What to do?

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Abacus

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My sharer wants to take my horse to university when she goes in September, on full loan. This would mean moving him about 150 miles and away from the yard he has been in for 7 years. I am torn on this. I no longer ride him and so don't have a use for him myself as such (except that I would miss him).

Pros are that she loves him very much, he would get a lot of attention, and with me realistically he gets less as I have another horse. Perhaps this shouldn't influence me but I also know that she will be very disappointed if I say no, as she has her heart set on keeping him.

Cons are that she is a bit novice, sometimes makes poor decisions on welfare (although not, I think, dangerous) and that I am being a bit possessive and not wanting someone to take away my boy. Also her finances mean she needs to get a sharer, and I wouldn't have a chance to meet that person or reasonably enforce any rules about what he does (i.e. I would say no hunting or XC, but can't know what they are doing).

He has medical issues and I wouldn't sell him in case he is passed on, but he is sound and in work. I would always take him back, either from her or anywhere, if that changed.

I realise that asking a forum for an opinion on this might not get me anywhere, as you haven't met the girl in question, and really it all pins on whether she is trustworthy and will take care of him. I think she is and would... but am having a wobble over it. Does anyone have any helpful advice?

Thanks x
 
Personally I wouldn't let him go. It is too far. There are too many horror stories for me not to want to check on him once a week or so. The fact that you say she makes poor decisions on welfare sets alarm bells ringing. Absolutely NO!!!!
 
He is sound and in work - I would get a different sharer.

If you have concerns re. welfare decisions now, how would you feel when he is so far away?
A student lifestyle can impact on welfare too.
 
Your horse, you do what you feel is best, but only because she maybe will make different decisions than you, it doesn't have to equal that they're bad decisions, sometimes different only means different. And since you said that you no longer ride him, and that you won't have as much time for him, so what happens with him if he stays?

I've heard about bad loaning experiences on HHO and elsewhere, but I've heard about good loaning experiences too.
 
I personally wouldn't!! That's too far!!! If anything (god forbid) went wrong then you wouldn't be able to get there and would have to rely on your loans and strangers decisions over the phone.
 
FinnishLapphund said:
And since you said that you no longer ride him, and that you won't have as much time for him, so what happens with him if he stays?

I've heard about bad loaning experiences on HHO and elsewhere, but I've heard about good loaning experiences too.
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Thanks for all of the advice on this. The quote above is a really interesting point. If he stays with me then, financially, he would ideally earn his keep or at least a good chunk of it. He has been on loan twice before, once worked well and the second time didn't work out, so I am not against a loan - but it would have to be the right one. And this does seem a long way away.
 
I'd keep him. There are so many people around these days looking for people to share their horses that I'm quite sure your current loaner will be able to find a horse to ride while she's at university.

And what would happen in the vacations? He'd be up and down the country like a yo-yo? Or left to the care of the other (potential) sharer, who you don't know!?
 
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