Help/Advice on loaning out a pony please.

[no1putsbabyinthecorner]

I currently have a pony advertised for sale, and have had a few enquiries. About an hour ago, someone asked if I would consider loaning out for two month before purchase.

They said they have 14 acres, behind their house and three other companions and also a forever home.

I hadn't really thought about Loaning out tbh.

Wondered if anyone could give any pros cons ?
Also how you go about it. Legalities/responsibilites/contracts? etc..

Thankyou
I have heard horrer stories,but no positive ones.

I've loaned two horses myself and it worked really well. It was very informal though as through friends and both times remained at the owners' livery yards so they could see all was well.
I've heard horror stories too when ponies/horses have been moved from current yard to loanees' yard - if there is such a word? I would advise a very tight contract re use of pony, by whom, for what, etc, etc. Plus agreements re regularity of shoeing/farrier, any osteo etc work, dentist, type of insurance etc, etc. Stabled or not, turnout, with what, type of food, upkeep of tack, rugs. Sounds positively anal and hard to track but I think is essential.
Obviously you'll visit their yard but I'd insist (if feasible) on regular visits and updates from the people and first and foremost great references from the new "owners" - ie, their vet, instructor etc.
Hopefully, they would understand your concerns and co-operate. There are some pretty thorough contracts around and I used to have one but can't find at the moment.
I know people who've been through the more informal agreement and it was a nightmare - horse was ridden inappropriately and returned in a pretty poor condition.

Just realised that my arrangement was v informal but as on part livery at owners' yards they were pretty confident all would remain as they liked. I think moving the pony elsewhere as you would do is a v different scenario.

Thank you so much for all that. I have a lot to think about. You pointed out most of my main concerns.

moving her and not knowing what they are doing with her, and then her possibly coming back. In what state? that is the biggest issue for me.

Suppose I have answered my own question.

It could be wonderful, of course. Would she be going far/do you have any friends/friends of friends in common? References from pony club etc? I'm sure you've thought of all of this but a two-month loan is quite a long time and if you're prepared to do that for the potential buyers then they should reciprocate big time, I think. Good luck and do post how it goes.

BHS have a draft loan agreement on their website, but of course even the law doesn't really protect you from the horror of someone selling your horse on, or returning her in a terrible state.

Is it far away? (so they wouldn't feel "invisible" from you). Could you go and visit first? Have they asked this without seeing the horse?

i have loaned my horse out due to her being unsuitable to keep at my work any more (she just does hacking now and can't be stabled). I advertised on a national site and got a few responses but she seemed the most genuine. The whole family came over to see the horse, they were lovely. They came out twice to ride her and handle her and she had a genuine reason for wanting a less than 100% capable horse - she had lost her nerve but was still a capable rider used to looking after horses so would know when my horse was not to be ridden and could cope with her occasional nappiness /mareishness! I took my horse to her new home myself and it is lovely. We have a form of the BHS contract drawn up and to be honest, she is probably looked after better than I did! She has all attention she needs, she calls the vet out at the slightest need, has her fully insured (which I didn't!)and my horse gets lots of lovely hacking which helps to keep her moving well. Her coat always looks great and I can visit any time, although as it is 1.5 hours away I only go a couple of times a year and have a wee ride on her too! Loaning has worked out brilliantly for me as I couldn't afford to keep a horse other than at my work and she can't do that now. I think you should trust your instincts and see if they seem genuine. One couple who came pushed me to say i would consider selling after a trial loan, which is ever my intention and she was also very novice which i know wouldn't have worked. If you need the money, hold out for a sale but if you want to retain some control, consider loaning. My friend always says if you sell, you have no right really to know what happens next to them, which is why I need to have mine loaned, due to a health condition.

I would wonder why they wanted to do this? Is it because they don't have enough money to buy? In which case, how can you be sure they will have enough in two month's time? It may be that they will loan for two months then give the pony back. If it is for a trial, a week or at most two weeks is enough.

would listen carefully to your gut feelings on this, instinct doesn't usually steer us wrong does it?

agree a fortnight or so trial is one thing, couple of months is another if you have not advertised for a loan home - sounds good idea to get pony/riding club poss vet/farrier references too

Our pony is on loan. We were going to buy him, but he failed vetting as he was very slightly stiff so needs a supplement and regular exersize. Because of this he may need to retire after us so the owners wanted him back for retirement so they know what happens to him, and we are happy as when grand daughter grows out of him he can return to what we know is a happy home. He's so fit and well know though that he may well carry on longer than we expected.

It's working well for us, but we spent a lot of time visiting each other, talking on the phone and getting to know one another, and we have a contract based on the BHS one.

I think it comes down to whether you can trust the loaner, but I can't see the benefit of a two month loan: they're either looking to buy, in which case a month would be loads for a trial, or they want a long loan, in which case why not say so.

BTW I also have a friend who loaned out her pony for a month prior to purchase. The pony was returned as unsuitable. She later found out from a mutual contact that the pony had been to Pony Club camp, done really well, and the 'prospective purchaser' had been quite proud of getting a pony just for camp because theirs was lame!

Thanks again to all of you. It is odd that they want a two month loan.

I havn't replied to the add yet (which I know is rude) I just wanted to mull it all over first.

