Legal obligations of livery clients re insurance?

S

sfward

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 June 2007
Messages
1,214
Location
York
Visit site
Does anyone know what the situation is regarding insurance for horses kept at livery yards? I was under the impression that all horses stabled at a public yard, including livery yards, have to have some form of third party insurance as a minimum to cover against injuries/damage which might be caused by the horse when it's on the yard, but that any additional insurance (vet fees, loss of use etc) is entirely up to the owner?
Could anyone confirm whether I have this right?
thanks
 
a couple of points.
a public yard is presumably owned by someone and run as a business of some sort and is not actually public but in fact private.
they are therefore entitled to set any conditions they choose and if they insist as a condition of being a livery that you have a certain level of insurance, then that's fine. you can choose to accept their conditions or go elsewhere.
my yard requires a higher level of insurance and proof. in the past we took liveries and didn't know to ask for insurance cover and what then happenned was people who could only just fford to keep horses would not use the vet because they couldn't afford it and their horses suffered. so we grew up quick and insisted on certain conditions and are very glad we did.
final point, don't under-insure. plan for the worst case, insure against it, then relax and enjoy your horse.
 
There was about two years a legal case concerning some horses that escaped through no fault of the owners yet costs where awarded against the owners for the damage and injuries that they caused.

This means that the owners of horses are ultimately responsible for any damage or injuries caused by their horses.

Therefore if a horse escaped from a livery yard or wherever it is the owner of the horse that is ultimately responsible and becomes financially liable.

It was made quite clear that the owner of a horse needs to have a third party public liability policy in place which will provide cover of up to £10,000,000.

Many policies do not infact provide this level of cover however, as a Gold BHS member this is included with the membership.
 
ok, but is there a legal minimum requirement that by law you need to meet regardless of the yard's private policy on insurance? i have 3rd party insurance for mine through British Eventing, but if we weren't registered would I be required to take out 3rd party by law if I want to keep my horse at a livery yard in case she injured somebody, or is it purely up to me and the yard to decide?
ie. is it legal to keep a horse on a livery yard without any form of insurance whatsoever?
 
Just double-checked BE's policy; it provides members with indemnity for "injury or damage to third parties or their property, arising out of the use/ownership of horses or horse drawn vehicle or other equestrian activities" up to £20,000,000 in respect of any one accident.
 
There is no legal requirement for an individual to be insured for anything to do with their horse - BUT anyone not having at least 3rd party liability really wants their head examining as they are liable for any damage their horses do to anything. And if sued would have to find possibly a substantial amount of money. That 3rd party liability is provided as a member of the BHS or as a basic policy from all insurers. I insist that all my liveries show me a copy of their 3rd party insurance when they come on the yard no insurance - no livery. If they don't insure for vets fees that is not my business. I cover the yard for public liability so anything I do is covered
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top