Questions to ask when meeting a potential loan horse

Laura_107

Laura_107

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Oct 15, 2010
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I'm going to meet a potential loan horse this week, can anybody give me hints and tips for questions to ask/things to find out?

I want to make sure I am suitable for him and able to do him justice. I have let the loaner know my experience as I don't want to be a time waster and she has outlined the costs involved.
 
I've just put my pony out on loan. Check to see if owner has any special requests that would be in your loan contract for example - I have one that states on a saturday she must be turned out after they have finished with her and she isn't to be turned out (or brought in!) on her own so my other pony has to be turned out with her on a Saturday and both brought in on the days they have her. They are perfectly happy with this arrangement (and I have 2 sec a's!) but id check for similar clauses that may pop up in the loan agreement.

(I would imagine if you were doing the same as mentioned above and you had your horse to turn out and there loopy 17h warmblood had to go out aswell it's something I would want to discuss!!)
 
will keep fingers crossed for you. Write a list of everything that you can think of, will you have your own riders insurance? If i were to ever part share one of mine out then i'd expect this.

Ask if there are others to hack with, what's the hacking like - will the horse hack alone? What's he like on roads with lorries etc, dogs, kids, pushchairs (can you tell i have a nutter?:tongue:) Whats he like loading?

Will you be able to take part in local shows? fun rides etc? What does the owner expect from you as in chores etc.
 
Ask his history, does he come with tack, has he any allergies ie sweetitch, any recurring lameness or injury, is he suitable for children (even if you don't have any its usefull to assess temprement), find out who is responsible for vet treatment and insurence. Whats he like to tack up. Is he barefoot or shod and does he need special shoes. Are you allowed to show him. is he microchipped. any dietry requirements when where his teeth last checked and are his vaccinations up to date. has he any little quirks. will he hack alone or does he need company, whats he like on the road. does he load in lorry and trailer. Does he have to stay at present yard or are you allowed to move him. Sorry long list but its what I was asked when I put our Percheron Mare on loan.
 
Thanks folks, I do feel a bit out of my depth, but you have to start somewhere right?

Thanks for the insurance question HH, I will ask that. His add says he will hack out anywhere in company, though doesn't like going out on his own, so his loaner could work on that (I am thinking lots of groundwork and walking out in hand to try and combat that? There is also a thread on here that Jane&Ziggy reminded me of where Harry Hobbes explains how to train a horse for clamness and relaxation while hacking) This could however be a problem if there is no one to hack out with or he doesn't enjoy schooling on his own.

I will ask about road work etc.

I don't think I will be wanting to do any local shows etc, but I will ask if I am able to take him off the yard.

I will also ask if I would be able to keep my RI and have lessons on him if she is available.

He is out 24/7, but I don't know what the set up is for feeding etc, will have to find out.

I would like to learn more about groundwork, so will be asking how much work he has done on that.

Keep 'em coming I like to be prepared in these situations! :biggrin:
 
if they say he won't hack out alone, you may have to assume it is a no no, as you have to assume they have tried...without success.

i personally would not consider at all one that will not go out alone, as then you are tied down to only going out if there is company which may not always suit when you can have the horse.
 
Thanks D&T, you are right, it is something I have to seriously consider. I do want to work quite a lot on schooling, BUT I don't want to be confined to the school if no one is around.

It may be a case of taking him out on my own to see what I am dealing with before I sign any contracts. :unsure:
 
when i was advertising for a loaner for Rosie - i was insistent about her not going out solo, she is dangerous when on her own and even though i have had her 5 years and did spend a few months building up her confidence solo last year, i would certainly not let a loaner take her out without company - but depending on the yard if theres enough people there you wouldnt necessarily struggle to find company to hack with or be 'tied'. You may also find you are the type of person who doesnt actually like to ride solo (like me, although now Moet will successfully i only do it if i am desperate to ride and the school is water logged or frozen).

I would go to view with an open mind and lots of questions! lol!
 
Thank you skib, very useful.

Julie, I think that's sensible. Since his ad said that he didn't like it, but this could be worked on makes me think it can't be too bad, but I will ask more about it. I checked out the yards website and they have approx 30 horses with another yard along the road, so I don't think I will be short of hacking companions...will just have to suck it up and ignore my shyness!
 
Depending on how long the owner you are loaning from has had the horse themselves, you might want to consider contacting previous owner(s) and getting a fuller history. Bit like a secondhand car! I have loaned two horses, both still with me, and no matter how much detail I got from Owner 2 about her lad, he was a totally different character with my pair. Just goes to show than in different situations with different characters of companions, some things go completely differently to plan :wink:
 
I'm a huge believer in gut feeling as much as anything else. I went to see Nelly based on an advert with no ridden photos and told her owner I wanted her on loan after a 10 minute walk and trot up the road :redface:

To be honest though I liked her owner right off, she'd had her since 6 months old and knew her inside out and told me tons about her without any prompting. It was completely obvious she wanted the best match for Nelly and wasn't going to give her to just anyone. I loved how people friendly yet polite Nelly was and I'm completely honoured that she chose me for her and feel it was meant to be as we're gelling amazingly - it feels like she's been here two years instead of two months.
 
