your loan success stories

I had Max on loan to start with I had just sold my mare at a huge loss and my confidence was in tatters so wasn't sure whether I could face buying another horse. His owners weren't sure they really wanted to sell him as he was precious to them they just wanted a break from horses and the daughter part of the mother daughter share had outgrown his ability. My YM found him advertised on Facebook and vaguely knew him as he was kept about 5 miles up the road.

He moved to our yard and his owners started riding one of my YMs horses and then after 4 months ended up taking a horse at the yard on loan! They then asked me to buy max as they saw how perfect we were for each other and reduced the price significantly so I could afford him. After a month or 2 they gave up the loan and are now taking their break and only keep in very loose contact but they know where he is and that he is loved :)
 
I took my horse on full loan 3 & a half years ago, I had a formal year long loan agreement at first but after around 2-3 months, it was clear horse was lame, turned out to be an old injury that caused severe ringbone.. He had an operation to fuse the Pastern but before this this I had to come to some sort of agreement with the owner. Basically I said she either had to take him back & sort it herself or let me have him operated on at the expensive of myself & my insurance & then give him to me.. (I was worries I could pay for the op & get him right & then the owner take him back) we came to an agreement that he is mine but if ever I can't keep him he goes back to her or she has first offer of him back. We speak from time to time & she sees pictures of him on Facebook but I've never seen her from the day I picked him up & she never vetted my yard either not even when I first took him.
 
I have had great success with people loaning and sharing two of my mares. The first one was particularly great...she looked after my cob mare brilliantly and I always had someone to hack with :)

Sadly (for me! lol) she embarked on a mammoth cycle to Africa trip, and then did some travelling. On return to the UK, she moved a little too far away to be practical...oh yes, and she is a user on here! (Won't 'oust' her in case she doesn't want to be! lol ;) )

I met her on another horse forum.

The same mare is now out on a long term loan to a really lovely girl. She adores her and looks after her brilliantly too. I met her through word-of-mouth and she keeps her at a yard 5 mins up the road from where I keep my others so I can pop in to say hello and often see my mare out in the field if I am hacking or passing in my car.

The other horse I have who has been on loan, and who I am currently trying to find someone for, is a bit more tricky, as she is not a novice and although a fab, fun ride for someone who will put her in her place...if she thinks you have given her an inch.....! She is a welshie...what more can I say? ;)

Her last loan was found through word-of-mouth again but this time, she was moved to a yard more than an hour away, which I was very apprehensive about. I did go down to see where she was going before I agreed to anything though.

Although she was well looked after and returned safe and sound, I'm not sure I'd want to loan to someone so far away again. It's nice to know you can be on hand if needs be!! (I'm such a worrier! lol)

Someone did actually come to try welshie recently. She was a girl of about 17 and although I actually quite liked her, the woman she came with her (who owns the field and yard my mare would be on) was absolutely nuts!!! She told me so many dodgy stories that I was really put off. Stuff like not taking responsibility for things that went wrong with her horse and then blaming other people, when clearly it should have been her responsibility :( (don't want to go into too much detail ...you never know who is watching!!!!). Gave me a very bad feeling as ultimately, my mare would have been under her care. Felt really sorry for the girl who tried her, as she has obviously made friends with the crazy lady and probably can't see that she is nuts!!

I suppose in an ideal world, I would only loan to someone who was through word-of-mouth...although I know this is not always possible.

So, if anyone 'sane' (or as close as poss! lol) would like a fiesty welsh D on loan... ;)
 
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Hi weesophz I had a pony on loan from a friend & we used the loan contract from the BHS website, I have another friend who used same contract when she put her horse on loan neither of us had any issues & worked out well for all concerned. I would agree with previous posters re checking yard & I would also do spot checks. E.g call in because you were in the area & thought it would be nice to pop in & say hello. I would also agree with contacting passport agency to let them know horse is on loan & make sure he is microchipped. I dont want to sacre you but 1 friend loaned her horse out & she went missing but she got her back as mare was chipped & she had photos from all angles to prove it was her horse. Please dont let this put you off I know of many happy loan stories & only 1 that went wrong.
 
I will for ever be grateful to the man who loaned my boy from me - I could not afford to keep him anymore and with work and family was hardly riding, but was really stuck as he was a very quirky big bolshy boy who was getting on hated schooling was stubborn and lazy but wasnt by any stretch of the imagination a novice horse, but I loved him hugely. I really didnt know what to do. By word of mouth I heard of someone looking for a more mature horse to hack and hunt a bit, to live at home with their horses. he took him for LWAVTB,and gently started to get him fit but as he got fitter his behaviour deteriorated and his arthritis which had caused a only little stiffness in winter in previous years was obviously worsening. His loan home was incredibly experienced and together we got the vet out and treated him with bute and injections, while they kept him on and gave him field rest then a slow return to gentle work, sadly he never came sound despite having amazing care from his loaners who kept in constant touch with me and I saw him often and eventually together we took the decision to have him PTS as he wouldnt have coped at all with retirement and was in pain even on bute. They did everything for me and were there with him to the last so as not to disrupt his routine - i had said good bye the day before. He had amazing care in a fantastic home and while it wasnt the outcome any of us wanted I could never have asked for more for him.
 
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