Liability own land question

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fools_ gold

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A friend needs to leave her livery yard. For various reasons I won't go into.
I have said I might be able to help by keeping her horse on my land. She will cover bedding/ feed/ farrier/ vets etc. I would be looking after and riding the horse for her as well but not charging her for it.
Where do I stand with public liability etc. I'm not doing it as a livery, but do I need some sort of insurance, and should I insist she has horse covered for public liability???
Not sure if it's helpful but I have BHS gold membership.
Help much appreciated!
 
no, you cannot insure what isn't yours .. but you can insure yourself against something happening to something that isn't yours if the owner of said something holds you responsible for the death/injury of that something ... that something being a horse that does not belong to you, kept on your land for which you are responsible for it's care and wellbeing.

Friends are friends .. until something goes wrong
 
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Rhandir said:
Friends are friends .. until something goes wrong
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Thanks for all your replies.

Yes this ^^ is what I am worried about, I want to help her out as she is in an awkward situation. Her horse is lovely and I don't mind an extra one to look after in terms of the work load. She will be covering all the basics like bedding, hay, feed, farrier, worming, vets if needed. But like you say what if something goes wrong and she blames me!!! I also don't need the extra expense of yet more insurance! Starting to think, it was a bad idea to want to help.
But also was wondering, it would be a sort of loan, so would a loan agreement cover me, obviously it would be slightly different as she would still be paying for everything, but she wouldn't be coming to see him very often and wouldn't be using my place like a livery yard. Any ideas on this?
 
as the land owner you are strictly liable for the stock on your field. (whether you own it or not) i would suggest you get 3 C POLICY AND COMMERCIAL LIAbilty then you will be covered should an incident occur.
 
fools_ gold said:
Thanks for all your replies.

Yes this ^^ is what I am worried about, I want to help her out as she is in an awkward situation. Her horse is lovely and I don't mind an extra one to look after in terms of the work load. She will be covering all the basics like bedding, hay, feed, farrier, worming, vets if needed. But like you say what if something goes wrong and she blames me!!! I also don't need the extra expense of yet more insurance! Starting to think, it was a bad idea to want to help.
But also was wondering, it would be a sort of loan, so would a loan agreement cover me, obviously it would be slightly different as she would still be paying for everything, but she wouldn't be coming to see him very often and wouldn't be using my place like a livery yard. Any ideas on this?
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Please be careful. You don't want to end up like me :(

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=567949

PM me if you want.
 
fools_ gold said:
Owh gosh, just read your thread... How terrible, you just never know with people do you.
I should be drawing up some sort of contract really shouldn't I... argh what a pain, gone are the days when you can do someone a favor without fear of either being ripped off or sued!
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It seems horrid to do but please cover your back.
I started out doing a favour but more and more got put on me. Being the nice person I am I just kept going until I nearly broke. Get everything down in writing then both sides know where they stand should a misunderstanding come up in the future ;)

People do take the pee pee and it's much harder to confront when it's a friend.

Good luck! :)
 
I too had a nightmare when I agreed to help a 'friend' out in an emergancy for a 'few' weeks! Never again, definitely get a written agreement, get a deposit so if the horse trashes fencing/ field shelter etc you can repair and get paid well in advance for shoes/ worming (do this youself before you turn out - don't believe that it has been done correctly before!) etc.
 
Be very careful, you should get some sort of agreement in writing in place & also insurance for yourself. Additionally your friend should have insurance as well so in the event of something happening you will have financialcover.

You say that she is not a livery, I think you will find that in law she will probably be a livery. Very often in law money does not have to change hands for someone to be 'employed' & this may well extend into'Livery'. I stand to be corrected in this but it's something that you need to get clarified.

As others have said you may be helping a friend out but fdriendships can easily sour so get it all done legally so you are covered.:)
 
Polos Mum said:
I too had a nightmare when I agreed to help a 'friend' out in an emergancy for a 'few' weeks! Never again, definitely get a written agreement, get a deposit so if the horse trashes fencing/ field shelter etc you can repair and get paid well in advance for shoes/ worming (do this youself before you turn out - don't believe that it has been done correctly before!) etc.
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Yeh I will do. I'm starting to think this is a really bad idea. I might as well set myself up as a livery yard at this rate, if I'm insuring and drawing up contracts... I have thought about it in the past, but was always put off by all the red tape!
Going to phone the BHS helpline tomorrow and see what they say. I need proper legal advice.
 
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