Taking horse back off loan

[Barton Bounty]

I was in the opposite, I popped in one day years ago when I put my old horse out on loan, just out a drive and popped in… he was like a frikking toast rack… rage rage rage from a 17.2 hano well built big boy to toast rack in 2 months! Went home grabbed a trailer and went straight back for him! And told her she is lucky I was so upset or I would have ragdolled her round the stable

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Just checking, @TheChestnutThing is this a different horse to the one that was on loan / share and subject to a court case?

If it’s not, then you’d need to consider the terms of however that was settled.

 

[Rowreach]

wow. Just wow. I have no words for what you think is right and wrong.

I don't think you've quite got the hang of this forum.

in answer to your original question, he's your horse, the loan agreement says two months notice, so give her 2 months notice, in writing, and take him back.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Just checking, @TheChestnutThing is this a different horse to the one that was on loan / share and subject to a court case?

If it’s not, then you’d need to consider the terms of however that was settled.

Nope. This not that one. But regarding the one that there was a court case for, the horse belongs to me, so they had zero claim for a part share were they never actually looked after him.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I don't think you've quite got the hang of this forum.

in answer to your original question, he's your horse, the loan agreement says two months notice, so give her 2 months notice, in writing, and take him back.

Definitely got the hang of this forum and the witch hunt that happens to many posters.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Thank you all for your comments. Will take them on board.

 

[Rowreach]

Definitely got the hang of this forum and the witch hunt that happens to many posters.

But you accused Amymay of saying something she didn't.

 

[AandK]

Some strange responses on this thread. I’d give her the 2 month notice, explaining your reasoning (which is not unreasonable!) and give her the option to share at your yard, if that’s an option for you of course.

 

[AmyMay]

But you accused Amymay of saying something she didn't.

Thanks @Rowreach

Partly my fault as I miss quoted. But I did point out the edit.

Either way, hope the conversation goes smoothly.

 

[[153312]]

On one of your checks on the horse: "Hi [loaner], [horse] looks rather well at the moment and I'm ever so grateful for the care you've taken of him over the past two years. My circumstances have changed for the better now though so unfortunately I'm going to have to give you notice on the loan. I will be collecting him on [date] at [time]. Obviously having been looking after him for the past while you have a relationship with him so I'd be happy to let you continue to see him on a share basis, instead of a loan, if that's something you'd be in interested in."
Job done.

 

[Kaylum]

I would put it in writing and go see her. You could maybe change it from a loan to a share arrangement? As has been suggested.

 

[MagicMelon]

Ultimately its your horse, he belongs to you. I wouldnt personally think its worth rocking the boat when the horse sounds really happy and the home sounds very nice. What happens if your situation changed again? You're not going to get many years jumping if he's already in his late teens. But hey, its your horse so if you really want him back then you need to call her and arrange to go meet her I think then say you'd like him back but suggest the share route?

 

[WelshD]

I'd take her for coffee and explain that you propose to end the loan because your own circumstances have changed but you appreciate all she has done etc

Unlike some other posters I personally wouldn't offer her a share unless you need the help as I would worry she may find it hard to let go a bit and you may clash on the management of the horse.

If the previous problems have been resolved regarding lapsing vaccinations etc I'd happily provide a recommendation when she is looking for a replacement.

I would offer to take him back sooner than the two months notice if she feels she would prefer (it puts the ball in her court and also doesn't make it look like you are waiting till the end of the bad weather purposefully)

I have one out on loan at the moment and have decided that although sometimes I feel I am missing out on doing stuff with him I know he is happy and loved where he is and should I take him back and my circumstances change for the worse I would not find another home so excellent so while I think its absolutely your right to take your horse back I would just want to reassure myself that the new yard situation was a long term secure one before making that final decision.

At the end of the day when someone takes a horse on loan they know deep down that one day the horse may be taken back, its hard but she has offered to buy the horse and you haven't sold so its clear the arrangement would not necessarily be permanent.

 

[Sprogladite01]

I am quite surprised by some of the responses on this thread. OP, he is your horse. If you want him back, it doesn't really matter if the loaner is going to be upset - that's the risk loaners take and presumably understand. You've suggested offering a part loan which is a lovely thing to do, but if he's yours and you want him back there shouldn't really be any question of whether to do it or not and I don't really understand why people seem to think you need to justify it. Circumstances change!

