Would it be ok to do this?......horse out on loan question

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lottie85

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I went up to see my horse who is currently out on loan the other day. He looks fab health wise and is obviously really happy where he is, his loaner is great for him etc.

However......he is a tbx and she has let him mane grow right out and he looks a complete mess! Would it be completely unreasonable to call her and tell her that I am going to pop up and pull his mane and generally tidy him up a bit?

I know in the grand scheme of things its a stupid thing to fuss about, but it is such a state and just the thought of it makes me desperate to reach for the mane comb!!
 
I have to say if it was my TB I'm not sure I could resist getting the mane comb out...I know he's on loan etc but still....
 
Surely the fact the horse is healthy and happy is the main thing (excuse the pun!)

I had a TB on loan, and she hated her mane being pulled, and as hard as I tried to keep it looking smart, it was a task. Her owner never said a thing about it.

Is it a full term permenant loan, or will he be coming back at some point? If he is coming back in the future then dela with it then.

What would you prefer.... unhappy, but smart looking horse or very happy, but slight "rough" looking horse? You have to think of priorities really!
 
I would personally leave well alone, it is only hair and you can easily sort it out when he comes back. Not worth upsetting the loaner over
 
personally im a bit of a fiend with the scissors and the mane comb, but as he's on loan and he's being cared for and happy does it really matter if his manes a bit scraggy?

loaner is doing so well in his general care do you really want her getting upset or offended and thinking you think shes not doing well enough by him?

maybe she doesnt know how to pull in which case you could show her but id be very tactful
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(well as tactfuls as *I* can be which isnt very
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)
 
Having had horses on loan in the past I don't think I would have been too impressed if the owner told me they were coming to tidy them up a bit.
Maybe instead of saying you are going to do it, ask if she would like you to do it. She might be grateful if she doesn't have time and even if she says no at least you can then open up a discussion about how much better he would look if she did it.
 
TBH I think it is unreasonable, and could be upsetting as a criticism. I think the only way to deal with it if you must would be to ask if they know how to pull manes/happy pulling manes or are they concerned they might make a mess of it. If this seems to be the case you could maybe offer to help them. Are they going to take him to any shows in the summer? you could offer to help get him ready and smart if they are unsure.

If not I would just leave it.
 
I think, all things considered, leave his mane well alone! Your loaner may be a little miffed if you "told" her you were going to turn up and pull her (really, he is at the moment!) baby's mane. It does rather cast aspersions on her level of care. Is it worth risking upsetting her to the extent she feels she can no longer keep him, then you end up uprooting the horse elsewhere - he might end up with a neat and tidy mane,but bloody unhappy!
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i wouldn't risk upsetting an otherwise perfect loanee.

i'd be really upset if i had a horse on loan and the owner did that. it's such a simple thing for you to do when you get them back. and it won't damage the horse in anyway - in fact he might like his new luscious locks!

xxxx
 
He's fine to have it done so that's not the problem.

I am obviously thrilled that he is so happy and well cared for, his mane just drives me slightly mental (I am a bit of a neat freak)!

He's coming back in October so i'll just have to sit on my hands and keep my neat freak tendencies under control until then.
*looks longingly at the mane comb*
 
I agree with the others - I would be quite hurt if I had someone else's horse in my care & had looked after him beautifully, only to be told he needs tidying up.

So what if he looks a bit messy - it isn't you who is seen with him. Sort him out when he comes back to you, but for now, leave it be - it sounds like he is in a lovely home. Don't mess with that.
 
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He's fine to have it done so that's not the problem.

I am obviously thrilled that he is so happy and well cared for, his mane just drives me slightly mental (I am a bit of a neat freak)!

He's coming back in October so i'll just have to sit on my hands and keep my neat freak tendencies under control until then.
*looks longingly at the mane comb*

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well then in october there will be all the more neat to make
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you can take before and after pictures showing hairy and after shots, be great fun!
 
HP's mane makes him look like a thellwell at the moment but as he isnt doing anything other than a bit of SJ there is no point pulling it yet. If we want to plait then it'll have to go. But untill then so long as he's happy and fit, I dont care what he looks like and HP certainly doesnt!!
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If he wasn't competing this summer I'd just let it grow to give better fly protection especially his forelock.
Assuming your loaner knows how to pull his mane if she wanted to and he's as happy as you say he is, IMO I'd be tempted to just leave alone. Its only hair afterall.
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I think it depends on the relationship with the loaner really, if you guys are close or have lots of contact you could always just slip in that you don't know how they cope with the mane that long...then offer to help should they agree it could be shorter
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I know I took an Arab on loan from a friend and was given strict instructions not to touch the horse's tail, feather or mane
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we were good mates so I was fine with it. Not sure how'd I'd have felt had it been a stranger or someone I didn't know so well when I was going to be paying, keep, shoes and vet and they got to dictate how the horse's looks were kept
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I agree with what everyone else has said really, I have a horse on loan and I do keep him neat and tidy as thats how I think horses should be kept, but its each to their own really. If he's not going out to shows, then maybe she doesn't feel it necessary to keep his mane pulled.

