Loaning your pony out: a practical guide for owners

Your child has outgrown a pony you cannot bear to sell. It happens to almost every family eventually, and loaning is very often the right answer — the pony stays yours, goes to a family who will love it, and you can have it back if things ever change. Here is how to do it properly.

Why loan instead of sell?

Selling frees up money for the next pony, and there is nothing wrong with that. But loaning keeps the door open: you can visit, get updates, and — provided your agreement says so — take the pony back if the new arrangement is not working, or simply because you want to. Many families choose to loan a treasured first pony specifically because selling feels too final, and because they know exactly how much that pony has to give the next child starting out.

Finding the right family

Start close to home. Your own Pony Club branch, riding club or yard is the safest place to look first — a family your instructor already knows, or one you have seen around at rallies, comes with a level of built-in trust a stranger never can. If nobody local fits, write an honest advert exactly as you would for a sale: your pony's real temperament, what it needs from a home, and what kind of family and rider would suit it. Advertising a loan pony on Pony Search is completely free — no fee, no commission, ever.

Whichever route you find them through, always meet the family in person and see where the pony would actually live before agreeing to anything. A phone call and good intentions are not a substitute for seeing the yard, the grazing and the people yourself.

What to ask before saying yes

• How much experience does the child (and any adult helping them) actually have with a pony like yours?
• Who else will ride, handle or care for the pony day to day?
• Where exactly will the pony be kept, and is the yard one you are comfortable with?
• Can they realistically meet the ongoing costs — livery, feed, farrier, vet care — not just the headline figure?
• Are they comfortable with your terms on visiting, updates, and how much notice either side needs to end the arrangement?

Trust your instincts. If a family seems in a rush, is vague about answers, or pushes back on reasonable questions, that is worth taking seriously before the pony moves, not after.

Setting fair terms

Write everything down before the pony travels — see our complete loaning guide for exactly what a proper agreement should cover, and consider using the British Horse Society's loan agreement template as your starting point. As the owner, be specific about what matters most to you: how often you would like updates or visits, whether you are happy for the pony to be competed, any activities you do not want it doing (a jumping height limit, for instance), and exactly what would make you want it back early.

Be realistic about cost too. Most owners loaning out a much-loved family pony ask the loanee to cover its full keep — livery, feed, farrier and routine vet care — rather than charging on top, since the emotional value of a good home usually matters more than a monthly fee. Whatever you agree, put the figure and what it covers in writing.

Staying involved without hovering

A little contact goes a long way — an occasional photo, a message asking how things are going, a visit every few months if you are close enough. It reassures you the pony is thriving, and a good loanee usually welcomes it as proof you trust them. Visiting too often, or turning up unannounced, tends to make the new family feel like guests rather than owners, which is uncomfortable for everyone including the pony. Agree a rhythm in advance and stick to it.

Getting your pony back

Provided your written agreement sets out a clear notice period, either side can end the loan when they need to — a loanee moving away, a change in circumstances, or simply you deciding it is time. Give the notice you agreed, and be ready with a plan for what happens next: does the pony come home, go to another loan family, or get sold? Deciding this before you need it, rather than in a rush, makes the transition far kinder to everyone, especially the pony.

When it is time to sell instead

If a loan has run its course, or you decide selling suits your family better after all, our guide to what to do with an outgrown pony covers both routes side by side, and writing an advert that sells will help if you choose to sell.