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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Loan fees during lockdown

35 replies

AnnieMB · 01/05/2020 18:59

My daughter has a loan pony at a usually busy stables. She currently can’t ride but in the last couple of weeks has been allowed to go up for a very short slot once a week to groom and say hello to the pony. We have been billed as normal for May but know other people who have negotiated a fee reduction during the lockdown period. I am still getting my normal wage (wfh) and wanted opinions on whether it would be fairer to continue to pay full fees despite not being able to ride etc? It would be easier if there was a consistent invoicing policy....it’s a lot of money for nothing! (But I know that’s not the stables fault). Any thoughts?

OP posts:
historyrocks · 01/05/2020 21:17

We have a half livery of a riding school pony. They’ve been relocated to a nearby farm so can’t see her at all. We’re not paying anything.

There has been a proposal that they will bring them back and allow 1 hour per day (including riding) at full cost of £55pw.

britnay · 02/05/2020 09:58

The pony will still roughly cost the same amount for them to keep though, won't it? Unless its gone from being stabled overnight and having hay/hard feed to going out 24/7 and just requiring the odd poo-picking.

Booboostwo · 02/05/2020 10:06

Do you have a loan contract? It should set out the terms, especially what happens when the pony cannot be ridden. A lockdown would have been impossible to predict, but it's quite often the case that ponies cannot be ridden due to injury so contracts usually cover this kind of eventuality.

If you don't have a contract, then it depends. Morally, I would say that if you commit to loaning a pony then it's upkeep expenses are your responsibility until you terminate the loan. If you want to pay per ride, you book lessons, when you loan you take on the benefits and risks of ownership without having to own the animal. Practically, you may be able to negotiate a reduction in loan fees with the owner, although loan fees are usually the direct costs of the animal and may be difficult to reduce further. You can always refuse to pay but the owner may terminate the loan.

historyrocks · 02/05/2020 12:31

Our riding school pony/share has been turned out 24/7 away from the school, which has been done so they can furlough staff. We're not being charged and I wouldn't expect to pay the same fee as during normal times. If they bring her back in a way that is practical for looking after her and riding then I'd expect to pay the full amount.

Original poster
AnnieMB · 02/05/2020 15:16

Thanks all, helpful to get a range of opinions x

OP posts:
Tinyhumansurvivalist · 02/05/2020 15:18

If the pony was yours outright you would still have to pay livery fees etc so I think you have an obligation to continue to pay.

CrotchetyQuaver · 02/05/2020 15:26

Did you have exclusive use of the pony in normal pre covid times? If not, then I'd be negotiating with the stables as to what reduced rate you'll pay. If this pony is exclusively on loan to you and you just happen to keep it at a riding school to take full advantage of all their facilities including tuition on site - then I think you must suck it up.

Original poster
AnnieMB · 02/05/2020 15:38

Nothing in loan agreement covering periods when riding is not possible. No, the pony was not exclusively ridden by my daughter, used for general riding lessons by the stables

OP posts:
historyrocks · 02/05/2020 19:38

That's the same set-up we have. Can I be nosey and ask how much you pay?

Original poster
AnnieMB · 02/05/2020 22:37

Think it works out at about £25 per week

OP posts:
Original poster
AnnieMB · 02/05/2020 22:38

....how about you?

OP posts:
Original poster
AnnieMB · 02/05/2020 22:39

Lessons on top of that

OP posts:
historyrocks · 02/05/2020 22:56

Shock we pay £55 per week. We get lessons for £10 (half price). She can only ride on the school premises (no hacking) and no jumping outside of classes. On the good side we’re not tied into going there every day.

britnay · 03/05/2020 09:04

On the other hand, without any income they may be forced to sell the ponies and shut down.

Original poster
AnnieMB · 03/05/2020 11:06

I know. I wouldn’t stop paying our contribution towards care costs.

OP posts:
leckford · 03/05/2020 14:35

My horse is at a competition yard, first 3 weeks we were not allowed to ride but watch once a week. Horse was schooled by professional rider who lives on the yard, horse has improved beyond my wildest dreams.

I have paid full livery and schooling fees, but I want to support my trainer and their staff and I have a horse whose has gone from elementary to advanced medium so I am beyond happy!

Mizydoscape · 03/05/2020 14:47

Our local riding school is at risk of shutting down due to the CV crisis. They have shipped the ponies out to various holiday fields and are desperately trying to fundraise money for overheads.

If you are still being paid as normal then it would be nice to still pay as normal even though the service is not being provided. It could end up that there is no pony at all when this is all over.

leckford · 03/05/2020 15:15

I have been told quite a few people are moving from livery yards to DIY, where I am people able to pay are staying, as we want the place to be up and running when things return to near normal.

I feel sorry for those who have lost their jobs and cannot afford their horses.

Pleasedontdothat · 03/05/2020 15:32

One of DD’s friends has a share at a local riding school/livery yard - she gets to ride the pony 3 x a week, 2 weekdays and either Saturday or Sunday (but they’re only open from 8:30-6 so it’s a bit of a rush on school nights). For that, her parents pay £500 per month, lessons are on top of that (£25 for a group lesson for the sharers which counts as one of their days), and if she wants to compete at the weekend, she has to go with an instructor and use the yard’s lorry for transport so that’s usually around £150 or so on top.

Since lockdown, she’s not been allowed to see the pony at all and her parents are still having to pay £500 for the privilege Shock. What makes it worse is that the girls who own their ponies and have them on full livery have been allowed to go whenever they want and are constantly posting jumping videos on instagram...

DD’s horse is on DIY so she’s been able to go and see him every day, albeit with social distancing rules, a 2-hour time limit and no jumping - it’s meant she’s been able to keep some sense of semi-normality which has helped to keep her anxiety in check.

hopefulhalf · 03/05/2020 15:35

Dd has a privite loan. I am still working and being paid, the horse's owners are still paying livery. I am still paying for the loan. The horsd is being ridden by the yard staff once a week.

hopefulhalf · 03/05/2020 15:37

Dd hasn't seen him for 5 weeks.

Polkadotties · 03/05/2020 23:22

pleasedont how much??Shock I pay only slight more than that for full livery

Pleasedontdothat · 04/05/2020 09:29

@Polkadotties I know, it’s madness ... the riding school is catering to a demographic where there are enough parents with more money than sense ... DD’s friend’s parents are buying her share horse after lockdown - the horse is 15 and has been used for beginners in the school for the last 10 years and is a grumpy sod who puts in dirty stops whenever she can get away with it, but she is a very pretty palomino - the riding school is asking for £10,000 Confused

historyrocks · 04/05/2020 12:20

WTF! Shock I thought we paid quite a lot.

Polkadotties · 04/05/2020 14:26

Ridiculous price!
Riding school horses often change dramatically once they leave a riding school setting, and not for the better sometimes

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