Loaning out
Many people are put off loaning their horse out because they are concerned about risks to the animal’s health and wellbeing. But by investing time and effort into the loan process, these risks can be substantially reduced.
- Advertise widely in your local area; put up cards in feed merchants and saddleries, ask your farrier and vet and local riding clubs if they know of anyone looking for a companion and don’t be too disheartened if you don’t find someone straight away. Word your advert accurately and carefully, using phrases like ‘free to a good home’ tends to attract the wrong kind of interest.
- Don’t just accept the first home that comes along for the sake of it. Be discerning; let prospective loaners spend some time with your horse so you can watch how they handle him and how he reacts to them. Visit the place where they plan to keep your horse and make sure you are absolutely happy with it. Don’t be afraid to ask for references, and check them too. The more hoops you ask people to jump through, the more likely you are to discourage dishonest individuals.
Make the effort to visit your equine regularly in their loan home. Problems are more likely to arise when an owner appears to
have lost interest. - Always, always, always put a formal loan agreement in place. Tailor a standard legal document to suit your own arrangement and make sure both you and the loan home understand the responsibilities involved. (Please note this is a sample agreement and will need to be tailored to your individual circumstances. If in doubt please consult a legal adviser.)
- Even if you are loaning to someone you know well, be pedantic about putting everything in writing. A written agreement is not only a safety net if a friendship turns sour, but can actually protect a friendship from the strain of misunderstanding by clarifying exactly what is expected from each party.
- Make sure your horse is freezemarked and / or microchipped.
- Retain documents such as freezemark / microchip records and equine passport details so that you can prove ownership if need be.
- Be prepared for your horse to be returned. People take a horse on loan so they have this option available to them. As the legal owner you are responsible for the long-term future of your horse should the loan home decide that they can no longer care for him. Ensure that the period of notice which your loan agreement stipulates gives you time to make the necessary arrangements. If this is something you do not want to face in the future, you need to consider transferring legal ownership instead of loaning and relinquishing all influence over the care of your horse.
Remember, there will always be an element of risk in handing over the day to day responsibility of a horse to another individual, that is the price that is paid for expecting someone to take on the physical and financial demands of providing for them. However, by being thorough many horse owners not only find knowledgeable, caring homes for their equines, but enjoy continued contact with their horse, are able to monitor their health and wellbeing and have the option to remove them should a home turn out to be unsuitable.
There are cases of neglect and illicit selling on, but it is important to remember that these stories circulate widely whereas the success stories never do. There are good homes out there and with time and effort the loan process can secure a positive outcome for horse, owner and loaner.
Report a welfare concern
If you want to report a horse, pony or donkey that you are concerned about, please see our get in touch section.
