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Gable Business Finance are equine finance specialists, helping customers across the UK fund new and used horseboxes with flexible finance solutions. One of the most popular finance structures available is a balloon payment agreement. This structure is designed to make monthly payments more affordable while deferring a larger payment to the end of the term — perfect for horsebox buyers who want to preserve cashflow and flexibility.
A horsebox balloon payment is a large lump-sum payment that becomes due at the end of your finance agreement. It’s part of a loan structure that allows you to make lower monthly repayments during the term of your agreement, with a significant portion of the vehicle’s value deferred to the end. This arrangement is similar to how Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Lease Purchase deals work in car finance — and the same principles apply to horseboxes.
In simple terms, you enjoy lower monthly costs now, with the flexibility to decide how you’d like to handle the final payment later. This makes balloon payment finance a smart choice for private riders, riding schools, and equestrian businesses managing seasonal income or multiple horses.
Gable Business Finance specialise in helping horsebox owners who face a large final lump-sum — the balloon payment — at the end of their finance term. Whether your horsebox was financed on a PCP-style lease purchase, a lease purchase, or another agreement, we can arrange a refinance so you don’t have to find a large cash payment at once. Our specialist panel of lenders has helped private riders, riding schools and businesses refinance balloon payments when they were otherwise stuck.
A balloon (or Guaranteed Future Value) is the large final payment that some finance agreements defer until the end of the term. It’s a useful way to reduce monthly payments during the agreement, but it can be an unwelcome surprise if you don’t have the cash available at the end.
Refinancing the balloon means replacing that single large payment with a new finance agreement (often a Hire Purchase or a new Lease Purchase) that spreads the outstanding balance into regular monthly payments. This lets you keep the horsebox in use, maintain predictable budgeting and avoid disruption to your equestrian operations.
When your PCP or Lease Purchase term ends you typically have three main options:
If you don’t want to return the vehicle and you don’t have the cash to settle the balloon, refinancing is often the most practical choice. Gable Business Finance can structure a new agreement that fits your circumstances.
Many horseboxes were originally financed using PCP-style or lease purchase products. At term-end they present a single settlement figure. We can:
We’ve helped clients who lacked the cash to settle their PCP balloon and who preferred not to return well-maintained, high-quality horseboxes. Where other lenders declined, our specialist relationships have often found workable solutions.
We arrange balloon refinance on a wide range of equine vehicles, including:
Eligibility will consider vehicle age, mileage, condition and current market value — but our panel includes lenders prepared to consider higher-value and specialist equine vehicles.
We make balloon refinance accessible to a broad customer base:
We frequently help customers who have been turned down elsewhere — our panel covers a range of risk appetite and niche equine-focused lenders.
Most horsebox balloon refinance deals are structured as:
Terms usually range from 24 to 84 months depending on lender appetite, vehicle age and the amount to refinance. A new credit check and affordability assessment are required for the new agreement.
We can start working from a rough settlement figure if you don’t yet have the official letter — but the exact settlement amount will be required before completion.
Each lender has its own criteria but common factors include:
If your horsebox is in good condition and marketable, you are more likely to secure competitive rates and longer terms — which reduces monthly payments.
A: Yes. We work with lenders who accept self-employed applicants and some who will consider newer companies, although additional documentation (bank statements, management accounts) may be requested.
A: We can begin the process from an estimate, but a formal settlement letter is required to complete the refinance. We’ll guide you through requesting the exact figure from your existing lender.
A: A new finance application involves a credit check which can have a small, temporary impact. However, making regular repayments on the new agreement can be positive for your credit profile going forward.
A: Lenders assess the vehicle and the settlement. If the settlement exceeds value (negative equity), refinancing may still be possible but terms will be influenced by that gap and your affordability. We have lenders on our panel who will consider such cases.
Client: Midlands-based event yard.
Situation: A 7.5-tonne coach-built horsebox reached the end of a Lease Purchase term with a £45,000 balloon due. The yard did not want to return the vehicle and could not pay the lump sum immediately.
Action: Gable obtained a settlement letter, arranged a valuation and submitted a refinance application to a specialist lender. We secured a Hire Purchase arrangement over 60 months with an affordable monthly payment that fitted the yard’s cashflow.
Outcome: The existing lender was paid in full, the yard kept the horsebox and continued trading without disruption — and the payments were manageable within their seasonal income profile.
If you have an upcoming balloon payment on a horsebox and want to explore refinance options, contact Gable Business Finance. We’ll review your settlement figure, vehicle and circumstances and show you practical ways to keep using your horsebox without paying a large lump sum at once.
Call us or complete our online enquiry form to start — we’ll talk you through what documents you need and how we can help.
Throughout the agreement, you make smaller, regular payments because you’re not repaying the full value of the horsebox — only part of it. The remaining balance is deferred to the end of the term. This keeps your monthly outgoings manageable and predictable.
