Worried about loan and other related questions

[TheChestnutThing]

Unfortunately due to financial reasons, I have to put one of my horses on full loan.

As you all know, I had so many issues with the loaner of my semi-retired (now fully retired) horse, so I'm very worried.

I previously used the BHS contract and amended it upon advise from a lawyer friend. But clearly that meant nothing in the eyes of the loaner. Does anyone have a tighter contract they would be happy to send to me?

Also, do you send tack with the horse? I'm again hesitant to do this, as apart from my dressage saddle, his jumping saddle and bridles were very expensive. So is it compulsory?

He will be going on a 3 month initial loan which I will then be renewing every 3 months based on welfare checks/the bond he has with his loaner/the success they are having with him (aka are they gelling)/a few other things.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Id send one saddle with him, for the fact you do not want them to cause back issues riding in a saddle that does not fit, but i agree, 3 monthly to start with

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Unfortunately due to financial reasons, I have to put one of my horses on full loan.

As you all know, I had so many issues with the loaner of my semi-retired (now fully retired) horse, so I'm very worried.

I previously used the BHS contract and amended it upon advise from a lawyer friend. But clearly that meant nothing in the eyes of the loaner. Does anyone have a tighter contract they would be happy to send to me?

Also, do you send tack with the horse? I'm again hesitant to do this, as apart from my dressage saddle, his jumping saddle and bridles were very expensive. So is it compulsory?

He will be going on a 3 month initial loan which I will then be renewing every 3 months based on welfare checks/the bond he has with his loaner/the success they are having with him (aka are they gelling)/a few other things.

If your worried about sending someone expensive tack I certainly wouldn't give them my horse!

If I was loaning my horses I would prefer the horse went with tack that I knew fits rather than have them use rubbish that doesn't fit.

But if I were you I would be thinking about if this is the right person or not because if they can't look after tack they certainly won't be able to look after a horse.

 

[maya2008]

When I loaned one of mine out, who had expensive tack, I bought a less expensive bridle and saddle (properly fitted) to go with her. Both were second hand and the saddle was synthetic. If the loaner had lost or damaged them, it would not have been the end of the world.

 

[Abacus]

I would agree on the tack: when I loaned a horse out I bought a second hand decent quality leather saddle and also sent an ok but not valuable bridle. I was lucky that he was the type that seems to just fit many saddles (esp Ideals), I think it was about £300 (many years later it’s still with him and in good condition).

Unfortunately once the horse is not on your yard it’s impossible to know if contract terms are upheld. Can you advertise first through friends and very locally?

 

[black and brown]

If the loan period is only for three months at a time I don't think there is any option but to send tack with the horse. The person loaning can't be expected to provide tack for a horse which could potentially be removed after three months.

 

[ycbm]

I previously used the BHS contract and amended it upon advise from a lawyer friend. But clearly that meant nothing in the eyes of the loaner. Does anyone have a tighter contract they would be happy to send to me?

The BHS contract is a template used extensively and I would expect it to be the best that's available for the UK. You've already had a lawyer tweak it previously. I don't think a different contract is going to help you here. They are pretty much unenforceable, barring removing the horse, and if the loaner is going to ignore it they're going to ignore it.
.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

When I loaned one of mine out, who had expensive tack, I bought a less expensive bridle and saddle (properly fitted) to go with her. Both were second hand and the saddle was synthetic. If the loaner had lost or damaged them, it would not have been the end of the world.

This is a good compromise, thank you! His dressage saddle is not expensive and I’m more than happy to send both jumping and dressage bridles as he has every day and show ones.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

This is a good compromise, thank you! His dressage saddle is not expensive and I’m more than happy to send both jumping and dressage bridles as he has every day and show ones.

Do I send saddle pads etc (I will obviously send his fly rug and mask) or do I assume that the loaner can buy a saddle pad/has one.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would send a pad that suits the saddle/
horse and a copy of an inventory of every item that you send, that you both check off at the beginning of the loan and again at the end. You should get back everything you sent, or an equivalent.

 

[SantaVera]

Find a different loaner or find a field to put the horse in at a farm which should be cheaper.

