Those of you with horses out on full loan...

I took one back in similar circumstances to yours. He was loved and fed/watered etc, no cruelty, but I felt the loanee really didn’t have time for him and her care wasn’t quite to the standard I would expect. His feet weren’t being done as often as I would like, teeth hadn’t been done for a while, field was a scruffy mess with poor fencing. So I took him back and he’s now with another home who are much better. I did feel bad because they loved him, but I did it in as kind way as possible. And at the end of the day, he’s my pony, my responsibility and you may have to risk offending them, but the horse is more important.

I also have one on loan myself, and I treat her like a treasured princess! I am so, so lucky to have her, she gets the best of everything and is cared for the same as my own. I buy her new stuff if she needs it, and she has her saddle checked regularly and everything else she needs for a happy life. I feel honoured to have been chosen for her carer, and am fully committed to her well-being. Basically, I’ve been given a free horse with all her gear, it’s the very least I can do.

There are good loan situations out there.


You've hit the nail on the head really. I think I need to really be 120% that me having him back would be the best outcome all around and think of my next 'move' - if there is one.
 
A horse I loaned out had to be collected within two weeks as he was dangerous and uncontrollable. They couldn’t catch or lead him and he constantly reared at them. I couldn’t get there fast enough after the phone call. He was a slightly batty horse but never like that and was obviously seriously unhappy for some reason. Instantly back to normal once home so the right decision.
A horse I loaned sadly went back to his owners after I maxed out my insurance on treatment I wasn’t totally sure I even agreed with (I’d not have put my owned horse through it) and the promise of more to come that I knew I’d not be able to afford.
 
I have one out on loan right now. I honestly can't see me ever having to bring her back for reasons of her not being looked after correctly by the loaner, who was her sharer before that and treats her like a queen. Eventually I will have to make the decision to either bring her or sell her, and neither will be easy at all :( I miss her a lot but she is trickier to ride than my other two. I miss having her part of 'my gang', but she gets more attention as an only horse than I could give.
 
I had my mare out on loan. Lovely yard I thought until she got an abscess and they didn't really want to look after her And do the extra stuff that came with it. I ended up going there and changing her poultice etc. she came back home.
she then went out on loan again to a lovely lady. Sadly she was returned in June due to COVID. I made the decision not to loan her again and am enjoying her myself again in her semi retirement !
 
Thank you for all of your replies. I have my gelding out on loan at the moment who I am fortunate enough to visit semi-regularly but there is a few things I just wish were different. Not sure if I'm just being particular.. but I would just love to have him back but don't feel like I have justified cause. Going off of these replies I'm perhaps just being a bit precious :eek: Obviously I know he is mine and can ultimately do as I wish, but I think at the moment I would be being unfair.
If any of your misgivings are related to their financial state then don’t hesitate too long .... this winter is going to be brutal on costs??
 
I picked up my mini the day I was told she had been allowed to get laminitis. The two supplements she should have been on had been allowed to lapse and I arrived to find her out in a paddock with grass on it. I was livid.
.
 
Last edited:
1 I requested to either sell or for him to come back after a year- he was getting to the age his value was declining and I had time for him home again. I offered them to buy him at what I thought was a fair price but they didn’t think he was worth it to them so back he came. He had a good year with them. Before that I can’t remember why he came back, it might again have been as I had time or maybe they didn’t any more. It’s about 2 of his 16 years with us he’s been out on loan and they both looked after him well.
 
I took my horse back because he wasn’t being ridden. The care was great and the loaner was very upset about it but he was supposed to be regularly worked and doing PC. It was inconvenient for me as I was in my final year of uni but I managed to do more than them even with placements and dissertation to juggle.
Currently have my pony out on loan, all is well. He has been in loan homes for about 6 years now and I’ve never had to terminate the loan. Always had lovely people for him.
 
Ive got one out on loan. failure to meet agreement of contract will result in termination although there's nothing much beyond basic care other than her weight needs to be monitored well (cob). otherwise I have a chat with them every time the daughter stops riding so much. Her mother steps in and keeps her going but she was for the daughter and the mother has others for herself. she's been with them I think for 2 years now and eventually id like her back but I'm in no rush and neither are they.
 
Top