Rider insurance

[Cadbury]

Hi everyone,

I’ve just joined this forum so hope I am posting this in the right section!

I’m hoping that someone has some advice about insurance. I don’t have my own horse but help out with and ride various other horses. I’m therefore looking for insurance for myself, mainly so I’m covered for third party liability should a horse I’m riding damage something, especially as I normally have to ride on roads to get to bridlepaths.
I’ve never had to take out any horse/rider insurance before. Could anyone give me any pointers as to things like which companies offer the best cover for the price, how much roughly I should expect to pay, what this kind of insurance normally covers and any loopholes/small print to aware of? Does this kind of insurance cover for third party liability only or does it cover for injuries both to myself and any horse I ride, vets bills etc?

I’d appreciate any help so that I know what I’m looking for and don’t get ripped off!


Many thanks

 

[Red-1]

I would have a look at the Harry Hall One Club, you get 3rd party insurance for the horse you are riding, plus discounts on many goods. It is under £4 a month. It wouldn't cover you if you are charging people though.

I would think vets fees etc should be covered by the owner.

 

[Cadbury]

I would have a look at the Harry Hall One Club, you get 3rd party insurance for the horse you are riding, plus discounts on many goods. It is under £4 a month. It wouldn't cover you if you are charging people though.

I would think vets fees etc should be covered by the owner.

 

[Cadbury]

Thanks for your reply, I’ll definitely have a look at that, it sounds like a good price!

I’ve always found it a bit of a grey area regarding who should pay a vet bill if the horse injures itself while I’m riding, fortunately it’s never happened but last week the horse I was on came down with me out on a hack, she was fine other than a small cut on her fetlock but it did make me think…..

 

[TealH0rse]

Thanks for your reply, I’ll definitely have a look at that, it sounds like a good price!

I’ve always found it a bit of a grey area regarding who should pay a vet bill if the horse injures itself while I’m riding, fortunately it’s never happened but last week the horse I was on came down with me out on a hack, she was fine other than a small cut on her fetlock but it did make me think…..

Was just browsing the forum for insurance recommendations and saw this. I’d get it in writing for any horses you ride. BHS does a standard share/loan document template, you could modify this, or just get it in writing over text to cover the basic questions of who pays for broken tack (and up to what price) and who pays vet bills (usually the owner). Rider’s insurance will not cover equine injuries.

I work in law and grey areas get very nasty, very quickly. Better to save yourself the hassle.

 

[Cadbury]

Was just browsing the forum for insurance recommendations and saw this. I’d get it in writing for any horses you ride. BHS does a standard share/loan document template, you could modify this, or just get it in writing over text to cover the basic questions of who pays for broken tack (and up to what price) and who pays vet bills (usually the owner). Rider’s insurance will not cover equine injuries.

I work in law and grey areas get very nasty, very quickly. Better to save yourself the hassle.

 

[Cadbury]

Thanks very much for the advice, it’s good to hear from someone with legal knowledge!
I’ve taken out rider insurance now and it does pay some vets bills but only external visible injuries and the claim limits are low so I think I’ll do as you’ve suggested and get the tack/vets bills agreed with a text or similar to confirm. I’d always imagined that an injury would ultimately be down to the owner to pay (if I had no cover) and I couldn’t be held legally responsible but I could well be wrong!

 

[ycbm]

If you have house insurance, check your policy. 3rd party insurance is often included. It is on mine.
.

 

[teapot]

Actual rider insurance or third party liability?

The former is not cheap, and can be done through Petplan, NFU etc. The latter - BHS, World Horse Welfare, Harry Hall all offer it.

 

[Cadbury]

If you have house insurance, check your policy. 3rd party insurance is often included. It is on mine.
.

I’d never have thought of that! I’ve taken out rider cover now but I’ll have a look as I’m interested to know now. Thank you.

 

[GreyMane]

If you have house insurance, check your policy. 3rd party insurance is often included. It is on mine.
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... deleted ... not relevant

 

[ycbm]

Do please read the small print, though. You are only going to be covered by the typical "legal expenses" add-on to your home / contents policy if all these apply, especially #3.

1 something happens on your property, not elsewhere
2 you are the claimant not the defendant OR possibly if you have a very strong counter claim, if someone claims against you.
3 the insurance company think they have more than a 51% chance of winning in court. They work on a "no win no fee" basis so are not interested in cases they might lose.

If you can't say yes to all 3, you won't be covered. Because of 3, a lot of firms will only cover claimants, not defendants or counter claimants. You must use the insurer's solicitor, you cannot choose one yourself. You may or may not like the service you get.
[/URL]

If anyone has a policy that covers public liability outside your own home, please post.

I'm not talking about legal expenses cover, I'm talking about 3rd part liability cover. My 3rd party cover on the house insurance is for all horse activities. Previous policies have excluded hunting and one excluded only drag hunting. My current policy doesn't exclude anything.
.

 

[GreyMane]

I'm not talking about legal expenses cover, I'm talking about 3rd part liability cover. My 3rd party cover on the house insurance is for all horse activities. Previous policies have excluded hunting and one excluded only drag hunting. My current policy doesn't exclude anything.
.

Ah, so it would cover for example bodily injury to a 3rd party, but not your legal expenses?
Sorry if I misunderstood but hope the info might be useful to someone else.

 

[Nicole_Friesian]

Besides Harry Hall are there any other recommendations for rider's insurance? Possibly including horse expenses as well in case the horse gets injured even though I understand this should be covered by the owner. It's just good to have either case covered though.

I'm just thinking to part loan, so I'm researching what the best rider insurance would be.