Horse uninsurable for public liability

Michen

Michen

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I can't say anything about anything other than what I've put in the post so please don't ask :-)

Basically my horse is now uninsurable for public liability. With any insurance company, even as a companion at field rest. This is because of known behavioural issues under saddle.

She is uninsured even if she jumps out of a field and injures someone in a car. Despite this scenario being absolutely nothing to do with the reasons she has been uninsured for.

BHS gold membership also now no good because it was SEIB that she was insured with in the first place (who do the BHS insurance) and so they won't touch her as a horse at all.

Do any of you not have any public liability insurance for your horse? The thought makes me feel really really uneasy. I know it's all unlikely etc it would be needed but given my luck....
 
Do you know the BHS insurance which is for you , not horse specific does not cover her have you checked with the BHS ?

Have you made a third party claim ? Has she damaged any one ?
 
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Yep. But it's done through SEIB and they are her insurers and therefore now aware of her behaviour.

Never made a claim and she's never damaged anyone.


Goldenstar said:
Do you know the BHS insurance which is for you , not horse specific does not cover her have you checked with the BHS ?

Have you made a third party claim ? Has she damaged any one ?
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Goldenstar said:
Then why do you assume you can't get cover .
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Because every insurer has told me so and refused PL cover including SEIB and BHS because they are linked. She's insurable for everything else just not PL...

Unless I do not disclose her known behavioural problems, and it is written into the small print of every single insurance policy that I must to the best of my knowledge. Tried Petplan, NFU, E&L...
 
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Michen said:
Because every insurer has told me so and refused PL cover including SEIB and BHS because they are linked. She's insurable for everything else just not PL...

Unless I do not disclose her known behavioural problems, and it is written into the small print of every single insurance policy that I must to the best of my knowledge. Tried Petplan, NFU, E&L...
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Never heard that one before. My horse was epileptic and potentially could have gone through any fence or hedge under the influence of a seizure, and caused havoc and mayhem but she was always insured for PL, and considering I made a claim under illness for her condition...
 
Argh I just don't understand then. I've spent hours on the phone today trying to find some way round it! All have completely removed PL as soon as her issues are revealed. I only want her to be insured to pretty much sit in a field and do some in hand work to keep her brain active. Nightmare.


fatpiggy said:
Never heard that one before. My horse was epileptic and potentially could have gone through any fence or hedge under the influence of a seizure, and caused havoc and mayhem but she was always insured for PL, and considering I made a claim under illness for her condition...
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This makes no sense to me- if your saying the issues are o my under saddle then why won't they insure her for PL if she is a retired horse at pasture. I just don't get it- surely in the field she is no more of a risk than any other horse.
What if you just have to pay a greater premium??
 
If a company believes your horse is so dangerous as to be not worth insuring for public liability, even with raised premiums, then I would question as to whether you can bear this risk yourself. I would pts if they are that dangerous.

For a normal companion horse then being uninsured is probably not so uncommon but that is your decision.
 
Trust me it makes no sense to me either! Nope, not even been offered that option. Just a flat out uninsured for public liability from every insurer as she is deemed dangerous even though it's specific to a certain situation. Tearing my hair out!



Dizzydancer said:
This makes no sense to me- if your saying the issues are o my under saddle then why won't they insure her for PL if she is a retired horse at pasture. I just don't get it- surely in the field she is no more of a risk than any other horse.
What if you just have to pay a greater premium??
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Rapidash said:
If a company believes your horse is so dangerous as to be not worth insuring for public liability, even with raised premiums, then I would question as to whether you can bear this risk yourself. I would pts if they are that dangerous.

For a normal companion horse then being uninsured is probably not so uncommon but that is your decision.
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With Michens luck it's not such a good idea .
I fairly appalled they will give vets fees cover for a horse screaming that it may have something major wrong with it no wonder horse cover is so expensive .
 
She is not dangerous in any way shape or form unless you attempt to long rein or hack her out alone. She has been deemed dangerous by insurers on the basis that she has been known to rear. It's utterly ridiculous, she's probably safer in the field than most other horses why may not rear but spend their time fence hopping- which she doesn't.