At the end of the term (typically 3–5 years), you’ll have a single, larger payment to make — known as the balloon payment. In car finance, this is sometimes called the Guaranteed Future Value (GFV). It reflects what the vehicle is expected to be worth at the end of the term.
Horseboxes, especially bespoke or coach-built models, can be a significant investment. Balloon payment finance gives buyers the opportunity to manage those costs strategically. By deferring part of the payment, you can:
Many customers choose this route when purchasing new horseboxes or upgrading to larger, luxury models, as the structure supports long-term financial planning without compromising on vehicle quality.
A Lease Purchase agreement is a popular choice for private individuals looking to keep monthly payments affordable. The larger payment at the end of the agreement — known as the balloon payment — is based on a fixed future value of the horsebox, determined at the start of the contract.
This structure helps reduce your monthly outgoings while providing three clear options at the end of the term:
This flexibility makes Lease Purchase agreements ideal for private owners who want control over their finances and the ability to plan their end-of-term strategy based on the horsebox’s resale value.
Businesses benefit from similar Lease Purchase flexibility, but with additional advantages. If your company has been trading for at least three years and is VAT-registered, Gable Business Finance can arrange a 3-month VAT deferral (subject to lender approval).
This allows you to reclaim the VAT on your purchase before paying it to the lender. By the time the VAT is due in the third month, your business has already reclaimed it through its VAT return, creating a smoother cashflow position.
For businesses, the balloon payment serves the same purpose — keeping monthly payments lower while providing the same three options at the end:
This structure is ideal for riding schools, transport operators, or competition yards that want to invest in quality vehicles without tying up working capital.
The key difference between a traditional Hire Purchase (HP) and a finance deal with a Balloon Payment is how the payments are structured. With HP, the entire cost of the horsebox (plus interest) is spread evenly across the term, leading to higher monthly payments but no large final sum. With a balloon arrangement, a portion is deferred to the end, lowering monthly payments but leaving a balance to settle later.
Both options offer ownership at the end, but the right choice depends on your cashflow, business structure, and how long you intend to keep the horsebox.
Scenario: A small equestrian centre in Surrey needed to upgrade to a larger 7.5-tonne horsebox to transport three horses to regional shows. They wanted affordable monthly payments to maintain cashflow while investing in facilities.
Solution: Gable Business Finance arranged a Lease Purchase agreement with a tailored deposit and a balloon payment at the end. The customer placed the VAT down as the deposit and financed the remaining balance. This structure allowed them to benefit from manageable monthly payments while keeping ownership options open.
How It Works:
Outcome: Because horseboxes hold their value well, the centre remained in positive equity. The balloon payment helped reduce monthly costs and gave them flexibility to upgrade again in the future.
Scenario: A private horse owner wanted a new 3.5-tonne horsebox for personal transport to events. They preferred simple, predictable payments and guaranteed ownership at the end of the term.
Solution: Gable Business Finance arranged a Hire Purchase (HP) agreement with a fixed rate and flexible deposit. The buyer paid the VAT upfront (reclaimable if purchased through a business) and chose a repayment term to fit their budget.
How It Works:
Outcome: The customer benefited from straightforward finance with no surprises at the end. Fixed payments and clear ownership terms made this a perfect choice for long-term horsebox use.
It’s a larger final payment due at the end of a finance term. It represents the remaining balance of the vehicle’s value after lower monthly payments have been made.
Balloon payments make monthly instalments more affordable while giving you options at the end — to pay, refinance, or sell the horsebox.
Lease Purchase is a form of finance where you make lower monthly payments with a balloon payment at the end. It’s designed to offer flexibility and affordability while still working toward ownership.
You have three choices:
Yes. Businesses trading for three years or more can access VAT deferral options and benefit from the same balloon structure to manage cashflow efficiently.
Businesses can delay paying VAT for three months while reclaiming it through their VAT return, meaning funds are available before payment is due to the lender.
Lease Purchase includes a balloon payment at the end, offering lower monthly costs but a final lump sum. Hire Purchase spreads the total cost evenly over the term, resulting in higher monthly payments but no large end payment.
Yes, subject to credit approval. Gable can arrange a refinance agreement to spread the balloon over 2–10 years, giving you extra time to pay.
Yes. Quality horseboxes tend to hold their value better than many other vehicles, which often means customers remain in positive equity at the end of their agreement.
Absolutely. Part exchanges are welcome and can increase your deposit, further reducing monthly payments on your new finance agreement.
Yes. Gable Business Finance works with specialist lenders who can structure balloon payment finance for both new and pre-owned horseboxes.
Our team will assess your individual or business needs and explain whether a Lease Purchase, Hire Purchase, or other finance option best suits your goals.
In summary: Balloon payment finance is an effective and flexible way to fund your next horsebox. Whether you’re a private rider or an equestrian business, Gable Business Finance can help you structure an agreement that keeps your monthly payments affordable while giving you multiple end-of-term options. With our expertise and network of specialist lenders, we make horsebox ownership accessible, strategic, and stress-free.