 

[paddi22]

If you have concerns about the loaner at this stage I'd pull out. Go with your gut.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I would send a pad that suits the saddle/
horse and a copy of an inventory of every item that you send, that you both check off at the beginning of the loan and again at the end. You should get back everything you sent, or an equivalent.

Whilst I agree with others that if you don't trust the loanee to take care of the tack then why would you trust them to take care of the horse, if you do put him out on loan then do a full itemised inventory of all tack and equipment with photos. Individual description of every item. You and loanee to check the items off and countersign with witnesses.

 

[silv]

When I loaned one of mine out, who had expensive tack, I bought a less expensive bridle and saddle (properly fitted) to go with her. Both were second hand and the saddle was synthetic. If the loaner had lost or damaged them, it would not have been the end of the world.

That is what I did too a few years ago when I loaned out one of mine.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Find a different loaner or find a field to put the horse in at a farm which should be cheaper.

I have not found a loaner yet. I have a few who are coming to try him out, I'm just trying to figure things out before they start trying from tomorrow.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Just an aside...I have no loan in place yet, I am trying to just figure out what I need to do and what I shouldn't as I was burnt before. I really would prefer not to send a saddle worth 2000 gbp on loan. Not because I am worried they won't look after it, but because I am too pedantic about my tack and everything is cleaned after use and still looks new many years on. I also have a saddle that fits BOTH my horses (here comes the brigade of no saddle can fit two horses), so would like to keep it or else I do not have a jump saddle for my horse I am keeping. I also would not send my horse on loan to someone I do not trust, there will be multiple trials and checks and references.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Could you offer full loan to stay at current yard? Then you can keep an eye and still use your saddle on your other horse

 

[paddi22]

If i've one going on loan, i tend to get a saddle fitter out and buy a cheap adjustable second hand saddle (like a thorowgood) and send it down with the horse. from experience, it's worth spending the money in order to avoid back issues and muscle wastage.

you can always sell them on easily as well. what I found is that some loaners tend to think the saddle they had for their last animal will automatically fit the new one, or that there is a brand of saddle they like, and it's just not even gonna suit the horse. and then when issues come up the reply is 'but it is a really good quality saddle'. this happens a lot, so I always send a saddle down with the animal. I also found that issues sometimes arise 3 months in (for some bizarre reason it's always 3-5 months). So I feel more relaxed knowing I can rule out saddle fit to try and break down where the issue might be occurring.

I'm extremely paranoid about sending them away, so I tend to send down a pack with them of
- saddle
- bit
- a bag of feed and some bales of hay so they can gradually switch to their own forage
- a little tub of mastic powder and a gastric supplement to help avoid ulcers

I've a massive paranoid head so I probably go overboard. but I write everything in the contract so I can get it back

 

[Gallop_Away]

I think it's a bit simplistic to say that if don't trust someone with your tack why would you trust them with your horse. You've had a bad experience loaning previously, it is understandable that you would feel nervous about this happening again.
If loaning from your yard is a viable option, I would go with this first. If not then perhaps limit how far you are willing to let the horse move and include regular visits as part of the contract, at least initially.
With tack I agree that I would send tack with him as I would want to make sure it fitted correctly, however purchasing a cheaper second hand saddle, that is correctly fitted, sounds like the best option.

 

[splashgirl45]

Why not have a trial period at your yard so both you and the loaner can work out if they suit each other , if all ok then let him go to their yard . When I loaned the owner bought the horse to me so she could see the set up, she let me use her saddle while I got my own saddle fitted to her and I used the owners saddle fitter for that.. I used my own bridle .. we did have a contract which my YO (who knew the owner ) made up . It all worked well for me

 

[HorseMaid]

I've recently got a lovely horse on loan. His owner sent him with a headcollar, saddle, bridle, a saddlecloth, a set of brushing boots and a basic selection of rugs. Neither the saddle nor bridle have got any real value (although they're English leather and fit him well) which suits me, I wouldn't want to take on responsibility for somebody's saddle which costs £2k. If I wanted a nicer saddle etc for him I'd buy it myself and keep it if he ever went back, although hopefully he'll be here forever

Reading this has made me realise that we didn't even sign a contract!!!