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Ponies for Loan or Share –  Right Horse Right Home

Right Horse Right Home often has an excellent choice of  ponies for loan and share due to the application process we facilitate.  Ponies for Loan, particularly full loan, are often very popular. The application process we facilitate enables genuine, serious loaners to describe their equine experience, exactly what they are looking for in a horse, the type of home they can offer and the types of activities they wish to pursue.  This information is very useful to owners when making decisions on who to invite to try the horse and take the process further.

Similarly, owners, when they list their ponies for loan or share with us, have to be very clear on what activities and behaviour the pony is good at, they cannot avoid answering these questions, thus making the job of the person seeking the right horse a great deal easier.  To read more about how the process works do read our “How it Works” page here.

Why Should I Loan?

Owning a pony can be an expensive business, there is shoeing, feed bills, vet’s bills and a host of unexpected expenses BEFORE the initial outlay of purchasing a horse outright. No wonder many people decide they would prefer to either take a pony on full loan or part loan to avoid the initial purchase costs and in the case of Part Loan, share the costs and responsibility for the pony. Whilst loaning can be a wonderful experience, many horse owners and loaners have come unstuck when the ‘loan’ waters are muddied.

As a prospective owner, loaning can be a great way to have a pony without the cost of purchase and the responsibility of ownership. Getting a pony on loan means you can potentially always send the pony back if things don’t work out, and if circumstances change you are able to return to the owner to take responsibility back. Many people also choose to take a pony on loan before making the final decision to buy which ensure they feel ready and confident to be an owner.

Why Shouldn’t I Loan?

Whilst loaning may seem like a cheap option in horse ownership, it isn’t. Any pony needs financial input, upkeep and time. Just because you have got a loan pony doesn’t mean it won’t cost the same or need the same level of care, you just do not have the initial outlay in buying the pony.  You as the loaner also need to appreciate you do not own the pony and therefore the owner will always have the ultimate say in how they should be managed, cared for, what activities they can undertake and so forth.  Owners always have the power to ask for the pony to be moved back to their yard and to terminate the loan agreement, this can be very hard for a loaner who has become emotionally attached to the horse.

Types Of Loan

There are different types of loan offered out there and it is always a good idea to have a LOAN AGREEMENT drawn up before any loans take place.

Full Loan

Ponies on Full loan are just that, all responsibility and cost will lie with the new loaner.  The owner of the pony will have very little interaction with the day to day care of the pony and the loaner will be entrusted to care for the pony and cover all costs. This can work really well for the new carer, but can often also be hard for the owner of the horse as they will have less control and responsibility for their pony.

Part Loan or Share

Part loan agreements normally offer a happy medium. Often the pony will still be kept at the owner’s yard, and they will continue to take responsibility for some of the care.  Part loan or shares can often mean shared riding and shared costs but in general the main decisions are made by the owner and NOT the person taking out the loan. Sharing a pony can be a good first step before taking on a full loan or purchasing your first pony.

Loan With a View to Buy (LWVTB) 

These are ponies which are available essentially on a short trial basis and can usually to moved to the new home for a period of weeks or months before full payment is made to the seller.  It is very important, not only to agree the price before the pony is moved but also to ensure a robust agreement is in place which outlines all the responsibilities, liabilities and costs of both parties.  LWVTB arrangements can be very popular and a very effective way of ensuring the pony is well matched to their new home and rider.  It also shows the buyer that the owner has nothing to hide about their pony as they are prepared for them to go on trial and be returned if unsuitable.

What to Look Out For

So you have decided to loan – what then? Where do you find a pony for loan and what should you look out for?

If you are looking for a loan pony it is important to understand WHY the pony is being loaned. Is it simply that he or she is old, or can’t compete at the level desired or is someone looking to get an easy way to produce a horse or sending an unsaleable pony away? Again, always vet the owners as much as they vet you, and if they don’t care about the home the pony is going to, generally they won’t care about the pony, so be warned. If an owner isn’t keen to answer any questions this can also be a red flag as to why the pony is being put on loan. Expect nothing but transparency from all sides.