Personal accident liability

[Welshpins]

Need some advice please. Have our own private stables and paddocks and a friend has offered to back one of our young horses, just need to understand our liability if they had an accident? Could we ask them to sign a disclaimer or would this not be the right approach?

Thanks in advance

 

[be positive]

If they are backing in a professional capacity, you are paying them, they should have their own insurance, if not you should really think about having the horse fully insured which will give some cover and also cover injury to the horse if anything goes amiss, you cannot get them to sign a disclaimer, if you are in any way negligent it would not stand up in court, if she is not experienced/ professional, the risk of something going wrong is higher.

 

[Hack4fun]

Under UK law a disclaimer cannot be used to avoid responsibility for health and safety in a business context - I am less sure about in a private context. Does this horse present any unusual risks? If it does, make sure that your friend knows about it. Regardless of all of this, I would ensure that I was insured for risks to third parties. It may be provided already under your house/buildings/yard insurance and if not I would secure such cover. Have a word with your insurer. Failing that contact BHS if you are a member and see if their gold membership insurance covers you, and failing that ring a decent broker such as SEIS https://www.seisinsurance.co.uk/.

 

[Orangehorse]

I am pretty sure that your BHS Gold insurance would not cover the rider, so you need to look into this further.

 

[Welshpins]

Thank you for your comments; will check with our insurers