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If you have had your horse for years but your circumstances have now changed, it can be heartbreaking when you have to sell your loved family pony. Putting your horse out for loan allows you to keep control of their future without worrying about the cost of keeping them. However, loaning is not without risks and it is important that you take all precautions to ensure his safety while on loan. Here is our guide for any owner thinking of putting their horse out on loan.

Writing the advert
The loaner can return your horse if it turns out not to be suitable. This is why when writing the advert it is important to be honest. If you lie about your horse and it turns out not to be suitable for the loaner he will be returned to you and you could find yourself struggling to find somewhere to keep him.
Plus if the loaner is injured because you failed to mention a behavioural problem, it could leave you open to legal action.

Vetting the home and loaner
Before you let your new loaner take your horse it’s important to go and visit the facilities where your horse will be kept to ensure they are suitable and safe. Plus, take a photocopy of the loaner’s driving licence or passport to ensure all the details they have given you are correct and they are who they claim to be.

The contract
No horse should ever be put out for loan without a written contract in place.

The contract should include the following details:

• It is important that your horse is insured against death, theft, public and personal liability and vets fees. You should include who will be responsible for insuring the horse and consider whether you want the horse to be insured against loss of use.
• Detail the horse’s current value in the contract. This means that if the horse suffers any permanent damage or scarring as a result of the loaners negligence, and they are not properly insured, you will be able to prove your horse’s value at the time of the agreement and claim for any difference.
• You should detail what your horse is permitted to do while in the care of the loaner. For example, state what activities the horse is allowed to do, what level they are able to compete at and in the case of a mare or stallion state if they can or cannot be used for breeding.
• You should set the length of the loan. This will enable you to take the horse back if your circumstances have changed by the end of the agreement. You should also add in terms that allow the loan agreement to be terminated early but with a reasonable period of notice e.g. one month. Ensure you detail who is responsible for transporting the horse and any costs associated.
• If tack is included in the loan, include a detailed list of what tack is being provided with the horse, who is responsible for insuring it, who is responsible for replacement if it gets broken and the cost of replacement.
• You may wish to include details about who may ride the horse in the contract or if the horse is allowed to be kept on working livery. You may also wish to include an option to visit and ride the horse but if you do this you should detail the frequency you wish to ride and how much notice you will give the loaner.
• You should detail any medical conditions, allergies or vices that your horse has and how these need to be treated.
• Finally you need to detail how you want your horse to be kept, i.e. whether he can live out all year or when he needs stabling, what food he is on, how often he needs to see the farrier, when he needs to be wormed, any supplements he needs, etc.