I part own my horse with my sister and we got to the point where we needed a break so put him out on loan to a girl we knew.
She had him a couple of years but has now said she doesn't want him. That's fine... we always new that would happen at some point. She didn't return any of his grooming kit which is ok because it was old and probably seen better days by now any way. The problem is she took his tack...brand new saddle and bridle and now says if we want it back we can buy it off her!
What a bloomin cheek!!!!

That makes no sense, if the tack went on loan with the horse, it should come back with the horse, it wasn't hers to start with was it?

Or did she buy it whilst she had the horse on loan?

No it was ours. We bought a new synthetic saddle especially for her to take because we didn't want to part with our new leather one and the bridle wasn't new but still in good condition. She's said we can have the bridle but she's lost the chain for the bit....we didn't send a bit that had a chain it was a bubble bit on the bridle when she took it.
It's made me really cross.....

Rather like stud arrangements, bitches on breeding terms etc much better to always have things in writing but that is water under the bridge. 
I guess you have to weigh it up against how much of a favour has she done you.  Would you have had to pay livery if she had not taken the horse on? 
If you feel it has all been more to her benefit than yours then you have to consider how much you want to fall out about this. 
I would think it is something you could take to the small claims court if you felt that way inclined otherwise I would just mark it up to experience and not let it stress you or spoil your relationship if you value that higher.

When you bought it did you tell her you had bought it especially for her (not wanting to give yours) as you see that could have been misconstrued as a gift, if it was she has every right to keep it (though very mean of her as she is returning the horse) or did you state at the time that it was only to borrow whilst she had the horse? It could depend on what you said or the impression you gave at the time. :-(

However, if it was made clear it was just on loan with the horse..........Well, what a cheek, I wouldn't have it, just tell her that it's your property, and it comes back now or you take her to small claims court the threat alone should do it. :-)

She signed a loan agreement when she took him which included the return of all the tack and grooming kit. I just can't believe she had the cheek to say "you can have it back but I'm afraid I'll have to charge you for it"!

> She signed a loan agreement when she took him which included the return of all the tack and grooming kit.

Great. :)  Just send her a copy as a reminder.

Well in that case I'd call her back and say "you were joking weren't you? You don't seriously think you can charge me for MY property?" "Which you signed for in my contract?"  Keep it light, but if there is a problem then small claims will back you, what a cheek, no wonder you are mad.

My sister doesn't want the hassle of it so I suppose we'll just cut our losses.

I know one thing, and that is, he isn't ever going anywhere again.

It really shouldn't be seen as a hassle to get people to abide to such a simple contract as returning all that was loaned that is why we have contracts in the first place. :-)

But, I guess if you have your own nice leather saddle at least for the horse anyway, it is more the principle and cheek of her.

As long as the horse has been well cared for, I guess that is the most important thing. For myself a contract is a contract, you take the time to write it and all sign it, so it should be adhered to really, but understand why you don't wish to press it further if it will cause bad feeling. :-)

Oh yes she looked after him well, I have no complaints there. I wouldn't have dreamt of doing anything like it myself so find it hard to believe. I just hope "what goes around comes around"!

Why does she want to keep the saddle anyway, shouldn't horses be fitted for a saddle ? surely it wouldn't be a good fit for another horse.
I'd be furious if it was me.

I would be insisting on it back whether or not it was a hassle, you have it in writing that she is to return the tack, and though I know very little of horse ownership, I do know saddles cost a lot!

I've now found out that she's swapped the original saddle for another one which is the one that she says we can buy off her!

It goes from bad to worse......

That's just not on. I'd ask her either for the original saddle back or its value at the time you lent it to her.

I've now found out that she's swapped the original saddle for another one which is the one that she says we can buy off her

Then insist she pays you the value of it... I Would make it clear she has sold your property without your content............what would you have done if she had swapped the horse for a new one???

I agree with the others, she needs to pay you the value of the saddle you loaned her, as she has it written down she is expected to give it back. I can't believe her nerve!!!

She's technically commited fraud, as the saddle she swapped wasn't her property to swap, so both you and the person she swapped the saddles with have a claim against her. Do you know who she swapped saddles with?

My sister had another go to get the saddle and other things back but the girl said my sister had collected the saddle while she was out and that we had it! The girl didn't know why we were saying we hadn't got it and she was upset by us saying that.

I've found out the girl she swapped it with was her sister.

Theres no chance we will get it back so we've decided to mark it down to experience. A very expensive experience!

There is always the small claims court.  Might be enough to make them think again.

I can't believe the cheek of some people.Probabaly easier to put it down to a bad experience,but as said this is fraud.She does sound a bit 'shifty'to me.

What a swine, I hate it when folk take advantage like that, just tell all your horsey friends what a pig of a loanee she was when it came to the tack she was lent, if you live in a small/rural area it'll come back to bite her on the bum next time she tries to loan a horse. At least the horse was well taken care of, you hear so many horror stories about horses getting sold on or neglected by loanees :(