Sending loan pony back

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lindsay1993

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We have decided to send our daughters loan pony back. For the simple reason that she is too sharp for my daughter now that she wants to jump & do pony club etc. She's great for just walking through the fields, but becomes very spooky if we take her out of her comfort zone. She's frightened my daughter a few times so just isn't suitable anymore for what we want to do.

Owner has been contacted and says that she needs a few weeks to arrange somewhere for the pony to go.

How long is reasonable for us to keep the pony?

In my head, a week or two sounds sensible to allow owner to make arrangements, but I fear this may drag on longer as owner doesn't seem keen on her coming back. I understand that her situation may have changed and so she may need a little time to sort things out, pony needs restricted grazing etc.
 
Do you have an agreement? When I loaned my horse out I specified a month's notice. It's not always easy to get a livery space with little notice. I think a week is not long enough.
 
What was the agreement made at the beginning of the loan? I have a horse out on loan and the agreement is four weeks notice to end the loan either by me or the loaner.
 
My friend is loaning her for my daughter. I doubt there is anything set in stone.
We are happy to keep the pony until her owner is sorted, I just wasn't sure how long was acceptable. The lady has her own facilities, but I think she maybe just wants to pass her straight on to someone else, rather than have to deal with her herself. She is under vet care for her cushings which has turned out to be very expensive for us.
 
In this situation, I would offer to find a new loaner direct. Easier for the owner, and less stressful for the pony, who only has to move once.
 
A month from the day you inform owner is acceptable, "a week or two" is very unrealistic.

Also I would be a bit dubious about taking on the responsibility of finding a new loaner. Perhaps say you are happy to advertise for a new loaner during the month notice period but if nothing turns up then it's up to the owner to have the pony. Also get this in writing.
 
Last edited:
Merlod said:
A month from the day you inform owner is acceptable, "a week or two" is very unrealistic.

Also I would be a bit dubious about taking on the responsibility of finding a new loaner. Perhaps say you are happy to advertise for a new loaner during the month notice period but if nothing turns up then it's up to the owner to have the pony.
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Sorry if I sounded stupid! I've never loaned before and haven't seen the agreement so was just looking for advice.

I don't particularly want to offer to look for a new loaner as the pony has some nasty habits and I don't think is suitable for what the owner thinks she is suitable for. I wouldn't be advertising her as a ideal lead-rein pony, to me she is more of a second pony who needs a confident rider. I would hate her to go to another child through me and the child get hurt like my daughter did.
 
I would suggest that 12 weeks would be a reasonable and fair amount of time for the owner to make arrangements. My advice would be to write to them by Royal Mail Special Delivery (so that there is no doubt that they have received your letter) advising them that you wish to return the pony at the latest by a specified date and that if that date has expired you will return the pony to their home address.
 
As the others have said, a month tends to be the norm. It's possible even with her own facilities she may have no stable for the pony.

I would let the owner find another person to loan rather than get caught up in it, especially if the pony has damaged your daughters confidence.

I'd advise next time you take a more active role in agreeing the loan agreement rather than rely on a friend then you can make sure it suits you, and hope you find one more suitable.
 
I think that any loaner should afford the owner 6- 8 weeks to take the horse back. If I ever loaned then I would certainly want to stipulate that but take the horse back asap if I could get sorted sooner. A week or two is highly unreasonable.
 
My last loan agreement was for 3 months notice to return the mare. She went to another loan direct from me but arranged via the owner. The only part I played was having people come and see the mare while she was still with me.

My circumstances changed dramatically very quickly and due to Ill health and intensive treatment being imminent, she made arrangements within a week. She would have been within her rights to make me wait out the notice.
 
Anything over a month the owner is taking the mick. Especially if she has her own facilities and isn't waiting on a livery space. When I had ponies returned I picked the up the same day ifp ossible, certainly by the end of the week, you acceot as a loaner that it may be inconvenient, if not you would sell.
 
Something will be drawn up in writing and sent to owner. I think 1 month as of today sounds reasonable to return her if a new loaner isn't found for her.
I'll be sad to see her go, if my daughter was just that little bit older and more confident then she would be staying. But I fear that anymore incidents where the pony will frighten her, she may not want to ride at all.
The last thing I want to do is scare her

Thanks.
 
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