Hey Laura is there another thread with all the details about this boy?! Tell us more. What breed age etc!! So excited for you!! Would it be a full loan rather than a share???

Give me the details (very nosey smilie inserted:wink:)
 
A few things that spring to mind:

- How often does he need to be shod . . . and is he hot or cold shod?
- How is he with farrier?
- Does he need to see a chiro and if so how often?
- If he comes with tack, does it fit? - if it needs adjusting, who pays?
- What bit does he wear? (That will give you an idea of what he's like under saddle - whether he has brakes, etc.)
- What tack does he wear? (so, does he need a market harborough, martingale, etc. - and, if so, why?). Kal came with a martingale and a flash . . . I don't ride him in either in the school but he wears both when he jumps in the field or out hacking.
- Does he need clipping - what clip and how is he to clip (does he need sedating)?
- Does owner do any ground work with him and, if so, what?
- Does he lunge? (I found out the hard way that Nell didn't lunge when I asked her to go forward and she aimed her two back feet at my head!)
- Is he good in traffic? Cars, motorbikes, trucks, tractors, heavy farm machinery, pony and trap? Be specific b/c some horses are fine with cars and lorries but rubbish with (say) pony and trap.
- Does he load? Lorry and/or trailer (Kal hates trailers but will happily load onto a lorry).
- Does he have any quirks/odd little habits and, if so, what? Kal waves his left hind around when you feed him and sometimes kicks the wall but I can stand behind him and adjust rugs, etc. and he won't kick me. It's important to know so you're not taken by surprise/can manage accordingly.
- Does he stand well when tied? If not, how does owner currently deal with it?
- How is he to tack up? Kal is girthy, but a growl is usually enough to stop any nonsense.
- Does he have any allergies? To what and what happens? Cider vinegar doesn't agree with Kal - gives him the squits (although I wouldn't call it an allergy). A horse at my old yard has a dangerous allergy to haylage - gives him spasmotic colic.
- Does he have any physiological quirks . . . Kal has a weakness in his left stifle which we are working on with exercise but it could take a loaner by surprise when he sometimes drops his left hip (when tired). Also worth knowing how current owner is dealing with any quirks like this - for Kal his chiro recommends lots of pole work, lateral work, transitions and hill work - and lots of work on the left rein.
- Can you safely lead him with another (safe) horse?
- Does he have any vices (weaving, crib biting)?
- Is he a cold or hot horse? Kal feels the cold, but his neighbour (and best friend) Ren doesn't at all - Kal will go out with a fleece and a H/W on (with neck cover) while Ren goes out in just a M/W no neck.
- Any issues with handling? Kal likes his feet picking out in a particular order - left fore, left hind, right hind, right fore . . . if you ask him out of sequence he gets confused and won't pick his foot up - particularly his right fore.
- How is he to catch? If he's naughty being caught what does current owner do?
- Any quirks when led? If Kal doesn't want to come in, he just plants his feet . . . a tap with the end of the lead rope is enough to send him forward - that or moving him sideways/turning a circle just to get his feet moving.
- Is he particularly frightened of anything? Kal hates school playgrounds - we get some impressive piaffing past those.

There are probably loads more . . . these are just the ones I would be telling any potential loanee (or buyer) about Kal.

N
 
Hi everyone, thank you for all your helpful suggestions. Of course I went and forgot them all :redface:

He was really nice, and his owner was a lovely lady too. He hasn't been worked for a while, so his owner is going to ask one of the girls at the yard to take him out a few times and keep me updated on his progress. Once she has had him out a few times I can ride him and see how we get on.

RE the not liking hacking out alone, his owner explained that she is a very nervous rider, and doesnt have the patience to keep working at him. She said that once he realises he is not going to get away with napping or spinning he will go quite happily. I asked her to explain his spooks etc and they all seem pretty okay. He is not massively spookey, and when he does he generally just stays on the spot and doesnt want to move, or he spins...always to the left and never fast. I think I can handle that.

The yard seems nice, very friendly, various people aound.

Soooo, I think I will keep in touch and see what happens once the snow and ice has cleared. I think he could be a really good horse for me...challenging in some respects and easy in others.

Minkersmum - he is a 9 year old irish cob, 15.1hh, 9 years old...a bit fat, but no where near as fat as Hal! :giggle:

I will keep you all updated :smile:
 
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