Helping out - insurance?

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laracroft

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I am aware of the requirements for licensed premises and registered instructors to hold insurance, but how does someone stand if they are helping someone out without payment, just to give them a hand? Is hard to say no if asked, but a sad day if it is because of the fear of a compensation claim if things go wrong- am thinking giving lead over xc, with 'advice', giving someone a lift to a competition, riding a horse for a less experienced rider, taking someone's child out with your own - just things that I never used to think about, but are making me a bit twitchy. Anyone had any experience?
 
Please help this woman. She has been abducted by the Elf N' Safetee Terrorists of the United Kingdom of Scaredy Cats.

What you must do:

1. Have a sherry.
2. Check Public Liability Insurance
3. Have another sherry.

:D

All will be well :D:D:D
 
laracroft said:
I am aware of the requirements for licensed premises and registered instructors to hold insurance, but how does someone stand if they are helping someone out without payment, just to give them a hand? Is hard to say no if asked, but a sad day if it is because of the fear of a compensation claim if things go wrong- am thinking giving lead over xc, with 'advice', giving someone a lift to a competition, riding a horse for a less experienced rider, taking someone's child out with your own - just things that I never used to think about, but are making me a bit twitchy. Anyone had any experience?
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It is so irritating and sad that we have to worry about this :(. Agree with the sherry! A large glass! :D

Point 1 - giving a lead xc, and advice. You are not recieving any monetary reward for this you are merely training alongside a friend. I shouldnt think there could be any claim made against you (will be immensely saddened/ shocked if wrong here!)

Point 2- giving a lift to a competition. as a riding instructor my care custody and control insurance covers me transporting other people's horses to a destination providing there is a lesson upon arrival. But they also said most horse insurance should cover this, to be on the safe side only give lifts to people with 3rd party liability insurance check it covers their horse in your vehicle (most do as standard apparently) get them to sign a disclaimer about payment regarding any injury to their horse in your vehicle and ask to see the policy to be UBER safe :p

Point 3 - riding a horse for an inexperienced rider. Again if no monetary reward you are merely helping out a friend/having a ride. If the horse is covered with 3rd party liability for any rider (unpaid), this again is usually as standard on insurance, then there should be no issue. Bear in mind however this insurance will not cover any harm to you and you ride at your own risk. I would confirm with the owner that any freak accident that may happen to the horse whilst you are riding is to be at their cost and if possible for them to have the horse insured for vets fees etc. you can also get rider insurance I believe.

Point 4- taking someones child out with you on your own - No idea! however as a freelance riding instructor I am not required to have a CRB check or special insurance to teach children so I would imagine it is at their parents decision to leave them alone with you and so their responsibility? unsure about this however.

Hope this helps a little :) terribly sad the way things have gone :(.
 
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What a load of soft bananas we have all become. It is terribly sad. Now that the blame game is paying out dividends, all and sundry are investing heavily in the crime.

I'd love for the insurance companies to have a bomb dropped on them. We can all say we can't pay because "oops - it's an act of God".

It's all our own fault for ACCEPTING this level of heavy TAX!

Then again, if only we all had less debt.... no-one would need insurance... there's food for thought.
 
Thanks Becca, am not, and have no intention of becoming an instructor, but do have a lot of experience that I am willing to share only if asked and only for the satisfaction of seeing someone improving. Unfortunately there are more and more people who don't accept the inherent risks to horses and riders and are too ready to find someone to blame - as in all walks of life, I guess. Just been an unfortunate incident at our yard (I was not involved) and it seems to have opened a can of worms....
 
laracroft said:
Thanks Becca, am not, and have no intention of becoming an instructor, but do have a lot of experience that I am willing to share only if asked and only for the satisfaction of seeing someone improving. Unfortunately there are more and more people who don't accept the inherent risks to horses and riders and are too ready to find someone to blame - as in all walks of life, I guess. Just been an unfortunate incident at our yard (I was not involved) and it seems to have opened a can of worms....
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This is how our local school got closed.

All because of one silly little incident and some Tw** parent decided to sue the poor farmer who owned it. Bloody Londoners.
 
yeh unfortunately these days you can never be to careful :( really sad this sueing culture thats taken hold. You have to protect yourself as much as possible unfortunately :) im lucky in the transport department as Im extra covered with my riding instructor insurance, but you should be fine travelling someone else's horse providing they have BHS gold or similar you can see the policy & sign an agreement on the injury front - so sad isnt it! :(.
Go for it with sharing experience etc when out with friends your not getting paid for it so cant see how anything going wrong is your responsibility and its nice to actually feel you have helped someone out :D.
Im also lucky as I have a couple of horsey friends I do trust :) (they do have the relevant 3rd party liability insurance however, this is the most important to have).
 
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