Frequently Asked Questions about Horse Insurance

Q: Why won’t my homeowner’s insurance cover my small horse boarding barn?

A: Most homeowner’s insurance is not set up to cover liabilities from businesses.  If a client comes to your house, for example, to pay a boarding bill and slips and falls, your usual homeowner’s insurance would consider this a business liability and refuse to pay any damages.  A policy designed to cover your horse business liability insures your house and every place your clients may wander on your property.

Q: If I only rent to people I know, why should I be worried about horse insurance?

A: Even the best of friends can’t control what insurance companies will do to recover costs of a claim.  If there is an injury to a friend, her medical insurance company may review the situation to find someone who might be liable to pay some of the expenses.  You can protect your assets and your friendship by carrying horse insurance that will cover your friends and acquaintances should they be injured.

Q: If I have everyone sign a waiver, why do I still need horse liability insurance?

A: Your waivers can offer a degree of protection from lawsuits, but they are not iron-clad.  Successful lawsuits are filed every year against horse property owners.  Insurance will pay for attorney and court costs.

Q: Why are horse therapy occupations so hard to insure?

A: Underwriters must determine the probability of a claim when they decide to insure a risk.  Equine therapy sometimes involves uninitiated people in a confined place with horses.  The risk of someone getting hurt or a horse getting loose and causing an accident can be higher than usual in these cases.

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