Tips on loaning out.

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horsehaha

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Just wanted any advice really on what I should be asking a potential loaner.
I have someone interested who sounds perfect but am unsure if I'm missing out anything important in the agreement etc.

Its for my 5yo Section C, he's going to a home for longterm loan where he will be competing as I am off to uni.

For those of you who have been in this situation, were there any specific things/details you requested? I.E I am wanting to request he goes somewhere where daily turnout is provided, which should go in the contract.

I have loaned a pony out before successfully but he went as a companion and therefore abit of a different case.
Have you ever asked for references etc? I don't want to sound too over the top!
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Experiences please!
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Well I have been a loaner and a loanee, first bit of advise is trust your gut instinct. People I have loaned to I have always been sure about from day 1 and I have yet to be let down.

Secondly, personally apart from absolute specifics that I felt I HAD to stipulate, I trusted the loanee - I think a lot can be said for investing a little trust in a person and letting them get on with it within reason - after all a person I feel is more likely to look after a horse who feels like its their own, even if it isnt. If you feel like you have to breathe down the persons neck all the time - you haven't found the right loaner, they are meant to make your life easier, not harder!!

Thats ovisouly, and I know you probably know this already, not to say you don't go and visit the horse regularly - or get updates from people you trust. I kept my horse at his current yard where I could keep in touch with people I trusted.

No loan agreement is airtight, I dont think - so you have to, above all, TRUST the person you are loaning to. A piece of paper only means so much, which is why it is important to go with your gut and keep in touch regularly.

My loanee looked after my old horse BETTER than I could and I wouldn't hesitate to loan to her again if needs be.

I loaned my Ed for a few months before i got together the money to buy him. His owner put complete trust in me and I in her and the agreement ended wonderfully, me ending up with my perfect ned.
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Good loaners are out there! x
 
One of the best things to do is invite the loanee over a few times and (nicely) watch her (him?) handle, tack up and ride your horse. If she can't cope at your place or if she does something you don't like then she is not the right person for you.

If you can visit her yard and make sure you are happy with the set up and arrange to visit as often as you can when the horse does move over.

Seeing how people behave around horses and how they keep their own gives you a good idea of whether they can be trusted or not.
 
Hi there

We loan a horse who has done a cracking job of stepping in when our daughter's horse was put on long term paddock rest. From the other side of the fence make sure you put everything that is really important to you in the loan agreement as it can be worrying for you to make sure you are doing the right thing by the owner. Our loan horses owner stipulated everything she would want to happen in the agreement and we have stuck by this, it is good to know what is expected from you.

We also keep in regular touch by email and let her have updates, she did not request this in the agreement but I think it is a good idea to, she is always there if we need her support as afterall no one knows your horse better than you. We also offered references, it is your baby and I think you should get these to know you are doing all you can to find the right home, gut feeling is good but you should have back up.

Good luck hope it works out for you as well as it has for us.

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Trust your gut instinct, don't be swayed by the right words and a nice smile.

Get him/her to visit, ride, handle your horse several times.

Visit their yard and ask lots of questions.

Get references if possible, preferably from farrier/vet or someone you may know.

Having had one got sour, I did the middle two but if I had listened to my gut instinct and spoken to her farrier it would never have gone ahead in the first place.
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Only 1 thing I'll add.
I bought my horse as a rescue case.
Reason being his (previous) owner had put him out on loan, checked the horse over summer & the girl was getting on great with him, then when she checked him in November he was a hat rack- girl had gone off to 6th form or Uni or something & had left ponio in care of her (non-horsey) mum who didn't have a clue. Needless to say, his owner retrieved him pretty promptly but had to sell (which is how I ended up with him)

So I guess it would be worth checking the potential loaner isn't planning on disappearing off to college etc any time soon, and who else may be handling your pony if the loaner goes on holiday etc.

Sorry, I didn't mean to put a negative spin on things- before getting my horse I loaned a pony and had a fab experience as the owner made sure she was happy with where I was moving him to and then just left me to it really & trusted me to use my judgement with him (she already knew me as my mums horse was kept at the same livery yard which I guess helped)- so hopefully it will turn out this well for you!
 
If it is to be kept at a livery yard you can get in touch with the YO who you can contact in case of emergency/to keep an eye on things from a distance.
 
I would have him freezemarked before loaning him out. Then you know with 100% certainty it is your horse you get back.

I would then stipulate 6month check-ups (to inc vaccinations) by your vet that you would pay for. Then you can hear from the vet how the horse is doing. I would feel it is a small price to pay for a professional opinion.

Get a plan b sorted in case the horse develops an injury & is unable to get the work.
 
Definitely get references.
have a contract (there is one on the BHS website which you can use as a master)
I have been both a loaner and a loanee. I always kept in contact with the horses owners regularly, and e mailed photos etc.
I did have a bad experience when loaning a horse to a so called friend who actually sold the horse and b******d off so I couldn't trace him. I didn't have a contract for that as it was a so called friend.
Conversley I loaned a pony to several families and each time they were brilliant in keeping me in touch with him. I also visited on a regular basis.
 
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