Liability when handling other people's horses

Mace55

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I've been wondering something and can't find anything via search on this. If I'm handling other people's horses on the yard (as an occasional favour or when field sharing for example) and the horse is injured whilst being handled - is this something I can/should insure myself against? In case they claim negligence. I have BHS Gold but I'm told it doesn't provide coverage of this.
 

Wizpop

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This is a good point. We had a situation on our yard where a livery was bringing in someone’s horse as a favour. The horse managed to break her arm in the process! So I suppose it could work both ways too???
 

Goldenstar

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They could try and sue you but they would have to prove negligence on your part .
I am pretty sure gold won’t cover this and you are not handling the horse with the owners consent so if the horse broke free and hurt a third party the liability would be vested in the final instance with the owner but your gold would I think cover you as well .
 

Goldenstar

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This is a good point. We had a situation on our yard where a livery was bringing in someone’s horse as a favour. The horse managed to break her arm in the process! So I suppose it could work both ways too???

In that case I don’t think there’s any liability.
 

Polos Mum

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I think we can all over think these things. If the horse is injured typically the owner claims on their own policy (I'm not sure the vets would even ask who was leading them when the injury occurred). (or the owner pays the bill if not insured)

If you're doing someone a favour and their horse is a tit and runs off and gets cut on something or stuck in something then I think the owner would have a job to prove you were responsible (unless your doing something mad - bringing 6in together or leading through the window of a car or something).

If you think the owners are likely to sue you at the drop of a hat because their horse can't lead properly - then I would simply refuse to help them out.

You could have a written disclaimer (I'll handle your horse if you promise not to sue me) but even that is far too much faff.
 

Barton Bounty

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I have been in this situation. Weather had been vile and someone at the yard, Not a friend and not anyone I would have chosen to put my boy out either, decided in their wisdom to turn my horse out. My horse can be led by 2 year olds hes usually that quiet. This day she messaged me after the event and told me she had turned BB out. I told her I did not want him turned out as I was working 12 hours and wouldnt be back till dark! She said not to worry and she would bring him back in. So I left it at that!
Heard thirdhand from someone later that evening that BB had apparently cowkicked her and she was at A & E. So I confronted her and asked her what went on. She said she was bringing him out the field and he just ‘span round and kicked her’

what I did discover from someone else was that she zapped him with the electric fence and he got a fright , went up in the air and tried to bolt off. She grabbed him and dragged the line back across his bum again!
she is lucky I did not drop kick her to the throat!
I had 6 months of bad behaviour leading from a previously calm tb! And I could not get him into that field again. We had to move fields, I was absolutely livid.
She had the cheek to text me asking if I was insured! To which my reply was ‘yes I am, but do not even think about trying anything, I did not give you permission to turn out or in’ she did not come back to the yard and did a moonlight flit with her elderly loan horse.

If I was bringing in and out someone elses horses and I injured myself, thats on me
 

TheHairyOne

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I dont deal with other peoples horses unless 1, I have been asked to (without exchange of payment) or 2, to avoid a worse situation, examples would be a loose horse who has escaped, or one bleeding.

I dont really see how doing either of those things could lead to me being sued for anything! However, i believe bhs gold covers 3rd party for all horses you handle with the owners permission as long as its not for payment. Might be wrong, but it works for loaners without their own horses so not sure what the difference would be.

But as someone above says if you are that concerned you may get sued by someone just dont do it!
 

blitznbobs

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This is a good point. We had a situation on our yard where a livery was bringing in someone’s horse as a favour. The horse managed to break her arm in the process! So I suppose it could work both ways too???
No liability in this case if an adult as they have chosen to handle the horse. There would be employment liability if the person was employed but only if the horse was known to be dangerous
 

Sossigpoker

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If you are handling a horse with the owner's consent and not being paid for it ,.if something happens, it will be covered by the horse owner's liability insurance (of they have one ). If you are being paid for it , then you'd need your own insurance to cover any damage caused to you and by the horse while under your care. A lot of liability policies cover the horse being handled by a third party with owner's consent but not if the third party is a professional (getting paid for it ).
 

Wishfilly

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BHS gold will cover any public liability issues. I can't believe that someone would go after you in any way if you were doing them a favour? If they are worried about vet bills, then they should insure the horse themselves.

If you think they would ask you for money towards vet bills etc, then I'd suggest just not getting involved and not doing them favours.
 

mavandkaz

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Surely if I am handling someone else's horse, with their consent, and as a favour....and the horse gets injured - the owner claims off their horse insurance (if they have it).

If the I get injured, I claim off my personal accident insurance. (Which we would all have as horse owners/riders).

If the horse damages property, then either the owner or the handler could claim off public liability.

As mentioned above, if the owner is someone you think would try and Sue you in the event of an accident, then just stay clear.
 

dogatemysalad

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In the case of liveries doing favours for each other, it's a tricky dilemma. I've been around horses for decades and am confident handling horses. However, experience has taught me, that even the most competent professionals sometimes get injured bringing in and turning out.
My 70 horse yard has a rule ( like many yards do) that no horse should be left out alone. Therefore, I'll happily bring in other people's horses if they are polite and well behaved. If a horse is rude, or unpredictable, I don't. I give the YO advance warning and request that she or the staff handle the horse. Its really not worth risking a stay in ICU.
 
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