Which home would you choose??? I just can't decide - don't want him to go . . .

mmmm.......I was open until you said about home 1 pestering you, that could be a warning of things to come! If they are pestering you now (whereas I wouldn't be making a fuss, not wanting to put you off us) what will they be like once they have him, I think it is very rude of them TBH. Home 2 sounds good, you have been recommended the people (although that can offer no guarantees but better than no info) and I would discuss you riding him every now and then, if they are open to that (and I would be) then he will get a bit of a change when you do.
 
I woudl also say home 2. As someone else said, 15hh esp a native, is a lot of horse for an 11yr old. And as was also said, the girl may well jump and jump and jump.
 
If you want your pony to have a quieter life then home 2...Home 1 sounds like your pony will be pushed and in 18 months time you'll be given back a knackerd animal?!!?
Not saying that will happen but that's how I read it.
Go and check out both homes and then go with your gut feelings.
 
I think home 1 are bordering on harrasing you, and for that reason alone I'd say home 2. Also, horses don't stand in the field saying "Oh what a shame, I'm really fed up, I haven't been competing for ages". If he's well cared for and goes for nice rides he'll be happy with that, he won't pine for the higher jumps.
 
hmm, tricky one - I don't know to be honest. Home 2 could just as easily decide he is not for them within a few months as much as Home 1 could. At least Home 1 have been upfront with the loan term they are looking at.

Also, is there a particular reason you feel he needs a quieter life? Is it due to health issues? I only say that as my 19 yo 16hh conn x TB still competes an seems to get a bit bored when he's not been out to a 'party' in a while.

The work it sounds like Home 1 want to do doesn't to me sound like anything too hard or demanding and the 11yo could get a hell of alot of joy and confidence from your horse.

Home 2 does sound like he will have an easier life plus it is closer so maybe that is more the key here. I think you should check out both places and i think you may well get a 'feel' for who is right at this time.

a 14 yo connie though doesn't sound over the hill to me though, maybe he would enjoy doing PC stuff again. Guess you're the only one who knows the pony though so only you can decide.

Just make sure you get a proper loan contract drawn up if you are worried about him being returned without notice.
 
Unless you are happy to have him back in 18 months, I would def. go home two.

Even if the girl loves him and doesnt outgrow him, she will be wanting to do more as she gets older, not less and you have already decided that you think he needs to be doing a bit less jump work.

I dont like the sound of home 2; a bit of a sense of entitlement to be planning shopping lists and contacting you 5 times in a week when you have told them you are also considering someone else. Whilst I would appreciate them being keen on him, people without patience tend not to be good for horses, and if they dont respect your comfort/convenience by keep pestering then I would be particularly concerned about how seriously they will take you on the not too much jumping front.

10 mins away also means you can pass by at least weekly to see him in the field etc., even if you dont need to bother the loaners that often, so the chances of a bad situation getting out of hand are greatly reduced. The fact that your RI is also involved with them in some way gives you an even better chance of spotting problems before they happen.

However, I would wonder whether he will be kept fit enough to XC for you on loan 2, even if the lady is happy to let you (have to say, if I was paying in full for the keep of a horse I wouldnt want the owner riding it too, but I suppose some people wouldnt care so cant hurt to ask).

Also, if you dont want to let him go, are your circumstances likely to change so you want him back before the 3/4 years loaner 2 has in mind? If so the shorter loan might be better.
 
Home 2. However you don't say what horse companions - or not - he will have in either home, and whether he will be kept at loanee's home or at a yard?

But overall, Home 2 would do it for me. Quieter life, and 2 people to care for him. He sounds so nice - love Connies - and well done you for taking so much care.
 
I was 100% sure (home 2) after your first post, but after reading how home 1 have been pestering you, I am even more certain! They sound so pushy and chances are they will be exactly the same, if not much worse, with the pony.

Also, please guys, it's a pony -- horses do not lose sleep at night because "they have so much fun competing and really miss it"! As long as they are well taken care of they do not 'miss' competing the way we do....
 
