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Very well put, Sandra!  The professional trainers I worked for were 
heavily insured.  Finding good insurance coverage for horse activities 
is very hard from what I observed but it is out there.  And you sure are 
correct, that most people have no comprehension of horse dangers.  I 
ride a lot in a public park where lots of families walk and hike the 
trails.  At least once a ride, some parent will ask if their kid can pat 
my horse.  Fortunately, he is good about it but I lay down very firm 
"rules" before allowing the kid to come close.  The parents are often 
surprised but then pleased when I explain that I want their child to be 
safe.
Laney

Sandra Walker wrote:
> I’m not a lawyer but I am a professional (whatever THAT means! LOL) 
> trainer/clinician so I’ll share my story with you.  First off, I’ve got 
> a small spread (21 ac.), a house, barn, covered arena, etc. and so had 
> everything insured with State Farm (I’m in TX).  I’ve never had an 
> insurance claim, no lawsuits, nothing.  Then two years ago my agent 
> calls me and tells me my policy will be cancelled when due in a couple 
> months. Surprised, I asked why. He asked “You still have horses don’t 
> you?”  “Yes”, I replied. “Well, we’re not writing policies to cover that 
> anymore. We’re just interested in the single family home market these 
> days.”  I said in a not-so-happy voice “Well I guess you’d better remove 
> the “Farm” from State Farm then.”  He told me not to be that way and I 
> said “Well just what WAY do you EXPECT me to be!!!”  I was pissed.  So I 
> started calling some of the horse insurers I knew about and they’d heard 
> the same thing about State Farm and others. It was explained to me that 
> too many people have little “ranchettes” with a horse or cow or two and 
> people are getting hurt and suing and the regular policies weren’t 
> designed to handle these problems AND may refuse to cover them when they 
> really need it.  I was told that if people have horses they are 
> required? (at least I am) to carry liability insurance on top of their 
> home and barn coverage.  Sooooo, after much cost and coverage 
> comparison, etc. I bought insurance from a Texas company called Horse 
> Insurance Specialists, Inc. to cover the farm AND my business (which I 
> really needed anyway so in the end this was a good thing since it forced 
> hubby to let me buy coverage) which doubled my yearly insurance cost. 
> But I got quotes that ranged from $3,700 to $8,000 for the SAME coverage 
> (the underwriter on mine is One Beacon…Google it) so you really have to 
> call around and shop. And this company lets you pay in several payments 
> without interest or fees so that’s a big help for people caught off 
> guard when their Sh$t Farm Insurance Company cuts bait on them and their 
> costs suddenly rise faster than gasoline!
>
>  
>
> I am sharing my background information to show you that while you may 
> not “be worried” you can bet your insurance company will be plenty 
> worried if they hear of your activities unless you have already bought 
> specific farm/trainer coverage. Granted, you are not charging money, but 
> people can sue just the same. Did you know that even though a child 
> can’t sign and be held to a release of liability that when they turn 18 
> they CAN come back and sue you because the statute of limitations 
> doesn’t start until they are 18? My lawyer told me that in the end it 
> doesn’t matter what you have someone sign, they can still sue and your 
> best bet is to have good insurance and as much dollar coverage as you 
> can reasonably afford. I no longer work with kids because I’ve found 
> that most parents, no matter how many true horror stories I tell them, 
> still don’t grasp how dangerous horses can be. The only families I will 
> work with are the ones that already have horses and parents that are 
> horse people. I will train the parents and their horses together, then 
> whatever they decide to teach junior is their business. Yes, I could 
> still get sued but at least I’m not around when little Susie eats her 
> first dirt dinner.
>
>  
>
> I hear sirens going off for your situation. If I had a divorced Dad do 
> me that way I’d end that deal pronto. He already knows you have not 
> required his daughter to wear a helmet; how do you think that will sound 
> to a jury and expert witnesses for the plaintiff?  I don’t even work 
> with adults who are lawyers or are married to one or who have family 
> members who are lawyers. Yes, I know this could get out of hand, but I 
> figure the more of them I send down the road the better. LOL One day I 
> had a man and his kids stop by at my gate wanting to come in and “pet 
> the horses” and I said no. He looked confused and I said “Your kid gets 
> hurt and your health insurance company sues me for reimbursement and you 
> have no control over it. I’m sorry but it’s too much liability.”  He was 
> surprised but understood. You know, I felt so badly for the kids because 
> they didn’t understand. It bothers me that I can’t feel financially safe 
> working with kids because I am a darn good trainer and teacher, but I’ve 
> worked too hard for what I’ve got to continue taking on the added 
> liability of kids.
>
>  
>
> As a final note I will tell you that when working with kids you need to 
> have BOTH parents, custodial or not, sign a release. And when I worked 
> with kids I required them to wear a helmet at all times around the 
> horse, only gave private lessons, never let them bring a friend to 
> watch, and required one parent to stay the entire time and watch the 
> lesson. I hope for the child’s’ sake you find a way to make it work but 
> I would sure be careful. Good luck to you! J
>
>  
>
> Sandra Walker (who after several years of lurking and enjoying your 
> escapades has decided that I’d like to give this sport a try in the next 
> year or so).
>
> www.fieldofdreams-sfw.com <http://www.fieldofdreams-sfw.com/>
>
>  
>
>  


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