Freelance Instructor Insurance, is this new?? YO wants proof

[jen1]

Sort of on from post below about yard meeting and instructors.

YO has put up a note saying that all instructors coming to our yard must have valid insurance and be able to produce it for the YOs (I assume public liability) insurance company. Never been asked this before, is it a new clamp down by insurance companies? There's a few instructors that come to our yard a couple are BHS qualified but one I know of isn't but she is an awesome instructor and rider!!

 

[Nailed]

I think this is a fair enough ask of the YO to be honest!

Lou x

 

[MotherOfChickens]

they dont have to be BHS to be insured but if they are working freelance then yes, they should be insured! SEIB does it.

 

[jen1]

Oh I am not questioning the YO, was just wondering if it's a new thing for insurance companies to be asking? Maybe all the instructors have insurance so that's OK regardless of BHS etc!! I suppose I never thought to ask when I have had a lesson, never occurred to me?

 

[MillionDollar]

I ask that any instructor that comes and teaches here must be insured!

 

[stencilface]

Well, I am 'instructed' what to do with my horse by a friend, but I don't pay her (poor girl

). She is not technically an instructor, so does not have insurance, and as I don't pay her - I don't think she technically needs it, as its just the same as someone watching I would imagine?

 

[Dressagebabe]

This is a grey area that a lot of freelance Instructors & Livery yard Owners don't actually realise they have to have! Its not just the normal Public Liability Cover, its actually called Teacher's Insurance, It covers a freelance Instructor to teach another person on their own horse to ride and accept money, gifts or chores in return! it is around £600 per year. However, if the freelance Instructor has their own horse that is a schoolmaster and allows people to have a lesson on him/her then they have to apply not only for the Teacher's Insurance but also has to apply to the council for a riding establishment licence too even if only teaching 1 rider!!

I have just been talking to my insurance company SEIB about the same thing as I have a small private livery yard which a couple of my liveries have their own Show Jumping Instructors which means whilst the Instructor is on my property without his own Teachers Insurance should an accident happen whilst he is teaching the girls they can sue ME directly as I have insurance and allowed an un-insured Instructor onto my yard!! Hope this clarifies it a little.

 

[Dressagebabe]

Stencilface: This again is a problem that people are facing even when no money has changed hands if you instruct somene to do something and an accident happens you can or in your case, your friend, can be sued for neglect if the person injured, decides to sue the person that instructed them to do it! We are now living in a very hideous 'Nanny' society that has health & safety policies with risk assessments as long as your arm but these examples have already happened and cases won in court so we now feel we have to cover ourselves incase someone decides they can earn a few £1000 pounds regardless of whether they used to be good friends or not!

 

[FRESHMAN]

That is 100% correct DB. So why should any yard owner take the risk of someone else's possible negligence. One of the bigger issues is that an Instructor can quite easily show you an up to date Insurance Policy. Lets say for instance they are paying for it on a monthly DD. If they fail to pay the Insurance ceases. The YO has no knowledge of this as he has seen a policy in force to show cover until renewal on whatever date. That is why even car insurance companies ask that the policy is returned. Unfortunately no one bothers to return the paperwork as this can be produced to new yards & the Instructors business continues to flourish. I will guarantee most people would be amazed as to how few Instructors carry valid up to date Insurance.

 

[jen1]

Ahhh I wondered that it may be something like that! Fair enough but it's a shame that there is this sue culture, god if I think of the amount of times I have fallen off including at riding schools and the things we used to get up to at the RS as kids they'd all be out of business now!!

Thanks for the info!

 

[ladyt25]

It has always been the case for freelance instructors to have their own liability cover. Instructors employed by and teaching only at a riding school would be covered by the employers liability.

The liability cover is required if the person is working for hire or reward (ie being paid or doing it in return for something else). If it is just a friend helping you in return for nothing the it would be extremely difficult for this person to claim against you or a yard should something happen unless of course an accident occurred due to negligence on the yard's side.