BHS: been and gone and joined up!! (NFU defector)

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 February 2009
Messages
11,590
Location
Slopping along on a loose rein somewhere in Devon
Visit site
Have been thinking about their Gold Membership for a while, as it gives Personal Liability cover........

Have two Happy Hacker veterans (cobs, both) who I've been looking to insure far more cheaply than possible than with current insurer which is NFU and has been so for a good few years. Their premiums have continued to rise and whilst I'm aware of their good reputation, I just simply cannot go on paying out what they're asking, my two are oldies now and all we really do is happy hacking, apart from the odd TREC or Horse Agility. One is 19 and in good health, the other (mare) I am aware is going to need a wee bit more vet treatment now as the years go on, which risk I'm fully prepared for, but which would cost a fortune to insure for, and they'd probably decline cover anyway OR make the cost uneconomic.

NFU have quoted me £98 premium for EACH horse, for Personal Liability cover only.

BHS Gold membership, for £61 for the first year and £66 for ensuing years, gives me all I need.

So an easy option really.

I've got my house & yard insured with NFU, they've just sent renewal documents, premium they want is £769 :( That is astronomical IMO, shan't be paying that unless there's absolutely no other option. Am looking around. Any ideas anyone??
 
I like BHS gold, i have never needed to use it but i like knowing i have it. Just be sure to phone them and go through your NFU whats covered and make sure it is the same.
 
welcome to the club!

I did the same 2 years ago! have a now 30 yr old who was costing me £100's ever year to insure. So as I have 2 other horses, I took the public liability off their insurance, cancelled my mares insurance and just go with the BHS cover!

again I've not needed it, to date, but its nice to know its there!
 
MotherOfChickens said:
cripes-and I always thought the PL part of a policy was very small! I need yard cover too this month, was going to try KBIS.
Click to expand...

Sounds very high to me too, since when I was working out a quote for horse insurance with Petplan, I added Public Liability (assuming that's what you mean rather than Personal?) and it only made £1/£2 difference a month to my premium (3k vet bill and personal accident)
 
I love dealing with the NFU but gave up horse insurance years ago, now have BhS Gold. As an aside, we had our three vehicles insured with the NFU, renewal was £1600, LiverpoolVictoria were £700 like for like and have been just as easy to deal with!
 
I have BHS Gold membership and unfortunately have had cause to use it :( However I must say that the BHS were fab, dealt with everything and paid out without any hassle the £5000 claim made against my horse when it was in collision with a car. Definitely value for money.
 
Last edited:
I think that BHS membership is the best - and cheapest - for Public Liability for most people. Before going on, I should make my position on the BHS clear. I worked for it for nearly 2 and a half years as head of PR & campaigning (starting 1998) - I ended with 8 months as Acting Chief Executive before I didn't get the job! I haven't been a member since after I left as a result, which was the day before the successful candidate started.

BHS public liability would be totally inadequate for me as I currently own 96 horses, and employ 4 people to help look after them. Theoretically that means I make my living from them although I've never made a penny exceeding real costs in 12 years. Also because (until 2 years ago) I was taking in other people's mares for covering - and I was also taking in other people's horses for backing and reschooling.

BHS Public Liability is for private owners, although there are lots of teensy variations, for example: if you work as a groom - but also keep your own horse (at livery, at home, or at work) BHS Public Liability would cover you for YOUR horse - only ? in my mind is would they cover it if keep for your horse made up part of your wages?? I'm pretty sure that someone in BHS membership would know the answer to THAT one.

BHS membership - in addition to Public Liability insurance that has proven its worth in at LEAST dozens of cases (only where you have no other public liability thrown in with insurance you pay directly for which would take it on) gives you:
1. A nice magazine
2. Special offers through the year including a free ticket to HOYS
3. Access to training opportunities and the exams system
4. Access to free helplines for all legal, VAT and tax queries
5. Free expert advice and guidance on a wide range of equestrian matters

There are a few other little benefits I couldn't get excited by.

Depending on what value you place on the other benefits you'd get, the Publc Liability insurance would cost you £61 JUST for the Public Liability. (and to the best of my knowledge, that would still be cheap for stand alone Public liability for most people.

Not directly connected to anything to do with Public Liability but I'd stick in my whinge about NFU. Many years ago when I was looking to cover my yard for physical damage (a fire, or the damage that might be caused by a gale) - 27 stables, some 'conventional' and some internal stables, NFU was totally disinterested in quoting unless I committed to moving my house insurance and car insurance! They lost a chunk of business that would have brought in an extra - I'm guessing - £2,000 a year!
 
Country Landowners Association for pretty much everything. Had one claim for £6,500's worth of flood damage and can't fault them.

Wouldn't insure with the SNFU in principle. I know the insurance is now separate to the Old Pal's Club but I never forget a grudge.

Won't have anything to do with the BHS since they told me a neighbour did not have ragwort. I'm a retired agricultural professional so found that a bit insulting of my intelligence, but hey, this is the Highlands!
 
JennBags said:
I've not seen a free hoys ticket either, but you do get a free RIHS ticket so possibly that's what Janet meant.
Click to expand...

lol, it's probable. I have just tried to check the BHS site but of course it's slowed down to the point I cant cope. THINKING about it, I remember a fun day I had representing the BHS at RIHS. The only fun day I remember about HOYS was running into an old showjumping mate from Oz. The fact I put HOYS indicates that there is a downside to a hyperactive brain (I've had one for 4 weeks - a side effect of some drugs I was on) I've had one far worse side effect (huge swollen and painful feet, ankles - now with the swelling up to my knees. The ONLY thing I can get onto my feet is size 11 bedroom slippers (I'm a size 9) - and I don't have to tell any horsey people how unsuitable bedroom slippers are for doing ANYTHING around horses!


If anyone didn't get a free RIHS ticket - who would have liked one - then you DO need to at least ring up and ask for one. Remember for next year!
 
I got a free gift and £5 off BHS gold cover when I joined at the Yorkshire show. THey had a stand at Bramham too. I got a free hi viz waistcoat, a really nice one with pockets in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top