Equine assisted services, also sometimes called equine assisted growth and development, is a complicated activity in terms of insurance. Why? Because any of the following statements may describe what you do:
- You provide horses for the use of therapy for patients who may or may not be physically or mentally challenged
- You assist a professional physical therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist
- You’re certified and trained to provide horse and horse-handling services for therapy
- You’re a riding trainer or instructor
- You’re a licensed professional therapist who provides the service to other therapists
As a business venture in Canada, you’re not covered under your homeowners or farmowners insurance policy. And, as a business, your operation comes with liability concerns.
The greatest concern is a worsening of a condition or any bodily injury that occurs while handling a large animal. You want to make sure the attending professional therapist, if it’s not you, holds a degree in their area of expertise, and that the therapist carries their own professional liability insurance.
You may also have instructors and volunteers to worry about. With so many variables, Henry Equestrian can help you understand the insurance that you need.
What you’ll discover in this report:
- Common claims against equine assisted services
- How to plan ahead
- Coverage offered by a commercial general liability policy
- Other types of insurance to consider
Top Claims Against Equine Assisted Services
The most common claim incidents involving horse rescue operations include:
- A patient or someone else is injured when a handler loses control
- A lawsuit focused on your services/treatments that aggravate the original injury or cause a new injury
How To Plan Ahead
We know you care about the horses and your clients. Below are steps you can take to protect yourself against potential accidents.
Enforce barn rules
Develop rules for your environment for both horses and people. Train staff members so they understand rules and procedures. Document procedures.
Plan for emergencies
Emergencies happen. But the more prepared you are, the better chance you have of providing proper care to your horses. Preparation can minimize the severity of any accident.
Develop semi-annual inspections of your property
By inspecting your premises for potential hazards, you can take care of them before an incident occurs.
Prepare a written waiver and review your province’s Occupiers’ Liability Act
Your province's Occupiers’ Liability Act could state that the stable owner/operator owes a duty of care to the people who enter their premises, which assures that any property they bring on your premises is also reasonably safe.
Anyone who participates in horse activities on your premises needs to complete and sign your province’s waiver, if applicable. Make sure to keep signed forms on file and safely stored. You are free to restrict, modify or exclude this duty of care through your written waiver.
Follow Provincial Safety Regulations
Check your provincial safety regulations regarding helmet use for minors and if helmets need to meet certain criteria, such as ASTM, BSI or European Safety Standards. Footwear is also often regulated (i.e. hard-soled footwear with a heel of no less than 1.5 centimeters).
Purchase an equine liability insurance policy
Protect you and your business with an insurance company that knows horses and your business. You want to make sure that any legal fees are covered, claim costs and settlements to ensure that in the case of an accident, your business doesn’t suffer a financial loss.
What’s Included in the Commercial General Liability Policy?
The policy gives you maximum limits or amounts of liability insurance for:
- Lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage caused by conducting your business operations
- Legal defense costs: You can save your business the financial burden of court costs if you’re sued, whether or not the case has merit.
- Claims or settlement costs: Without this policy, the business could be held responsible for bodily injury and property damage claims.
Other Coverages To Consider
In addition to equine assisted services insurance coverage, you should also consider equine professional liability. Adding this endorsement for every instructor can protect them from exposure. There is a separate premium charge for this coverage.
Get Equine Assisted Services Insurance Today
At Henry Equestrian, Powered by NFP, we respect the work your organization does, and we want to make sure your equine assisted services operation is protected with the right coverage. Contact us today to learn more or click below for a free, no-obligation quote.