Should I Loan My Horse?
Why Loan Through Right Horse Right Home?
If you are considering loaning your horse but are dreading the prospect of finding the right home for them with someone suitably experienced, who has enough time and love for your horse as well as sufficient funds and commitment to give them the care they need you have come to the right place. Right Horse Right Home specialise in matching horses with the most appropriate people and homes.
Unlike any other website we facilitate a membership and application system. Rather than being bombarded by emails and calls owners can consider detailed applications submitted by paying members, giving a wealth of information about their riding ability, what they wish to do with your horse (discipline wise) what type of home they can offer and their horse experience. Owner’s contact details are kept private enabling owners to respond to applicants they feel most suitable and any which they don’t feel would be appropriate they can simply decline and the system sends the applicant a polite message and feedback on the same. This process enables owners to much more easily filter through the interest in their horse and focus on the most suitable applicants and homes offered. It is a tried and tested process with great success and support throughout the process is available from experienced staff who have spent many years helping owners to sell, loan and buy horses.
Top tips for owners
- Always thoroughly check out the person and home where your horse will be going. Ask for references and follow them up.
- Never allow your horse out on loan without a written agreement, which states that you retain the ownership of the horse at all times.
- If you don’t want the horse to take part in particular activities, such as hunting or polo, make this clear and include it in the written agreement.
- If the horse requires specific, individual care for any condition be sure to include details in the agreement.
- Discuss what will happen if the horse becomes badly injured or ill and needs to be put down on humane grounds.
- The loan agreement should include terms under which the horse can be returned to you by the loaner, or under which you can ask for the horse to be given back.
- Regularly check on your horse once it is in its new home and keep in regular contact with the loaner.
- Consider the reasons why you are loaning the horse out. If the horse is old or infirm humane destruction might be the better option, so discuss your plans with your vet
Choosing The Right Type of Loan For You and Your Horse
Full Loan
Horses on Full loan are just that, all responsibility lies with the new ‘owner’ such as shoeing, vet’s bills, feed bills and so on. The owner of the horse will have very little interaction with the new home on a day to day basis, and relinquish management of the horse to the new ‘loaners.’ This can work really well for the new carer, particularly if an experienced horse owner, but can often be hard for the person loaning the horse as control is lost.
Part Loan or Horse Share
Part loan or Horse Share as it is often called offers owner and loaner a happy medium where cost and responsibility are shared. Often the horse will be kept at the owner’s yard and they will continue to take responsibility for some of the care. Part loan can even mean shared riding but in general the main decisions are made by the owner NOT the person taking out the loan.
Loan With a View to Buy (LWVTB)
LWVTB is where a horse is put out by the owner on Full Loan on the understanding that after a set period of time the Loaner will purchase the horse for a pre agreed sum. This situation is often used where an owner wants to be 100% sure that the loaner is the right person to own the horse and to prevent the likelihood of them being sold on. It is also a useful arrangement in respect of the buyer to help ensure the horse meets their requirements. Agreements should always be in place in respect of LWVTB arrangements to outline the agreed sale price, length of the trial, horse care arrangements and termination of the agreement.
Horse Loan Agreements
Before entering in to an equine loan partnership or horse loan it is highly advisable to draw up a loan horse contract, or loan horse agreement. The majority of loan arrangements that fail are due to not having a clear agreement in place which outlines, cost, care and responsibility of the horse and its potential return and termination of the arrangement.
Loan agreements should offer terms on the length of the loan, what is expected in term of care, termination of the agreement, and issues relating to illness or injury. As well as this it is important to cover liability and insurance of the horse. Both parties must sign the horse loan agreement and agree to all terms before the horse moves yards.
Simple loan agreements can be downloaded from sites such as the British Horse Society and offer legal protection should something go wrong. Alternatively you can purchase a tailormade loan agreement here via Right Horse Right Home where your agreement will be tailored to your specific circumstances to include any special terms you wish to be included as well as tack and equipment which you may be sending with your horse.
Our Testimonials
“Simple & easy to use. Sold my horse within 2 weeks of advertising, no timewasters in sight. Will definitely use again. Simple & easy to use. Sold my horse within 2 weeks of advertising, no timewasters in sight. Will definitely use again.”Kirsty, owner of Bertie Basset
“Absolutely amazing website, I’ve sold my 2 very special horses on her and found the most amazing homes for them, buyers have to go through a process which give you a piece of mind knowing they are genuine, and there’s so much support from the owner if you need, several accessories and super reasonable rates 10000% recommend.”Jamie, owner of Matilda
