Disabled therapeutic horse riding has been around since the 1970s to help those with special needs. It’s wonderful to see the therapeutic benefits, both physically and mentally.
But it also brings liability concerns. Obviously, the greatest concern is a worsening of a condition for a student or any bodily injury that can occur while handling a large animal. But you also have instructors and volunteers to worry about.
For a situation with so many unpredictable variables, Henry Equestrian can help you understand the insurance you need.
What you’ll discover in this report:
- Common claims against therapeutic services
- How to plan ahead
- Coverage offered by a commercial general liability policy
- Other types of insurance to consider
Top Claims Against Horse Therapeutic and Disabled Riding Operations
The most common claim incidents involving horse therapeutic and disabled riding operations include:
- A rider becomes injured when they fall from the horse, or when near a horse while on the ground
- The rider aggravates the injury they’re seeking therapy for or receives a new injury
How To Plan Ahead
We know you care about the horses and the people who come to your place of business. 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 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 horse therapeutic and disabled riding insurance, you should consider:
- Personal accident insurance: This offers additional coverage to your volunteers in case they’re injured while working with you and your clients.
- Equine professional liability: Add this endorsement for every instructor to protect them from exposure. There’s a separate premium charge for this coverage.
- Equine directors and officers liability insurance: You may want to protect your executive team from liability if your therapeutic services are funded through an organization that accepts donations, grants or runs fundraisers.
- Property coverage endorsement: We can add this endorsement to your general liability policy if you’re a stable property renter to insure your tack, equipment and machinery for loss or damage.
Get Horse Therapeutic and Disabled Riding Insurance Today
At Henry Equestrian, Powered by NFP, we respect the work you do to help people recover from injuries and we want to make sure your operation is protected with the right coverage. Contact us today to learn more or click below for a free, no-obligation quote.