coreteam1
Well-Known Member
I just thought I would follow on from the insurance thread with two stories of my own (a long one, sorry!)
I bought Charlie as a six month old colt and he was a nightmare! He would rear and lunge at me when lead in hand and on landing he would try to bit me. Luckily he was only approx 12.2 at the time although anyone who's handles colts as bad as him will tell you small is still very dangerous!
We have a small holding of just over three acres and decided to take on a DIY livery.
I explained to the livery that my yearling colt must not be touched as he bites and could be very nasty.
All went well until the livery decided she knew best. I got a phone call on New years day (a few years back now) to say she was in hospital. The story goes that she decided to try and teach my boy to lead without rearing, she led him to the paddock where he reared and kicked her in her back (at the time she was eight months pregnant!, HELLO!). They She wasn't badly hurt and her partner took their horse away. About two weeks later I received a letter from their solicitor to inform me that they were making a claim for damages. To cut a long story short my insurance company ran circles around them and they didn't have a leg to stand on as she took the horse out of the stable without my permission. My insurance company were excellent.
My second story is even more frightening! At the time I owned a large (17.2) gentle giant who was Belgium Warmblood x who hadn't a bad bone in his body. I was going away for two weeks and my friend was looking after him for me at the livery yard where I kept him. Half was through my holiday I had a call from my friend to say her partner was in hospital with two shattered arms due to an accident with my horse?? I immediately phoned my parents who were able to get a bigger picture of what had happened.
It was summer 2002 and there were some strong winds. Mr friend 'said' that her partner had been kicked as he tried to shield his face from my horses hooves as he bucked. Something in the wind scared my horse and he kicked/bucked out.
The whole story was very fragile and we were unable to establish exactly what happened as they both said they couldn't remember clearly what happened. The partner ended up having all his arms and wrists pinned and would be permanently disabled and unable to carry on with his job!! We were still friends but I left the UK to go overseas (my horse was put on loan) and we didn't really keep in touch after this!
In 2005 I received a phone call from my insurers to say that the partner of my friend (who had since split from my friend) was suing me for damages to his self by my horse.
Anyway to cut a very very long story short it turned out that when the partner was taken to the hospital he told the doctors that he fell from a horse. The x rays and doctors reports on the damage to the arms and hands were confirmed to be damaged caused by a fall. The partner was not able to ride (total novice) and it appears he tried to get on my horse from a mounting block and fell off onto both of his arms. He was going to ride my horse in from the field.
I know it was a dreadful accident and wouldn't have wanted this man to have suffered the pain and disability that he did (although he is working now) however he caused this himself, and if hadn't been insured then I certainly would not have been able to pay the money for solicitors etc to help me win this case. My insurance company were brilliant, as I would expect them to be. They may have had to pay out thousands.
So even if you haven't got your horse insured then make sure you are insured for public liability as you never know when you may need it!!
My insurers are NFU and I am still with them, although I'm surprised they are still with me!!
I bought Charlie as a six month old colt and he was a nightmare! He would rear and lunge at me when lead in hand and on landing he would try to bit me. Luckily he was only approx 12.2 at the time although anyone who's handles colts as bad as him will tell you small is still very dangerous!
We have a small holding of just over three acres and decided to take on a DIY livery.
I explained to the livery that my yearling colt must not be touched as he bites and could be very nasty.
All went well until the livery decided she knew best. I got a phone call on New years day (a few years back now) to say she was in hospital. The story goes that she decided to try and teach my boy to lead without rearing, she led him to the paddock where he reared and kicked her in her back (at the time she was eight months pregnant!, HELLO!). They She wasn't badly hurt and her partner took their horse away. About two weeks later I received a letter from their solicitor to inform me that they were making a claim for damages. To cut a long story short my insurance company ran circles around them and they didn't have a leg to stand on as she took the horse out of the stable without my permission. My insurance company were excellent.
My second story is even more frightening! At the time I owned a large (17.2) gentle giant who was Belgium Warmblood x who hadn't a bad bone in his body. I was going away for two weeks and my friend was looking after him for me at the livery yard where I kept him. Half was through my holiday I had a call from my friend to say her partner was in hospital with two shattered arms due to an accident with my horse?? I immediately phoned my parents who were able to get a bigger picture of what had happened.
It was summer 2002 and there were some strong winds. Mr friend 'said' that her partner had been kicked as he tried to shield his face from my horses hooves as he bucked. Something in the wind scared my horse and he kicked/bucked out.
The whole story was very fragile and we were unable to establish exactly what happened as they both said they couldn't remember clearly what happened. The partner ended up having all his arms and wrists pinned and would be permanently disabled and unable to carry on with his job!! We were still friends but I left the UK to go overseas (my horse was put on loan) and we didn't really keep in touch after this!
In 2005 I received a phone call from my insurers to say that the partner of my friend (who had since split from my friend) was suing me for damages to his self by my horse.
Anyway to cut a very very long story short it turned out that when the partner was taken to the hospital he told the doctors that he fell from a horse. The x rays and doctors reports on the damage to the arms and hands were confirmed to be damaged caused by a fall. The partner was not able to ride (total novice) and it appears he tried to get on my horse from a mounting block and fell off onto both of his arms. He was going to ride my horse in from the field.
I know it was a dreadful accident and wouldn't have wanted this man to have suffered the pain and disability that he did (although he is working now) however he caused this himself, and if hadn't been insured then I certainly would not have been able to pay the money for solicitors etc to help me win this case. My insurance company were brilliant, as I would expect them to be. They may have had to pay out thousands.
So even if you haven't got your horse insured then make sure you are insured for public liability as you never know when you may need it!!
My insurers are NFU and I am still with them, although I'm surprised they are still with me!!