100% agree with the HOME 2 brigade, by far the nicer option for your neddie. I hate the pushy- ness of some people and agree if they are being this pushy to you now, how ar they going to treat your pony. Home 2 sounds lovely, quieter life, loving people -word of mouth recommendation is always good- and you can still keep your hand in a wee bit - and you will be nearby to help if they ever need you to. Sounds like the perfect option to me, do not be pressured by emotional blackmail, you have to do what is best for your connie and you. xxxlots of lovexxx its a difficult decision
b
 
not read the other replies- but i would say home number 2. i have a horse out on loan and can really sympathise with you- its not a nice process to go through. of the loaners i have had the teenager was ok and looked afer horse fine but was also cocky and dumped me in it with no notice at the start of winter (her parents weren't really horsey)- wheras the adults haven't. i would also say (and yes this is a generalisation) a lot of teenagers do want to hooley about and don't always think about things like the ground etc- i know not all are like that but some are... i know that i was a lot less responsible as a teenager than i am as an adult and i was a fairly sensible teenager!!
the other thing to consider is do you want to be going through all this again in 18 months- option 2 seems like a more secure home for your horse....
 
Home 2 . Can't do pushy people and agree they may well ask more and more of him when he is needing less. Also you can keep a closer eye on him, maybe ride him that would be fab. He is still your horse and I think it's very importnat you are close by to keep an eye and make sure he is happy, well etc don't want to be a grump but we had a pony go out on loan to a district commisioners grand daughter and he came home with chronic illness that could have been treated if caught early enough but sadly it wasn't. This lady talked the talk and walked the walk but sadly didn't practice what she preached - Mum was mortified and as such vowed never to loan again.

Loaning can work brilliantly but be careful and go with a BHS contract so you can cover as many bases as possible.

Good luck x
 
Home two. As a teenager is more likely to get ambitious with experience and confidence. Horse may then have more demanding life. Good luck. Sorry if I have repeated anyone else but didn't trawl through all answers!
 
Without meeting either of the families, or seeing their yards, I would say Home 2. It's nearer to you, it has an adult definitely in charge (which would be very important to me) and it acan be as long term as you need. I too think that 15hh is rather large for an 11 yr old. We have a 14hh pony living on our land. The owner's 12 yr old, tall for his age, son is only just the right size for her - we are not expecting him to outgrow her for some years. And as others have said, ponies do not stand in the field wishing they could go out competing. I agree with putting a watertight contract in place and if you are hoping to ride occasionally, I would put that into the contract - then there will be no room for misunderstanding on either side.
 
Home 2,

The older lady will know what she wants out of her horse and will settle with that. Although the younger girl is happy to jump at that height, if your horse is the sweetheart you say it will not be long before she gets that bit more ambitious and notches up the jumps a couple of holes etc. :) x
 
Another vote for home 2.

Not sure that this would necessarily be a quieter life for him though, but is that really what he needs at 14? Seems quite young to me.

I am also an 'older' lady with an 18 year old arab cross. When I got her a year ago as a share with my daughter I would probably have said that she would be coming to us for a 'quiet' life and to begin with that's what she got. 2 lessons a week and the rest of the week very low level schooling - my daughter and I had only been riding a year.

However, 1 year later, my daughter has lost interest and I have got into hacking. We rarely school and go out for as many hacks as we can fit in each week. Minimum of 20 miles in a week if the weather is poor typically 30+ over the summer, doing pleasure rides at weekends (including a 20 mile endurance training ride).

So, home 2 is not necessarily going to be too quiet for him as he is still quite a youngster - unless he has health issues that requires him to slow down.

Sorry, if I have rambled on :) Keep us posted with your decision.
 
Just with my sensible head on - will you want or be able to take him back in 4 or 5 years time? I did do that with my mare, and she has just come back to me after nearly 5 years. I decided I would never sell her as she had taken me to where I wanted to go and been brilliant, but as a word of warning, she is costing me the proverbial arm and leg as is currently going down with every virus/illness she in the yard. She has now seen the vet (excluding flu and tet) more times in 6 weeks than my boy has in 6 years!
 
I would go for Home 2. The first home still sounds quite busy and if you want him to go to a quieter home then the second one sounds like the best option.
 
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