Loan Horses

[cheney]

At the risk of sounding really dumb, what are loan horses? Also, I see mention of "sharing" horses. Are these some sort of ownership or riding priviledge systems in the UK? (I live in USA)

[Maria]

It's fascinating how different equine terminology is used in different countries.

A loan arrangement is where a person takes on some responsibilities relating to a particular horse without purchasing the horse outright. The precise terms of the agreement, including where the horse lives and who pays for what, will vary. Quite often the person taking the horse will have the horse to treat as their own in exchange for paying for his keep. The original owner remains the legal owner of the horse but doesn't have to worry about the day to day costs. One advantage to loaning a horse is that if things don't work out the horse can be returned (following a period of notice) without the problems in trying to sell him.

Sometimes the arrangement is a part loan or share - allowing access to the horse for a few days a week with a contribution to care and or costs.