Rapidash said:
If a company believes your horse is so dangerous as to be not worth insuring for public liability, even with raised premiums, then I would question as to whether you can bear this risk yourself. I would pts if they are that dangerous.

For a normal companion horse then being uninsured is probably not so uncommon but that is your decision.
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Do you keep her at home? If so, would your household insurance cover her? Otherwise what about British Dressage membership , which gives you PL cover as a member and doesn't ask for any declaration about your horses?
 
Goldenstar said:
You really ought to speak directly to the BHS and tell them your story Michen .
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I have, they referred me back to SEIB. I give up...

Apparently they cannot alter public liability aka it can't be covered for one instance and not the other. Been recommended by E&L to try a broker, funnily enough they were the most helpful!
 
ponydi said:
Do you keep her at home? If so, would your household insurance cover her? Otherwise what about British Dressage membership , which gives you PL cover as a member and doesn't ask for any declaration about your horses?
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Oooh thank you I'll investigate that. She's kept at livery...


I have pushed SEIB some more and they are going to go a bit higher up to ask especially re BHS gold membership. Hopefully will get some sense out of someone.
 
I have had some lunatic horses in the past, including a rearer, and a lot of just broken/being broken ones, and bad in traffic ones, I always insured with NFU and never had any problems.
What are you telling them about your mare? Im assuming this is the one you called a 'missold schoolmistress'? If its just the rearing issues Im quite sure you can get her insured for PL with the NFU.
 
OP, be very careful in your quest.
You do realise that you now have to admit to the 'ever been refused insurance' question - and that's not just horses, but house, car etc etc as you have to answer question truthfully.
It shouldn't matter one jot for any other insurance, but you need to answer the question.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
OP, be very careful in your quest.
You do realise that you now have to admit to the 'ever been refused insurance' question - and that's not just horses, but house, car etc etc as you have to answer question truthfully.
It shouldn't matter one jot for any other insurance, but you need to answer the question.
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Not sure on that one, SEIB have "removed" PL. All other insurance companies I have spoken with have been discussed on a theoretical scenario only aka no details have been taken or filled in, it's been a straightforward question with a very quick answer.

Anyway will wait to see what BHS/SEIB managers come back with. Maybe they will be able to figure something out now it's gone a bit higher up the chain.
 
BHS is gold cover offered to cover the whole membership , cover like this does not usually have the same exclusions as single horse cover as the risk is spread over the big membership .in the same way as company health insurance covers people that would never get cover otherwise .
I assume you're not a BHS member already , that really is a shame .
 
Goldenstar said:
BHS is gold cover offered to cover the whole membership , cover like this does not usually have the same exclusions as single horse cover as the risk is spread over the big membership .in the same way as company health insurance covers people that would never get cover otherwise .
I assume you're not a BHS member already , that really is a shame .
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I am a member. Yes, but SEIB are the insurers for BHS. BHS have referred me back to SEIB as to whether the horse would be covered and SEIB had said no because they have r withdrawn liability cover on my personal policy with them and therefore the horse is known to them to be "dangerous". However I am waiting for a call/email back as they are going to make further enquiries as you are right, this doesn't sound reasonable.

We shall see.
 
Michen said:
I am a member. Yes, but SEIB are the insurers for BHS. BHS have referred me back to SEIB as to whether the horse would be covered and SEIB had said no because they have r withdrawn liability cover on my personal policy with them and therefore the horse is known to them to be "dangerous". However I am waiting for a call/email back as they are going to make further enquiries as you are right, this doesn't sound reasonable.

We shall see.
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If you are a member then you are covered it's in all their advertising .
I would ring the BHS back and speak only to them expect them to sort this out don't be passed on to sort it out yourself .
Say you took your membership on the basis that you third party cover it's in all their adverts etc etc and you expect them to sort it out and get back to you PDQ.
I would also contact your area rep and your county chairman they know their way around the HQ system and know the people working there .
If that does not yield results then it's the charity commission and the insurance ombudsman .

Failing that you can use their legal helpline to get advice about perusing them for miss selling you membership ( only joking honest ).
 
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