Trying to switch loan horses

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Spirit3106

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Hi!
I posted a few days ago about my current loan horse, and thought I'd be best to make a new post updating on it. She has severe separation anxiety from her herdmates which, in the month I've been riding her, and despite my efforts to help her relax and bond with me, hasn't been improving and actually feels like it's getting worse (both her manners on the ground and riding). I feel like at this point, I'm not clicking with her at all, and it seems more hassle than a typical loan should be. She actually felt dangerous today.

When I first tried the mare, I thought she was really nice, so went ahead and I signed a contract for 3 months, and have paid for the 3 months. She is owned by the yard owner as well. Today, when I was struggling with her, another woman who has her own horse on livery approached me and said she has her own horse, who she has been looking for someone to ride out and get back into work, but is supposedly good with hacking alone etc (and to be honest I feel like there's not much chance she could be worse to handle than my current mare). Loans in my area are very hard to come by, so having another potential option isn't something I want to completely dismiss yet.

I'm wondering if it would be worth trying to approach the YO/my current loan's owner, and ask about considering the other livery's offer. My mare has been paid for the 3 months, and I don't think she's in work other than what I do with her, so the contract is fulfilled in that sense, just that I wouldn't be riding the horse anymore. I'm just afraid it might seem like bad form? I don't want to try out the other horse or anything before I ask the YO because I'm not sure in terms of the yard's insurance etc,. So I'm just trying to get some opinions on if this is something that seems like it might be worth going for, and if it would be reasonable to bring up with YO? Thank you. ❤️
 
Just tell the person you're loaning the horse from that it's not working, and outline the reasons why. They'll be well aware of their horses issues, so it won't come as a suprise. Ask for a refund on the two additional months paid in advance. I wouldn't involve a third party. And would only organise another loan once this one has been terminated.
 
Amy May In A Manger said:
Just tell the person you're loaning the horse from that it's not working, and outline the reasons why. They'll be well aware of their horses issues, so it won't come as a suprise. Ask for a refund on the two additional months paid in advance. I wouldn't involve a third party. And would only organise another loan once this one has been terminated.
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Thanks for the input. The owner definitely knows the horse is difficult, I've been discussing the difficulties I've been having and she's acknowledged it herself, but I'm not hopeful about a refund, and I just checked the contract and it has the whole section about no refunds etc,. 🫤
 
Spirit3106 said:
Thanks for the input. The owner definitely knows the horse is difficult, I've been discussing the difficulties I've been having and she's acknowledged it herself, but I'm not hopeful about a refund, and I just checked the contract and it has the whole section about no refunds etc,. 🫤
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Well you may just have to kiss the money goodbye sadly.
 
My first thought was it was quite brave/maybe a bit silly or the other livery to approach her YO new loaner and offer her own horse by way or a replacement.
Then thought she must know the YO better than you do (presumably) and if she is happy to do that maybe it shows that the YO and owner or your current loan is very approachable and understanding 🤷‍♀️
I find it a little unfair that they made you pay 3 months up front, especially as (again presumably) the horse is known to be a bit hard to deal with.

I’d say as above politely give your notice, explain your reasons which are very acceptable reasons for not wanting to carry on. Separation anxiety can be an inner pita to deal with.
I strongly suspect my mare wouldn’t be easy to lead in herself from her friends to be ridden.
 
My only red flag about the other horse is: why is owner looking for someone else to bring the horse into work? Even the calmest of horses can be a bit difficult in this situation. Have you seen the woman ride the horse herself? Don't land yourself with another problem.
 
Smogul said:
My only red flag about the other horse is: why is owner looking for someone else to bring the horse into work? Even the calmest of horses can be a bit difficult in this situation. Have you seen the woman ride the horse herself? Don't land yourself with another problem.
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Yes to this. And I would ask the owner why it was out of work? But if the first loan horse is not working out and you do not want to continue then that's kind of a separate issue anyway and once finished there may be others.

I wouldn't pay a lot for bringing someone else's horse back into work until I knew it was at least relatively safe and not another difficult problem to resolve.
 
I would also be a little wary that the new offer is only as good as it sounds until the spring gets here and you have the out of work horse going nicely for her. Will the owner then suddenly decide she wants to ride again and no longer need your services? Apart from anything else it sounds more weighed in owner's favour than yours, you are actually doing a job for her, bringing the horse back into work. Do not be tempted to pay much at all for this loan IMHO.
 
I think lesson learned that you need to have a cooling off period in a contract.

If your mare is this bad in winter it's likely she'll be impossible in summer when no longer hungry and coming into season so it's not going to work.

Take your time finding a suitable new horse and make sure you get a trial period.
 
Spirit3106 said:
Hi!
I posted a few days ago about my current loan horse, and thought I'd be best to make a new post updating on it. She has severe separation anxiety from her herdmates which, in the month I've been riding her, and despite my efforts to help her relax and bond with me, hasn't been improving and actually feels like it's getting worse (both her manners on the ground and riding). I feel like at this point, I'm not clicking with her at all, and it seems more hassle than a typical loan should be. She actually felt dangerous today.

When I first tried the mare, I thought she was really nice, so went ahead and I signed a contract for 3 months, and have paid for the 3 months. She is owned by the yard owner as well. Today, when I was struggling with her, another woman who has her own horse on livery approached me and said she has her own horse, who she has been looking for someone to ride out and get back into work, but is supposedly good with hacking alone etc (and to be honest I feel like there's not much chance she could be worse to handle than my current mare). Loans in my area are very hard to come by, so having another potential option isn't something I want to completely dismiss yet.

I'm wondering if it would be worth trying to approach the YO/my current loan's owner, and ask about considering the other livery's offer. My mare has been paid for the 3 months, and I don't think she's in work other than what I do with her, so the contract is fulfilled in that sense, just that I wouldn't be riding the horse anymore. I'm just afraid it might seem like bad form? I don't want to try out the other horse or anything before I ask the YO because I'm not sure in terms of the yard's insurance etc,. So I'm just trying to get some opinions on if this is something that seems like it might be worth going for, and if it would be reasonable to bring up with YO? Thank you. ❤️
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I'm not sure I would want to loan either of those. There are worse things than being between/without rides. I would just end the loan politely. I don't think that would cause bad feeling & I don't think the owner would be surprised either, I suspect her previous loaners haven't lasted long & that's why there's an unusually long contract.

I'd be more fussy about new loans. You don't want to be paying to do work for people. If you're good enough to bring on out of work & difficult horses you could ask for pay for that, or if what you want is an easier time say so & keep looking, good loans are out there.
 
I would suggest the livery broaches her offer with the YO as you could end up in the middle of a situation where YO is peed off.
If you do take the other horse only do it on a 2 week trial basis as an out of work horse is a very different kettle of fish. Why are there 2 horses unridden by anyone?
 
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