Horses are large animals that can behave unpredictably. If you’re training them to do something new, training in a new environment or introducing them to someone new to handling them, they may act up.
Sometimes, these situations can result in an injury. And because you’re working with high-value animals, it adds risk. Whether you train horses out of your own facility or elsewhere as an independent contractor, you want to make sure you protect yourself against a claim or lawsuit.
What you’ll discover in this report:
- Reasons to insure your horse training service
- Common claims against horse trainers
- How to insure yourself as an independent contractor
- How to plan ahead
- Coverage offered by a commercial general liability policy
- Other types of insurance to consider
Why Do I Need To Insure My Horse Training Services for Liability?
Training horses often involves more than just training the horses; you’re often instructing people too.
Not all riders will have experience. You may train and show horses exclusively for the owners, or you may teach horse training clinics, seminars or certification courses. Regardless of your trainees’ experience level, it’s important to protect yourself financially should anything happen to a horse, rider, bystander or the surrounding property while the horse is in your care.
Top Claim Incidents Related to Horse Instruction, Coaching and Training
The most common claim incidents related to horse training include:
- The horse becomes injured or dies while in the trainer’s custody or control.
- A horse gets loose at a show and causes a car accident. Any injuries to passengers and/or damage to the car can result in a large claim, and the horse must usually be put down.
- Bystanders or other horses are injured and/or property is damaged while a horse acts unpredictably while in the trainer’s care.
What’s Unique About Independent Contractors?
Even though you don’t train or instruct on your own property, you still have liability exposures. And while you want to make sure the stable owners you work with are properly insured; many will want the same from you.
Many barns will want proof of your commercial general liability policy, which insures your training or instructing activities. If you carry your own policy, some stable owners will ask to be named as an additional insured. This doesn’t insure the stable for any of its business activities and/or in the case of negligence; it only covers them in relation to what you do at their location.
While some stable owners may be able to add you to their stable’s liability policy if you work as an employee for them, you want to make sure you have proof that your name is on the policy. A disadvantage of this, however, is that you’re only insured at that one stable, not the others where you offer training or instruction
The most common types of claim incidents faced by independent contractor horse trainers include:
- Your student or a handler becomes injured during instruction. Common injuries include broken arms, injured tailbones or backs, broken or bruised ribs, shoulder injuries and head injuries.
- A horse becomes injured or dies during a training session.
- A horse you’re training gets loose and runs into traffic, causing an accident.
How To Plan Ahead
We know you care about the horses and the people who come to your farm. 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 regular inspections of the area you ride or teach in
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 a commercial general liability policy, you should also consider:
- Equine professional liability: If you’re viewed as an expert with training qualifications, your professional liability exposures is much higher. We can add this to your general liability policy for a nominal charge.
- Instruction or coaching: This is another potential exposure and you should ensure that you’re covered, even if you have a secondary or minor exposure.
- Worker’s compensation: If you have employees, you need additional coverage for injury to them.
- Horse mortality: If you lease a horse and become its temporary owner, you’re at risk of being liable if the horse dies.
- Horse surgical and major medical: If you lease a horse and become its temporary owner, you’re at risk of being liable if the horse becomes sick or injured.
- Care, custody and control liability: This policy protects you from expenditures for loss, illness or injury that could happen to a horse you’re training.
- Tack, equipment and machinery: Protect your tools and your business by insuring your tack, equipment and machinery against loss or damage.
Get Horse Trainer Insurance Today
At Henry Equestrian, Powered by NFP, we understand horses and your business, which is why we want to make sure you’re protected. Contact us today to learn more or click below for a free, no-obligation quote.