Sharers agreement/insurance?

C

crystalclear

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2012
Messages
634
Visit site
Following on from the insurance thread, for any sharers or such who ride your horses do you have a written agreement or such? In thinking about (god forbid) any personal injury to themselves. Or do you ask them to get out their own rider insurance?
 
Thank you. May I ask approx how much your petplan rider insurance is? If a sharer/rider does not want their own insurance for example, can you get them to sign something to say that or such?
 
I think mine is around £60 a year (will have to check). I wouldnt know where you would stand legally but i wouldnt let someone ride without insurance incase horse does damage to person or property when not in your supervision
 
shadeofshyness said:
I've been a sharer for years and always had my own rider insurance - note that BHS Gold is invalid for shares/loans as it doesn't cover you when money is changing hands. I use Petplan.
Click to expand...

I have 2 sharers, two horses, and dont charge, but do expect fixed days and chores covered.

My BD liability covers anyone riding or handling my horses, anywhere (as long as is not a commercial arrangement so not yard owner who charges me for turnout - that would be her insurance or my instructor riding).

I'd be interested in what 3rd party cover owners have that do charge, and whether it covers sharer falling off and horse running into a car?
 
shadeofshyness said:
I've been a sharer for years and always had my own rider insurance - note that BHS Gold is invalid for shares/loans as it doesn't cover you when money is changing hands. I use Petplan.
Click to expand...

I checked this with BHS and was told that it is valid if I'm the one payING. It only becomes invalid if I'm being PAID to ride.
 
Pippity said:
I checked this with BHS and was told that it is valid if I'm the one payING. It only becomes invalid if I'm being PAID to ride.
Click to expand...

Slightly confused here. It was the British Dressage member third party insurance cover that I looked into. (But I was under the assumption BHS cover was functionally very similar).

I understood it covered me as a member and MY horses whether mine, or on full loan to me (I checked the latter) for third party insurance in any non commercial situation including sharer falling off on road etc. But limited to MY horses.

I wasnt under the impression (but happy to be told otherwise) that if I as a BD member, I hacked a friend's horse (for free, or giving her money) that in the event of an accident where horse hit a car and we were liable, that it would be my BD insurance that was claimed upon. I assumed we would use the friends third party insurance as was her horse, and she has cover for the horse.
 
I don't have a sharer as such but I do have a lady who comes and rides with me on my horses. When I look for people to come I always write on the advert that they must have their own insurance and people tell me they are insured but I've never actually checked. I don't ask for any financial contribution so that isn't a factor to consider with respect to the BHS liability insurance (so my animals, my insurance no issues there). It is up to them to insure for any rider injury.
 
Pippity said:
I checked this with BHS and was told that it is valid if I'm the one payING. It only becomes invalid if I'm being PAID to ride.
Click to expand...

How odd - perhaps different people who work there interpret it differently - I wonder if the BHS account on here could clarify. I spoke to them and they said if any money is changing hands then it's invalid. I explained that I do jobs on my days and pay, so that was no good for me, and they agreed. This was over a year ago now so perhaps it has changed :/
 
shadeofshyness said:
How odd - perhaps different people who work there interpret it differently - I wonder if the BHS account on here could clarify. I spoke to them and they said if any money is changing hands then it's invalid. I explained that I do jobs on my days and pay, so that was no good for me, and they agreed. This was over a year ago now so perhaps it has changed :/
Click to expand...


When I started sharing about 5 years ago I specifically rang and asked the BHS who told me the gold membership was not valid on ANY horses I didn't own, especially in a share situation when money passes hands. SIEB and NFU wouldn't cover a share situation either.... but it may have changed now ??

I too use Petplan rider insurance. For peace of mind my owner took a photocopy of first years insurance, and of course they have their own insurance for horse as well.
 
Purple_Alien said:
When I started sharing about 5 years ago I specifically rang and asked the BHS who told me the gold membership was not valid on ANY horses I didn't own, especially in a share situation when money passes hands. SIEB and NFU wouldn't cover a share situation either.... but it may have changed now ??

I too use Petplan rider insurance. For peace of mind my owner took a photocopy of first years insurance, and of course they have their own insurance for horse as well.
Click to expand...

This is my working understanding too.
 
crystalclear said:
This thread tells you about BHS insurance and other riders, BHS themselves replied..