Can you arrange a visit to the horse, let them know beforehand you'd like to have a quick chat when you're there and then give her notice while you're there in person? Don't forget to give notice in writing too to make sure your bases are covered.

Good luck x

 

[SantaVera]

a point of view from a loaner here. I took a broodmare on loan who hadnt managed to get back in foal. WAs meant to be for 2 years minimum,with the proviso that if the owner wanted another foal from her she could take her back for that. in an earlier life she had been ridden and the stud owner wanted her to be looked after. She came to me with a bad case of mud fever. We got that cleared up and started riding her.I thought the mare would be with me for at least 18 months. I had her for 7 months only come the early spring the owner just rang and said she wanted to send her back to stud. I had been under the impression that this wouldnt happen til the following year at the earliest and possibly never. Nothing I could do, I had to return the horse even paying for transport some 200 miles towhere the stud was. Nothing I could do. I was a learning curve for me. OP just take your horse back if you want, yeas the loaner might be upset but theyll get over it, I did and learned too.

 

[blitznbobs]

Look there is no way of giving bad news with no pain so you just have to put your big girl/ boy pants on and do it. Yes she is going to be upset but that is actually her problem and the risk she took on when she loaned rather than bought…

 

[Widgeon]

So basically I am a terrible person for wanting what was best for my horse in the first place now I am a terrible person for taking him back and karma is going to bite me? Wow.

OP I really wouldn't bother replying to this post, or this poster, at all. They're just digging for a response.

I think you had good advice from the first few responses - talk to the loaner in person, stress that you are very sorry for the upset it will cause her, and offer her a share of the horse from your yard. Tbh I think this whole thing comes down to how you handle it - you need to be kind to her. And regarding the saddle perhaps you could offer to buy it back for for the price at which you sold it to her?

 

[Trickywooo]

Just tell her. Ultimately there is no point dancing around it. Go and see her and tell her face to face. Yes she will be upset but that's the risk you take by loaning unfortunately.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Looking back at the previous issues you had with this loaner at the start and that you have stated she is emotional and cries easily, I would be a bit worried that once you give the 2 months notice to take him back she decides to do a runner!

Based on that I would just go and get him it doesn't sound they have looked after him that well anyway and his your horse so your entitled to do what you like really.

 

[throwawayaccount]

Based on your previous thread about loaner, and the fact he’s your horse, do what you want and arrange collection promptly.

 

[rowan666]

You should definitely offer to collect ASAP if that is what she'd prefer as purposefully letting her take care of an ageing horse over a bad winter just to take him back in spring when the weather picks up so you can enjoy a fun season jumping on him really isn't fair. I have been on both sides of this situation so I do understand. Everyone is aware of the pros and cons of loaning at the time they choose to loan over buy/sell.

I personally wouldn't want to do it face to face if she's an emotional person, it would just be super awkward for both parties

 

[Caol Ila]

I don't quite understand some of the responses on this thread.

If you loan your horse out, instead of selling it, surely it's because you want to retain ultimate control over it, perhaps with the ability take it back if your circumstances change.

If you loan a horse, you are saving the initial big financial outlay of buying a horse and the responsibility, and (at times) misery of being where the buck stops if sh1t goes wrong. The downside, of course, is that it's not your horse, and if the owner wants it back or wants to sell it, then that's life. There's not a lot you can do. That's the payoff.

It might suck for your loaner, but as a loaner, them's the breaks.

 

[ycbm]

I don't quite understand some of the responses on this thread.

My responses are heavily influenced by the fact that the horse is an 18 year old ex racer described as seriously lacking top line who has hacked about without properly using himself for 2 years and the owner posted that she wants him back to take him show jumping.
.

