Ever wondered why riders and horse owners need public liability insurance?

With insurance a potentially tricky – but vital – topic to get your head around, we caught up with Rosie Pope from SEIB’s Equestrian Department to find out what public liability insurance really is and why it matters to horse owners – and how World Horse Welfare’s ChampionPlus Membership can provide valuable protection for unexpected incidents!

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What exactly is public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance (sometimes referred to as third party liability insurance), covers the cost of legal fees and compensation, should a third party suffer property damage or bodily injury and make a claim against you, to which you are found legally liable (which means you’re held responsible and found negligent).

In terms of public liability insurance for equestrian purposes, this can cover owners or recreational riders, if your horse, or a horse you are riding, injures someone or damages their property and a claim is pursued against you as a result. It is also important to note, if you run a business such as a livery yard, then a more appropriate commercial liability policy would be required.

How can public liability insurance protect riders and horse owners? What are its limitations?

Should a third party suffer an injury or have their property damaged by your horse, having the correct public liability policy in place could cover the cost of the legal fees or compensation, should they try to claim against you, and you are found legally liable.

As with many insurance policies, an excess may be payable in the event of a claim, and there may be conditions to the cover (for example, wearing a riding hat that is up to date with current regulations). Exclusions may also apply (for example, some policies may exclude stunt riding, racing or similar activities).

Policies should always be read in conjunction with the policy wording (which defines the policy coverage, conditions to follow and exclusions) and schedule (which names the policyholder, dates in which the cover is active from and expires, and will also detail the level of cover provided – for example, an indemnity level of up to £10million).

Public liability insurance would not extend to cover any volunteers or employees who may assist you. Separate employers liability cover may be required by law in this instance.

What kind of policies include public liability insurance?

It’s important to always check your individual policy to ensure you have the right cover in place. Don’t assume it is automatically included, as “off the shelf” policies can often exclude activities including horses. Make sure you look for cover that is appropriate for the activities you carry out. Bear in mind that there may be differences in cover for those who ride recreationally, compared to an equestrian business such as a riding school, or freelance instructor, who would require a specific commercial policy.

If you ride but don’t own a horse, do you need public liability insurance?

If you don’t own a horse but ride someone else’s, you should still have the correct public liability insurance cover in place, as you could still be found negligent or liable for any injuries caused, or damage that occurs to a third party’s property, whilst riding a horse that is in your care and responsibility.

Do you need public liability insurance if you have horses but don’t ride?

As a horse owner, you can be found liable under the Animals Act, under strict liability. This means you can be found legally responsible for any third party injury or property damage, regardless of whether or not, you are found negligent in any way. Having public liability cover is therefore recommended for any horses you own, or that are in your care, even if they’re not ridden.

Does third party liability change depending on your role? Is it different if you care for a horse privately compared with being, say, a freelance groom?

It’s important to note that some public liability policies will only cover you for your recreational riding activities or caring for a horse in a private capacity, where no money exchanges hands. They will often exclude any business use. If you run an equestrian business, such as a livery yard, riding school or are a freelance groom, it’s vital to make sure you have the correct commercial policy in place. Speaking with a specialist equine insurance broker can help you get the correct cover for what you wish to do.

What else should we know about public liability insurance?

Always take the time to read the policy wording and schedules. Where possible, seek cover from an equestrian specialist insurance broker or provider. This will give you peace of mind that if you have any questions, you can get assistance from an expert.

How can World Horse Welfare’s ChampionPlus Membership help with public liability insurance?

World Horse Welfare’s ChampionPlus and ChampionPlus with Veterinary membership options both include public liability insurance up to £10 million per claim.

ChampionPlus covers both leisure riders who don’t own a horse, and individual horse owners, who need public liability insurance for their recreational equestrian activities.*

ChampionPlus with Veterinary also includes accidental external injury (wounds) cover for any horse or pony over 30 days old that you own or have on loan, up to £1,500 per claim and in the aggregate (which means you can make multiple smaller claims that add up to a total of £1,500) during the period of membership.*

Both types of membership also include personal accident insurance up to £10,000 per claim and, importantly, the knowledge that you’re helping horses in need by being a member of World Horse Welfare.*

*Terms, conditions and territorial limits apply. World Horse Welfare is an Appointed Representative of SEIB Insurance Brokers Ltd (Firm Reference SEIB 479477 and WHW 499795) who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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If you think you need public liability insurance as a rider or horse owner, check out our membership options now.

By becoming a World Horse Welfare member today, not only will you have peace of mind for you and your horse, you will also be helping the horses in need who come into our care.