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?694530-Changing-Insurance-to-BHS
Click to expand...

this BHS Official reply, agrees with my point above. If the horse owner (or full loaner) is the BHS gold member, than all liability for the horse (where owner found liable) is covered. Might be a bit sticky if the sharer rode more than the owner (but mine dont, nor do they pay).

"Hopefully we can help with some of the points above!
image: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/smilies/smile-new.png


The specific purpose of any public liability insurance is to cover you where you are actually legally liable for something that's happened and a claim has been made against you. If something happens and you're not liable, no public liability insurance will pay out because that's not what it's there for.

As one of many benefits (not least knowing that you're contributing to our charitable work!), BHS Gold membership includes public liability insurance (also known as third party insurance). The insurance is provided by SEIB and covers you for up to £20 million on public liability claims; this increased from £10 million last year. It also includes personal accident cover for accidental death, loss of sight or limb and permanent total disablement.

The public liability insurance included as a Gold member benefit covers any ridden, non-ridden or driven horse/pony that you own or or have on permanent loan in your full care and control, providing no money is changing hands. This means that you are covered for others riding your horse with your permission on an occasional basis, as long as they haven't paid you for it.

Terms, conditions and territorial limits to the insurances apply; these are on our website. Our Membership team are always very happy to talk through individual questions or concerns - drop them a line at membership@bhs.org.uk or call 02476 840506.
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?694530-Changing-Insurance-to-BHS#cDMAdbLX3CJF4VIj.99"
 
Hopefully we can clear up this particular point as well! :)

BHS Gold membership would cover someone who loans/shares a horse, provided the contribution made by a loanee or sharer is specifically towards the upkeep of the horse, and no profit must be made as this would be defined as a business activity (which isn't covered). Where money changes hands in other situations, e.g. you hire your horse out for hunting, hacking or competing - even if it's just a friend giving you some money in cash in return for a ride - this is classed as business activity. Also, if a sharer actually works for the owner, they would not be covered by the BHS Gold membership due to the business activity exclusion.
 
BHS_official said:
Hopefully we can clear up this particular point as well! :)

BHS Gold membership would cover someone who loans/shares a horse, provided the contribution made by a loanee or sharer is specifically towards the upkeep of the horse, and no profit must be made as this would be defined as a business activity (which isn't covered). Where money changes hands in other situations, e.g. you hire your horse out for hunting, hacking or competing - even if it's just a friend giving you some money in cash in return for a ride - this is classed as business activity. Also, if a sharer actually works for the owner, they would not be covered by the BHS Gold membership due to the business activity exclusion.
Click to expand...

That's a relief, thank you! I was starting to get worried!
 
BHS_official said:
Hopefully we can clear up this particular point as well! :)

BHS Gold membership would cover someone who loans/shares a horse, provided the contribution made by a loanee or sharer is specifically towards the upkeep of the horse, and no profit must be made as this would be defined as a business activity (which isn't covered). Where money changes hands in other situations, e.g. you hire your horse out for hunting, hacking or competing - even if it's just a friend giving you some money in cash in return for a ride - this is classed as business activity. Also, if a sharer actually works for the owner, they would not be covered by the BHS Gold membership due to the business activity exclusion.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! Could you explain how you work out if they're making a profit? For example, if someone shares x number of days a week but the cost to keep the horse on that amount of days is less than what the sharer pays, is that making a profit? Or is it the overall cost of keeping the horse in general? And if they have two or more sharers, and in total make a profit but not just from one of them (say, who has the BHS Gold), how would that work? Sorry for all the questions - I'm just wondering if I should change to BHS Gold as that's what I wanted rather than Petplan, but was put off on the phone when they said it wasn't suitable for a paying sharer.
 
I have another question. It is related to this sharer business. I have BHS Gold Membership I've always assumed that I am covered for public liability when riding my friends horse - I am not a 'sharer' in the true sense of the word since all I do is ride her horse, and occasionally turn back out or bring in from the field. Am I covered by the BHS insurance for this? She does have her own insurance, not sure if with BHS or not though.
 
Hi, shadeofshyness

The rules around sharing basically come down to what's fair and reasonable. If it's clearly a riding school business, then that's a profit-making organisation and would not be OK. If a sharer gives an owner money for shoes, vets fees or similar and there is clearly no business-type income or clear profit, that's fine.

3OldPonies - if no money is changing hands, or if you give money like in the above example, you're fine and covered :)

Anyone with a specific issue about their cover under BHS Gold Membership is also always welcome to call SEIB on 01708 850000.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top