 

[Lou_wizzard]

I would drop a text to arrange to speak to them on your next visit then they are aware that something will be spoken about and ultimately it’s only going to be one of two things.

taking on a loan she should expect this day could come unless you have specified an indefinite loan.

he’s your horse at the end of the day and if you want to bring him back to fitness to jump then that’s up to you. As upsetting as it maybe for the loanee it’s the downside to loaning.

offering her a share is a lovely thing to do but I would make sure that it isn’t going to come to a head with different management and her following your rules after 2 years of her own.

good luck, if never going to be an easy conversation

 

[Caol Ila]

My responses are heavily influenced by the fact that the horse is an 18 year old ex racer described as seriously lacking top line who has hacked about without properly using himself for 2 years and the owner posted that she wants him back to take him show jumping.
.

The owner says (in the posts I have read... I have not dug through the archives) that she wants to jump him again. Whatever that means. Could be popping 50cm crossrails or jumping 1m courses, but it's neither here nor there. Whatever the rights or wrongs of it are for the horse, he's still her horse. That's the trouble with loaning. Even if the owner is an absolute idiot, it's always their horse, and if they want to end the loan and do something that the loaner does not think is in the horse's best interests, then the loaner isn't any less SOL. This is why I've never loaned a horse.

 

[ycbm]

The owner says (in the posts I have read... I have not dug through the archives) that she wants to jump him again. Whatever that means. Could be popping 50cm crossrails or jumping 1m courses, but it's neither here nor there. Whatever the rights or wrongs of it are for the horse, he's still her horse. That's the trouble with loaning. Even if the owner is an absolute idiot, it's always their horse, and if they want to end the loan and do something that the loaner does not think is in the horse's best interests, then the loaner isn't any less SOL. This is why I've never loaned a horse.

I think you've missed my post where I said she should take him back.
.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

My responses are heavily influenced by the fact that the horse is an 18 year old ex racer described as seriously lacking top line who has hacked about without properly using himself for 2 years and the owner posted that she wants him back to take him show jumping.
.

I MAY take him show jumping IF he wants to do it again and IF we are able to build the muscle back. If he does not want to jump and the muscle wastage is too great, then we will just focus on building him back up enough to enjoy some fun hacks and fun rides. He is not the type of horse one can retire as he will go down hill very fast as he enjoys going out and having fun. I actually checked the contract again and it has not been 2 years, It just seems that long. It's been just over a year. And who really cares if he is an ex racer or an ex cart horse or an ex grand prix dressage horse. As long as any horse is happy, able and well taken care of and not in any sort of pain or discomfort, then there is absolutely no reason at any age why they cannot be brought back into work if they want to do it.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I think you've missed my post where I said she should take him back.
.

You did say this. I am going to visit this weekend (have already arranged), once I get there and judge her state of mind, I will either chat to her there or message her/phone her when I am home. I thought it best to do this on a day I visit so it's not so randomly out of the blue.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I MAY take him show jumping IF he wants to do it again and IF we are able to build the muscle back. If he does not want to jump and the muscle wastage is too great, then we will just focus on building him back up enough to enjoy some fun hacks and fun rides. He is not the type of horse one can retire as he will go down hill very fast as he enjoys going out and having fun. I actually checked the contract again and it has not been 2 years, It just seems that long. It's been just over a year. And who really cares if he is an ex racer or an ex cart horse or an ex grand prix dressage horse. As long as any horse is happy, able and well taken care of and not in any sort of pain or discomfort, then there is absolutely no reason at any age why they cannot be brought back into work if they want to do it.

Absolutely agree … my tb needs to go out every day or he is a nightmare ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I MAY take him show jumping IF he wants to do it again and IF we are able to build the muscle back. If he does not want to jump and the muscle wastage is too great, then we will just focus on building him back up enough to enjoy some fun hacks and fun rides. He is not the type of horse one can retire as he will go down hill very fast as he enjoys going out and having fun. I actually checked the contract again and it has not been 2 years, It just seems that long. It's been just over a year. And who really cares if he is an ex racer or an ex cart horse or an ex grand prix dressage horse. As long as any horse is happy, able and well taken care of and not in any sort of pain or discomfort, then there is absolutely no reason at any age why they cannot be brought back into work if they want to do it.

My 18 year old had 9 months off nearly 3 months of that was box rest, he did loose alot of top line and its been slow to get him back but his looking much better now, we don't do a great deal now anyway but I hack hack and school him and his happy doing a bit