I personally would be slightly offended if my loan horse's owner told me to pull his mane, I would never show it but inside I would worry about what she thought of everything else.

Ultimately, if she's looking after him as if he was her own, paying for everything (I assume she is), and giving him a happy and secure home then that is what matters. At the end of the day, you gave him up and she is helping you out by loaning him, you must have loaned him out for a reason. At most, word it very tactfully if you feel the need to say something as it could backfire on you and make her very upset. Loaners generally get slightly bad press due to an abundance of unsuccessful loan stories; it sounds like you have a good loaner so be satisfied with that. Good loaners are sesitive about their loan horse's care and constantly want their horse's owner to be pleased with how they are looking after their horse, so I advise you to show her some gratitude if everything else is how you want it.
 
cant you just ask the person who has him on loan if they mind? just say that you are thrilled with the way he is being looked after but as you are a bit obsessive about his mane would they mind if you called in one afternoon to tidy it up a bit. just dont make it sound as though you have a problem with the loanee, & i'm sure they wouldnt mind. it might be that they dont want to risk messing the mane up by doing it themselves when he is your horse. just ask nicely!
 
God, when I had my mare on loan, she had a to have the vet out for an abcess etc, and her owner said would it be ok for ME to deal with it all, and she'll sort out the vet bills etc. She didn't come up once when the vet was there. Made me feel alot more in control being given that responsibilty!
 
Tell her you are so pleased he looks so well and happy and to let you know if she is going somewhere special with him and you will come and help shorten his mane for plaiting.
Manes are something I am useless at so really pleased when someone volunteers to do my boy
 
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I think it depends on the relationship with the loaner really, if you guys are close or have lots of contact you could always just slip in that you don't know how they cope with the mane that long...then offer to help should they agree it could be shorter
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I know I took an Arab on loan from a friend and was given strict instructions not to touch the horse's tail, feather or mane
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we were good mates so I was fine with it. Not sure how'd I'd have felt had it been a stranger or someone I didn't know so well when I was going to be paying, keep, shoes and vet and they got to dictate how the horse's looks were kept
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but if the animal BELONGS to someone else and it's taken years to grow a mane or tail, then they should have every right to say don't cut it.

I loaned one of mine out, a M&M, and put into the contract that his mane, tail and feathers should not be cut, he should only have certain clips etc... because I used him for showing and did not want his coat or mane / tail ruined.


I think the other way round is fine though, and it's not really worth telling someone they must pull a mane, unless it;s for the horses wellbeing.
 
i'd be really peeved if i had a horse on loan and the owner said they wanted to come and pull his mane.

just wait until October and then you can pull it to your heart's content
 
I'd leave it if I were you. No point rocking the boat if it sounds like the otherwise perfect loan agreement.
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I see your point, it kinda of is the reverse and it doesn't take long for a mane to go unruley but it takes an age to grow the mane to Arab length...ok bad example
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I'd leave him. I know my loaners would be a bit annoyed if I turned up and told them I was going to pull my horse's mane! They grew it out last year for showing and, being a bit of a demon with the mane comb myself, I had to sit on my hands to stop from pulling it and getting the clippers on his legs! But, it was their choice and he's so well looked after I wouldn't want to rock the boat.

Think of the fun you can have in OCtober when you do get him back...scissors, clippers and mane rakes galore
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I don't think i would be too impressed if owner came and pulled the mane as i would see it as interfering i would just be happy with the fact you have a great loan home for him
 
No i wouldnt I think its pretty rude really..

Shes caring for the animal.. Paying for the animal.. its looks well. Is in good health and your bother about its bloody mane...


Lou x
 
I dont see why on earth it would matter. If he is happy and healthy, who cares what his mane looks like
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If she likes it like that, what does it matter.

If he comes back you can do what you like with it then.

Personally if my horse was happy and healthy that would be good enough for me
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If I was loaning a horse and had kept it in great condition and happy, I would be mighty peeved if the owner came and 'tidied him up'.
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Yep, leave your poor loaner alone. She's paying for all of his keep, if she likes his mane long then she should be allowed to leave it that way. Bit different if it was the other way round.
 
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