Would I be mad to help?

[Aniseed]

To cut a long story short a good friend of mine is just about to get her horse back from sales livery as the person trying to sell him is packing up shop. She already has another horse on loan and is now stuck with a second horse she won't be able to sell. So he is going to come back to her fit, well schooled and ready to go, only to be put out into the field until she has more time in the summer to sell him as he is too much to handle unless ridden regularly and she doesn't have any facilities.

I'm thinking of offering to help out if she moves him to the livery yard I am at, pays the rent and I will exercise him daily for her to keep him ticking over and hopefully sell him asap. All I would ask in return is a small cut of the selling price as I would be doing it as a favour.

Does this sound like a good idea? I already have my own horse who I am trying to keep hunting fit but I'm sure I could make time for another one if it was just riding. Opinions please, as I think I might ring my friend tonight to suggest it and would like any obvious pitfalls pointed out beforehand!

 

[BBH]

I always think these things end in tears tbh no matter how well intentioned to begin with.

I can see you getting ' stuck' with the horse tbh if it doesn't sell quickly and there are more benefits to your friend than you as far as I can see.

My advice would be to be supportive but stay away from any arrangement.

 

[Cazza525]

Don't do it....it really could lead to future problems. What if horse doesn't sell,your circumstances change and horse goes back to owner and sits in field again (you will be well chuffed off).

Easiest thing is to either loan or buy animal yourself or stay clear. Be supportive on the end of a phone. It could be hassle.

 

[Bethie]

In my world helping out a friend does not involve a cut of the profits - that's called a business arrangement. If anything happened to the horse while you were riding, or to a potential buyer at any viewing you were supervising, you may well find that the owner's insurance company would be looking to you to pay up as you would be riding in a professional capacity. Do you have adequate care, custody and control insurance yourself? I can see far more problems than benefits to you if you go down that road. Either do it properly as a financial arrangement with everything you can think of covered in a contract, or do it to help your friend out for free, or don't get involved!