Example advert
11.2hh · 14 yrs · Gelding · Shropshire
Lead rein First ridden Happy hacking
Ponies for sale
Ponies for loan
1 pony waiting to meet their family
Filter ponies 1 active
See which ponies are near you — search by town or postcode.
County coverage (number = ponies)
Search location
Search radius
Ponies show at the centre of their county for seller privacy.
Example advert
Can't find the right pony?
Tell us what you're looking for and sellers with a suitable pony can get in touch. It's free, and your details stay private.
Loaning is one of the best-kept secrets in the pony world. A family whose child has outgrown a much-loved pony often cannot face selling it — so instead they look for someone to love it for a while, with the pony coming home if things change. For the family on the other side, that means a proven, established pony without a four-figure purchase price, and a far gentler way to find out whether pony ownership genuinely suits your life.
It is also the honest first step for a lot of families. Buying commits you to a pony that may live into its thirties; a loan lets you discover what daily care in February actually feels like, with an agreed way out if the answer is "not yet". Many experienced horsey families deliberately loan first, precisely because they know what ownership demands. There is no shame whatsoever in starting this way — and a good loan pony is often a better-schooled, more established animal than the same family could afford to buy.
Every loan advert on Pony Search answers the same honest questions as a sale advert — temperament, the experience needed, how the pony is to catch, shoe, load and clip — because a loan that goes wrong hurts everyone, most of all the pony. Read our guide on loaning, sharing or buying before you commit, and never take a pony on loan without a written agreement, however friendly the arrangement feels.
Got a pony to loan out?
If your child has outgrown a pony you can't bear to sell, a loan keeps them in the family. Advertising a loan pony is completely free — no fee, no commission.
Free · Live in minutes · AI helps you write it
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to loan a pony?+
The pony stays legally owned by its owner, but moves to your care — you look after it day to day, usually paying its keep, and ride it as agreed. It is not a purchase and not a rental: think of it as a long-term, formalised arrangement built on a written agreement that either side can end on notice.
What is the difference between a full loan and a part loan?+
On a full loan the pony usually moves to your yard and you take on its whole care and cost. On a part loan (often called a share) the pony stays where it is and you ride it an agreed number of days a week, splitting costs. A full loan suits a family wanting the real ownership experience; a part loan suits someone wanting regular riding without the full commitment.
Is a "share" the same thing as a loan?+
Not quite. A share (sometimes "part loan") means the pony stays living with its owner and you ride it an agreed number of days a week for a share of the costs — the lowest-commitment route in. A loan moves the pony to your care full-time. Some people also say "lease", especially if they have read about it in an American context, but in the UK that almost always means the same thing as a loan.
How much does it cost to loan a pony?+
There is no purchase price, but you take on the pony's normal keep — livery or grazing, feed, farrier, insurance and routine vet care — which for a family pony typically runs to a few hundred pounds a month (see our full cost breakdown, linked below). A part loan or share usually costs a fraction of that, negotiated in proportion to how many days a week you have the pony.
What should a loan agreement cover?+
Put everything in writing before the pony travels anywhere: who pays for keep, insurance, farrier, dentist, worming and vet bills; who may ride the pony and whether it can be competed; where it is kept and whether it can be moved; how much notice either side gives to end the loan; and what happens if the pony is injured or falls ill. The British Horse Society publishes a widely used loan agreement template that is a sensible starting point — our complete loaning guide, linked below, walks through what to add to it.
Do I need insurance to loan a pony?+
Yes — do not ride or care for a loan pony uninsured. You will usually need your own rider/public liability cover (BHS and Pony Club membership both include this as standard), and the agreement should say clearly who insures the pony itself for vet fees and who pays the excess if something goes wrong.
Is "loan with a view to buy" a good idea?+
It can work well, but it needs even clearer paperwork than a straight loan, because the pony often moves before ownership changes hands. Agree in writing what the purchase price would be, how long the trial runs, who pays for what in the meantime, and what happens if either side changes their mind. Our safety guidance covers the practicalities in more detail.
Does it cost anything to advertise a pony for loan?+
No. Loan adverts are completely free to place on Pony Search — no fee and no commission. We charge for sale adverts because a small payment is the single most effective filter against scammers, but we would rather every outgrown pony found a loving loan home than sat in a field unadvertised.