Re: stable and boarding insurance

["S. Brown" <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>
>Does anyone know what is covered under "stable and boarding" liability
>insurance? A group of riders at our stable is trying to get a dressage
>instructor to teach at the stable where we keep our horses but the owner
>says that in order for him to be insured for liability in the event of an
>accident while the instructor is teaching, that the instructor either needs
>to have her own insurance or buy additional insurance from the owner's
>carrier.  The dressage instructor says that in order for her to obtain
>coverage at our stable she has to pay an additional premium and that given
>the expected use of her services, it is not financially practical.

As a boarding/lesson barn, we already carry insurance listed as "Farmowner
-- Commercial...for equine related activities (Bloodstock Insurance.)  It's
a commercial liability coverage with care, custody or control endorsement.
It also covers me (and only me) as an instructor, plus covering the lesson
horses and farm buildings associated with the horse business (ie the barn,
arenas, etc.)  Our annual premium runs $2900!

I have outside instructors come in on a regular basis (I have Jessica
Jahiel, an outstanding clinician from Illinois, here 2-3 times a year doing
lessons and clinics plus a local upper level dressage instructor on an
every other week schedule, plus we've had other instructors here over the
years.)  Before they can teach here, however, they have to show proof of
personal insurance that covers them to teach at other facilities other than
their own...or...they have to pay $100 (a one-time payment good for the
year) to be added on to our insurance.  At one time we had a gal here that
preferred to get her own insurance to cover her instructing *outside*
students on *her* horses at our place and, if I remember correctly (it was
about 7 or 8 years ago), it cost her about $400.  The reason it's only $100
to add someone on to our policy is that it's already a fairly comprehensive
policy covering us as a commercial horse business and not just regular home
owner's insurance.

The way we look at it...there is NOBODY, no matter how wonderful they are,
that is worth losing our farm over!!  We also have a fairly thorough
liability release form that must be signed before anyone can ride and yes,
helmets are required per our insurance policy. <g>

Sue

  


sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.