Protect your equestrian life
Specialist equestrian insurance brokers Shearwater Insurance share advice on essential stable yard cover
STABLE yards, just like our own houses, come in all shapes and sizes - from two-pony bases in the garden and homemade livery yards to the palatial surroundings of five-star facilities. As the epicentre of your equestrian life, having the right level of insurance cover in place is key to not only protect your investment, but to ensure that any downtime following a disaster is minimised.
STABLES AT HOME EQUESTRIAN
properties are a niche market and require specific cover to ensure all aspects are protected - your home and your horse's home, too. A standard household policy is not designed for the non-standard nature of an equestrian property and therefore tends to only offer limited protection. Equestrian policy wording is tailored and designed to take into account that the horses are the main residents of the property.
You should also bear in mind that many household insurers will not cover you for all of your equestrian equipment. In the event of items such as showjumps, feed, hay, bedding and tack being damaged or stolen, the financial consequences could be disastrous if adequate cover is not held - not to mention the inconvenience. By using a specific equestrian insurer, you can have peace of mind that all your valuable possessions are protected.
STABLES FOR CLIENTS
IF you run a yard, be it a private training yard or a busy livery yard, you'll need to consider your clients, your staff, and your equine residents, as well as the buildings and expensive equipment in your possession. Take the sting out of combining multiple policies by investing in a comprehensive equestrian property policy, which protects against both accidental and malicious damage, theft, loss of income, and more.
Ifyou have staff, it's a legal requirement that you have employers liability, which can be added on to a public liability policy for maximum coverage.
STABLES FOR FRIENDS MANY
equestrians believe that having DIY liveries or having friends' horses stabled to keep your own company does not count as having a livery yard. However, if that horse escaped and caused any third-party property damage, who would be liable?
Livery yard liability can cover you for such circumstances. This could also provide cover if members of the public go up to a fence and stroke a horse that subsequently bites them. No number of disclaimers can prevent you being held liable if the livery or member of public can prove that you were negligent in some way.
Additionally, property owners' liability is included within livery yard liability, which protects you against instances where members of the general public were injured on your land or in or around your buildings. This aspect is also available in isolation for private yards.
"Equestrian propet.lks require specific rover to ensure all aspects air protected"