Equine Law Blog

Liability Insurance for the Average Horse Owner

Liability insurance is almost always a choice.  However, it is an important choice.  As my caseload has shown, average (non-professional) horse owners have been sued.  Here are some examples:

• Your horse escaped from its stall or pasture, wanders onto a nearby road, and kills a driver.
• You let a friend ride your horse, but it suddenly spooks or bolts, your friend falls and is injured.
• At a trail ride or show, your horse kicks someone and causes an injury.

Liability insurance is designed to protect you if someone tries to hold you liable (legally responsible) if you or your horse injure another person or damage another’s property in an accidental, non-intentional way.  If someone tries to hold you legally responsible for an injury or property damage, and if your insurance policy covers you against the claim at issue, you can expect the insurer investigate, depending on the claim, pay the injured person, and/or his or her family a sum of money within policy limits as a settlement (if deemed appropriate by the company), if the company disputes liability, provide a legal defense and pay legal defense costs, and/or pay any judgment that may be issued against you, within policy limits.

This could save you an enormous sum of money.  If you are not insured, you are fully responsible for paying these expenses on your own.

Coverages for the Average Horse Owner

Three types of liability insurance coverage are potentially available to the average (non-professional) horse owner or keeper.

• Homeowner’s insurance or renter’s liability insurance
• Farm owner’s insurance
• Personal horse owner’s liability insurance (sometimes called “Private Horse Owner’s Liability Insurance” or “Individual Horse Owner’s Liability Insurance”).

Evaluate them carefully − not all of them protect you for liabilities related to your horses.  Discuss them carefully with a knowledgeable insurance agent.

If you have any questions about insurance coverage, please let me know.

Categories: Insurance, Liability