained 50% silent share and will offer a retirement home if I ever request it upon which time they would resume responsibility for costs.
The horse was a high value one that I wouldn't have been able to afford to buy outright.
 
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