So why do people loan without doing proper checks.

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canteron

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I have read thread after thread on here of people saying that they loaned their horse and 'shock horror' it has gone wrong. Horse has been mistreaded/sold on/what ever.

Without being too judgemental (OK I am) I can't help but feel that the many loaners are just a) just trying to dump a problem and using hope over logic b)lazy over not doing their due diligence before loaning.

So, for whatever reason, your horse is no longer convenient (money, health, desire, whatever). 'Nice' person (how difficult is it to be 'nice' for just a little bit) comes along and relieves you of a problem and you don't do checks????

I would ask

a) Who is your vet - and check with them they are reigstered and for how long.
b) Are you employed - and check they are employed and have been for a bit
c) Who is your farrier/your childs pony club/equine dentist
d) What is your family circumstance and are they on board - and interview family
e) Take a passport copy - you are after all passing on something of value, hotels do it for a measly hotel bill.

If there wasn't any continuity anywhere, the horse wouldn't go there - and if they weren't willing to divulge information, then alarm bell would ring Big Time.

So, I loaned my horse and wasn't 100%, so I got to know boyfriend (unwilling horse owner) and got so close that when it went wrong, I was the first to know - I learnt where he drank, who his buddies where and so when it went wrong (as as some point in 80pc of loaning cases do) I was the first to know. After all, he didn't want to dump 'buddies' in it!

So, it is difficult and uncomfortable to ask these questions, but easier than crying over spilt milk later????

And if you ask all these questions - and check them - then you can truly say you did all you could?
 
Whilst I agree with the principle of your post, I love playing devils advocate:

a) If someone is looking for a loan horse, then they may not have a vet since they don't have a horse to be seen by the vet currently. And if they have other horses, well, having a vet on record doesn't actually mean you'll use them...
b) Employed people are as capable of cruelty as unemployed
c) Anyone can name a farrier, pony club or equine dentist. As with vets, there can be perfectly plausible explanations for not having a current one/being registered as a current client. And again, naming one does not guarantee the use of them.
d) Single adults often loan horses, they are not always evil.

In all fairness, the passport idea is a good one I've not heard suggested before.

Loaning is risky. You can ask all the right questions and be taken in by a fraud. It's a pretty sweeping generalisation to assume that every loan home that goes wrong is because they didn't ask the right questions.

Oh, and yes, I have a pony on loan. I have not dumped a problem. If she must come back, she can do. But it was in her best interests she was loaned out. And I do resent the implication that I simply couldn't be bothered having her anymore. If that was the case, I'd have sold her.
 
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I did all I the above and loaned my mare to someone I trusted. I visited, was in constant contact and the mare was moved for permanent turnout (I couldn't give her that at my yard) due to health reasons, and as a broodmare (injury put paid to ridden career but produced a lovely foal for me, good mum and well put together etc etc) but when my circumstances changed and I was unable to visit (period of 6 weeks) she was put in with a mare that bullied her senseless, ran her off her feed, and wore her down to nothing. First I knew was when my poor mare was delivered back to me in **** condition (I have pics from 6 weeks before that with her looking well) and with a cracked cannon bone and a socking great open wound. Ultimately, £1500 later and the realisation that the cracked bone had become infected, she was PTS. She was my world, I thought I was doing right by her, I knew the loaner for years before I loaned her my pride and joy, and yet still the worst happened.

Please, do not presume anyone with a loan gone wrong is an idiot, some of us do what's right and the **** still hits the fan. If I had my time again, I wouldn't have ever let her out of my sight, but then again isn't hindsight always 20:20??
 
My goodness me I have been green with envy, when I have seen the quality of some horses / ponies people have been loaned. It is certainly not all about off loading problems. Reasons why horses / ponies are often put out on loan (that I have come across)
1. Someone has found that perfect 2nd pony, at a time when child is not quite ready for the 2nd pony, so has bought, but then loaned out for a year.
2. Child does not want to part with stellar pony / horse for ever, but is tied up doing exams / university.
3. Horse has been outgrown by everyone in the family - but still has miles on the clock - but selling is not an option, as they want to keep the horse / pony in assured good home to the end of its years (but syill want it to have a nice / active time)
4. Owner, has babies / ill health - but wants to come back to much loved horse in a couple of years time....
5. Horse was (say) a fantastic racehorse - no longer up to that job, but can do another, with someone else, but selling it is not an option. Kauto Star????

Sadly it is the horses / ponies that are loaned because they have 'issues' because the owner can't sell them (because of the said issues) that often end up being 'dumped' / sold on. The lovely horses, generally get passed on by word of mouth - the loanee is very gald to have them and the loaner is glad that they are having a good time - but in the knowledge that ultimate responsibility for their long term welfare soundly sits with them.
 
canteron said:
So, for whatever reason, your horse is no longer convenient (money, health, desire, whatever). 'Nice' person (how difficult is it to be 'nice' for just a little bit) comes along and relieves you of a problem and you don't do checks????

