To loan or not to loan?

[MTrewhella1]

For context I have a lovely gelding who we have owned since birth and have personally backed him, with him riding confidently alone for around a year. I'm not bothered about competing at all, our aim was to have a happy hacker and enjoy plodding out with friends. Gelding is 6yo, it's not been a completely straight forward journey but we have worked through the teething issues and he really is a lovely, honest lad.
I have recently found out I'm pregnant (almost into second trimester) and no longer want to ride for the remainder of my pregnancy (Very anxious about falling, miscarriages, all the rest). I don't want our chap to move homes, and was going to look for someone to ride him full time from our yard (no expenses are being asked for, just for someone to enjoy him for the next year).
I have had a handful of messages but just not the right rider! I'm looking for someone committed with experience who is gentle but firm, and would like to enjoy him for hacking (with company from his current yard or alone - or their friends if they're nearby!).
One person I do know has offered to take him on a full loan basis but with him moving over an hour away, they would be a very good fit and I don't know if I'm being selfish!
Part of me thinks if I can't find the right rider to stay at present yard then he will just take 9 months off ridden work. But he's doing so well and I'm worried this will put training back to square one.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! He really is my big baby and the plan will always be to go back to ridden work once other baby is here. I just feel 9 months is a long time to have off ridden work completely! Unfortunately with his current costs and a new one on the way I simply cannot afford to pay for a rider for him ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

If I were you and couldnt find the right person, I would turn him away! It will do no harm having a wee holiday, a lot of horses do it, it can be very beneficial too ? congratulations on the baby

 

[MTrewhella1]

@Barton Bounty Thanks so much for your message! I'm so worried about turning him away and being back to square one, but I suppose this is pretty unrealistic and I can still do groundwork in the meantime! Thanks for your kind message, it's making me feel far less guilty about making the best decision for my big fur baby! Thanks so much ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

@Barton Bounty Thanks so much for your message! I'm so worried about turning him away and being back to square one, but I suppose this is pretty unrealistic and I can still do groundwork in the meantime! Thanks for your kind message, it's making me feel far less guilty about making the best decision for my big fur baby! Thanks so much ?

I honestly wouldnt worry, you can still lunge, long line and do groundwork as you say so its just a wee holiday ? he is not gonna forget! Might be a bit fresh when you get back on at first though lolol ?

 

[Abacus]

Overall and bearing in mind his age, I think the risk to his future and progression is higher if you loan him than just give him a holiday. That said, for the right person it may be worth a go. Having loaned horses out before (that have left my yard) I wouldn't do it with a special younger one.

One idea may be to readvertise but with a reasonable price - you might be seeing responses from people jumping at a freebie - you might actually get someone more committed and sensible if there is a price to pay. Strange how people's minds can work but I think they value and respect something more when they pay for it. If you did find someone then you could save this money for some extra schooling or lessons when you get back on.

 

[MTrewhella1]

@Abacus thanks so much for your reply! I also fear if the wrong person comes along, new habits come in, different styles of riding it could be detrimental to his precious training. Although anyone who shown interest would be "vetted" to my highest capability, there's no way I would have the time to track mutiple rides, etc. He really is such a special chap, and my baby!
I shall look into doing about what you said and readvertise with some costings. I would just feel awful for someone to invest money into something that they're only going to get the use out of for around a year. I've been completely upfront with my ad and explained it's likely to be a years loan (which is also maybe why it's difficult to find the right person) but I would rather be honest.

 

[Polos Mum]

At his age some time off will do him no harm at all. With a new baby making a 3 hour round trip to check on him regularly might be unrealistic. I wouldn't loan without very regular checks even to someone I knew (I am a control freak)

I would carry on with the loan from where you are adverts (you have nothing to lose) and if the right person comes along great, if not - time off.
Someone saving up to buy their own, someone at uni, someone who wants to see if they want to get back into it, someone who's horse is retired but still wants to ride - there's lots of reasons for someone to jump at the chance of riding for a year.

 

[EllieBeast]

In your shoes I’d 100% turn him away. He’s been your project and although someone else having input may progress him more, it won’t ever be in exactly the same way as you would have done it.

He won’t forget what he’s learnt, it will do him no harm at all to have some time off to be a horse.

 

[Cob Life]

where abouts are you?
Ive looking for something to ride for months. I don’t mind green or young just as long as they’re safe

 

[babymare]

If I was you turn him away. He sounds a good solid type that will come back into work well. Turn away, visit and enjoy being pregnant ?

 

[Peglo]

Personally I would also keep him on your yard and keep looking for a rider for a bit and if you have no luck just turn away.

 

[Birker2020]

For context I have a lovely gelding who we have owned since birth and have personally backed him, with him riding confidently alone for around a year. I'm not bothered about competing at all, our aim was to have a happy hacker and enjoy plodding out with friends. Gelding is 6yo, it's not been a completely straight forward journey but we have worked through the teething issues and he really is a lovely, honest lad.
I have recently found out I'm pregnant (almost into second trimester) and no longer want to ride for the remainder of my pregnancy (Very anxious about falling, miscarriages, all the rest). I don't want our chap to move homes, and was going to look for someone to ride him full time from our yard (no expenses are being asked for, just for someone to enjoy him for the next year).
I have had a handful of messages but just not the right rider! I'm looking for someone committed with experience who is gentle but firm, and would like to enjoy him for hacking (with company from his current yard or alone - or their friends if they're nearby!).
One person I do know has offered to take him on a full loan basis but with him moving over an hour away, they would be a very good fit and I don't know if I'm being selfish!
Part of me thinks if I can't find the right rider to stay at present yard then he will just take 9 months off ridden work. But he's doing so well and I'm worried this will put training back to square one.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! He really is my big baby and the plan will always be to go back to ridden work once other baby is here. I just feel 9 months is a long time to have off ridden work completely! Unfortunately with his current costs and a new one on the way I simply cannot afford to pay for a rider for him ?

If I was at your yard I'd bite your hand off.
I'm looking for something to ride, something that I can start off really slow on and build up my confidence a bit. Hacking would do that.

I hope you find someone suitable.

 

[Ratface]

Congratulations on your upcoming new baby!
In your shoes, there's no way that I would be loaning off your yard.
Your horse will have a nice time off and you can see how you feel when your new baby is a bit older and you feel like getting back on board.

 

[Ratface]

Just to add, the above opinion is mine alone. I'm not casting any aspersions on anyone who is of a differing opinion/experience.

 

[ihatework]

For a short term thing, unless a good rider you 100% trust comes along and he stays on yard then I wouldn’t consider anything else other than turn away. No moving for full loan. Too much risk for such a short term requirement

 

[Sprogladite01]

I'm another one who would turn away - the only person worrying about him not being in work will be you lol! He certainly won't mind and he is only young, so you may find it's quite beneficial to turn away for your pregnancy and give him some more time to just be a horse (which personally I think a lot of horses don't get much of!).

Congratulations on your pregnancy

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would turn away if I couldn't find a local rider for him it certainly won't hurt him and they don't forget what they have learnt.

 

[Winters100]

In my opinion you are being sensible insisting that he stays on the current yard. I am always happy to have help riding mine, but I would never want them outside of my control. I would say keep looking for someone, and if the right person doesn't come along give your boy a holiday. Good luck with your new baby!

 

[Old school]

Congratulations on your exciting news.
Re the ponio, I would turn away and have a few pennies set aside for someone you know and trust to start him back with good habits for circa four weeks. Then you can hop on him with confidence....well at least that is what I did after each of my three children. But I am not the most brave and also ride alone ( as in at home with non horsey OH). Enjoy the time ahead.