So don't know anything about them yet. I only know that they are about an hour away from me maybe more.

My pony is not up for a lot of money, (she has been out of work a while with previous owner due to no small jockey)
I just don't have the time to bring her on due to other horses and two toddlers.feel really bad letting her go as I hate the thought of them passed on constantly. so home is more important than price.

I paid a lot more than I am selling her for, as I feel I had the 'wool pulled over my eyes' when I bought her, and don't think anyone would be stupid pay what I did.

I found out from someone who knows the girl I bought her from,that she has done nothing with the pony apart form have a foal.
The advert said she was a leid rein pony perfect for children etc..

I visited her a lot,obviously, before deciding to buy, she was great let us groom, lead about, tacked up lovely,loads well, I was allowed to go catch her and do everything myself,turn up unanounced etc..not very forward going, but that didn't bother me.

However I have since found out that when we tacked her up it was the first time she had had a girth fastened I am angry as she was for my nearly 3 year old. Had my mum nagging to buy local,so you know what your getting shouldn't have listened as she has five projects

However I have had her only since August. She has always lived out, but has had to come in at the yard I am at as no other horses live out. She has taken to this routine really well, comes to call in fact comes to gat when she sees my car.

She is a bit nervy and can shy from head collar if anyone different goes to get her, but is fine with me. I have spent time just being with her.no tacking up(I am a big fan of natural horsemanship) I do not shout or hit. I have been very patient with her and she is great, but because I have since found out she has done nothing I want to start at the very beginning but don't have the time.

I could keep her till spring and see if my situation changes and I miraculously find some spare time. but then I have dh who is against all this, and wants me to wait till dd is older and had lessons. Or at least till in school. Ds is very very clingy which makes all this harder.

Thankyou to anyone who takes the time to read this, I do feel better for putting it all down. I have been making myself sick with worry over all this since I got her, and atmosphere at home as been a little tense to say the least.
Just feel stupid, and angry with myself.

Blimey she sounds like a complete saint to me, if she's been taught nothing yet still let you do all that without you realising it was her first time. A born child's pony!
My friend has one like this, only 5 and has hardly done anything but she has been using him as a lead rein pony for her children and he hasn't put a foot wrong. She is going to find a competent older child to ride him and bring him on a bit ready for when her children are bigger but there's no rush. So the fact that she hasn't done much isn't a disaster if she has the temperament.

However, I can see why you are so angry with the people who sold her to you. They should have said 'potential' lead rein pony, not made out that she already was one. I don't know how people lie through their teeth like that when they know you are buying for a small child. If I was buying one for DS I would have to make sure it was pretty much nuclear disaster proof and would want a trial period but I must agree with others that 2 months seems a bit excessive and odd. The only thing I can think of is that with the weather being so awful at the moment they are worried they won't be able to try her out properly and are hoping for things to clear up in a few weeks?

no1 don't feel bad i have now got 2 unsuitable ponies !!!!!! Noddy bought at stud dispersal auction, told absolutely quiet as mouse etc etc , the breeder knows my best friend very well, she ahd told him i was buying as first pony for a 5 yr old, and well pony is saint like except very forward going, always stops etc but very nervy with incompetant 5 yr old on board, so i rush of and but perdy from a lady who had her form foal, said taught her dd to ride on her done everything, perfect kids pony,she knew we had 1 pony that hadn't been right and the girls were really upset and needed a great pony, they cried buckets when we collected her etc etc, and pony is a right madam, kicks out at others if they go near her backside ( daren't let kids near her back end) kicks out at the dogs, very strong at trot, and has bucked when not allowed to trot in lesson when pony in front trotted. I was sick with worry and felt like a complete idiot but now just think will sell perdy in spring as we basically do not like her and keep noddy and get dd1 who is really too big for him but is coming on better at learning to keep riding him and hope he settles down a bit ....right now wish i had stuck to bloody ballet lessons for the girls

pixel yes I agree reading that, she does sound quite well behaved.[ginr]

I suppose my mum was getting at that temperament thing being most important.(and it is in a way)

Its just that the yard owner is very knowledgeble.(much more than me,even though I have had them from being very young) and she has been helping us out in this weather and putting her out if I am running late jsut while we muck out, and says she also doesn't think she has done anything, and that she seems frightened of her own shadow, if you go near her unexpectedly she tries to hide in corner of stable, and she is getting head shy when putting headcollar on and shows white of eye a lot.Warning me to be careful with kids etc..
She is fine with me though, as I have been the one handling her all the time ,and I have been very calm,quiet and patient.

Dd is obviously getting frustrated and doesn't understand why she can't ride her.bless.

Just feel a fool, expecting her to have done more for 9yrs.

After doing a bit of digging, I found out today that she came straight from the Welsh Mountains a few years ago.

mummydoc you have had a bit of a nightmare too, havn't you? I hope all settles with the original pony.
Sorry for moaning on, and thanks for listening.

I also sometimes think dance classes would be better.

No1 only myself to blame really should have listened to friend who said wait and find pony locally from ponyclub or word of mouth ! actually Noddy ( pony number 1) is greatly improved and think will turn out fine in the end , it is sp frustrating to knwo if you had all the time in the world the pony would probably turn out ok, i do not have time , infact as you will see from other posts girls haven't ridden for 4 weeks now