I would ask

a) Who is your vet - and check with them they are reigstered and for how long.
b) Are you employed - and check they are employed and have been for a bit
c) Who is your farrier/your childs pony club/equine dentist
d) What is your family circumstance and are they on board - and interview family
e) Take a passport copy - you are after all passing on something of value, hotels do it for a measly hotel bill.
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I find your post some what patronising to be honest! We loaned our cob because at the time he was sitting in the field doing nothing & thought it would be nicer for him off doing something...not because "he wasnt convenient". As it happens we actually did check as much as we could out & yes it seemed a lovely home, sadly we were wrong & we ended up with something akin to an RSPCA case. We also loaned to another lady who ticked all your boxes....the woman who owned the yard he was going to & ran the local pony club came out to see him to make sure he suited the loaner, lovely yard, woman seemed wonderful....again we were let down & ended up with an underweight horse on return. At the end of the day loaning is a game of pot luck, there are some fab loan homes out there, ive loaned to several in the past....sadly sometimes the crap homes slip through the net.
 
Can I just say, I've had horses on loan for 16 years and I truely believe not one has been mistreated.
I treat them as if they are my own (which they are when they are with me).
I have nothing to hide.
In fact the mare I have on loan is moving to a new loan home on Thursday as the household finances won't allow for 2 horses. The owner asked me to help advertise her and find a new loaner. She text me yesterday saying I'd done a fantastic job and shes not had to worry all the time I've had her.
My gelding that I loan, I am buying for a vastly reduced price as his owners have said hes going to a nice safe home where he will be loved.
I understand that there are some awful loaners out there but we aren't all the same.
 
I'm probably one of these horror stories you're reffering to, I wanted nothing butwhat is best for my horse and he didn't recieve it do you not think I blame myself enough for what happened to my chap without having to hear preaching posts like this.

Maybe I'm just taking this too personally but there why be so patronising.
 
canteron said:
I have read thread after thread on here of people saying that they loaned their horse and 'shock horror' it has gone wrong. Horse has been mistreaded/sold on/what ever.

Without being too judgemental (OK I am) I can't help but feel that the many loaners are just a) just trying to dump a problem and using hope over logic b)lazy over not doing their due diligence before loaning.

So, for whatever reason, your horse is no longer convenient (money, health, desire, whatever). 'Nice' person (how difficult is it to be 'nice' for just a little bit) comes along and relieves you of a problem and you don't do checks????

I would ask

a) Who is your vet - and check with them they are reigstered and for how long.
b) Are you employed - and check they are employed and have been for a bit
c) Who is your farrier/your childs pony club/equine dentist
d) What is your family circumstance and are they on board - and interview family
e) Take a passport copy - you are after all passing on something of value, hotels do it for a measly hotel bill.

If there wasn't any continuity anywhere, the horse wouldn't go there - and if they weren't willing to divulge information, then alarm bell would ring Big Time.

So, I loaned my horse and wasn't 100%, so I got to know boyfriend (unwilling horse owner) and got so close that when it went wrong, I was the first to know - I learnt where he drank, who his buddies where and so when it went wrong (as as some point in 80pc of loaning cases do) I was the first to know. After all, he didn't want to dump 'buddies' in it!

So, it is difficult and uncomfortable to ask these questions, but easier than crying over spilt milk later????

And if you ask all these questions - and check them - then you can truly say you did all you could?
Click to expand...

Incorrect did legal loan agreement, experienced horse owner(loaner), what did they do wrong.
Part of loan agreement was to put muzzle on when turned out and they hadnt put it on for days(as discovered later). Part of the agreement was that THEY turned horse out, but they let others do it. Phone call at work, "What should I do....?" Horse died of colic at vets. Best horse ever owned. Owner was in hospital for while so thats why horse was loaned. Owner was solicitor so agreement was tight as a knot. Unfortunately humans LIE big time. As long as the loanees needs were met thats life. Loanee went straight to looking for next loan horse. Heartbroken owner. Owner was devastated that her horse probably had a terrible unecessary death. Thick selfish human.
Someone we knew borrowed a horse for riding with their daughter(someone they knew so well and trusted). Borrowed horse had a fractured pelvis years ago and was for light riding ie no galloping etc. But they bumped into the mother and daughter out galloping and were furious. So hey who do you trust. I let a young girl ride my old boy and told them strictly no cantering particularly when ground was hard, and guess what she did. Now the moral is not to trust anyone I suppose, and we got a bit like this.
 
Kokopelli said:
I'm probably one of these horror stories you're reffering to, I wanted nothing butwhat is best for my horse and he didn't recieve it do you not think I blame myself enough for what happened to my chap without having to hear preaching posts like this.

Maybe I'm just taking this too personally but there why be so patronising.
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No I thought the same!Patronising. Checks references etc. Just cos loanee seems decent they may not care as much as you about animals. Even though they give that impression. How many horse people who seemed decent when I was looking to buy last year LIED to me as I discovered. These were on face of it decent humans.NOT.
 
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