Key Information For Livery Yard Owners
Alongside having livery agreements in place, livery yard owners need to ensure they have effective insurance coverage to not only protect their own finances but to meet their legal requirements and protect the wellbeing of their equine and human inhabitants.
Insuring your yard and everything around it shouldn’t be a stressful experience. At Shearwater Insurance our equine specialists understand this niche market and the importance of getting everything tailored for you. Here the team answer some of the commonly asked questions about insuring your livery yard.
Do I need a specific equestrian insurance policy for my equestrian property?
Equestrian properties are a niche market and require specific cover to ensure all aspects are protected. A standard household policy is not designed for the non-standard nature of an equestrian property and therefore tends to only offer limited protection. Equestrian buildings policy wording is tailored and designed to take into account that the horses are the main residents of the property. You should also bear in mind that many household insurers will not cover you for all of your equestrian equipment. In the event of items such as show jumps, feed, hay, bedding and tack being damaged or stolen, the financial consequences could be disastrous if adequate cover is not held – not to mention the inconvenience, so by using a specific equestrian insurer you can have peace of mind that all your valuable possessions are protected.
Do I need a specific livery yard insurance policy?
When running a business such as a livery yard the material damage cover does not differ, i.e. the buildings themselves and contents. However, insuring an equestrian property as a livery yard, we can offer additional benefits including Money Cover & Assault and Business Interruption Cover which would compensate for loss of profits caused by an insurable peril.
The main difference is liability. Many clients believe that having DIY Liveries does not count as having a livery yard, or in some cases having ‘a friend’ keep their horse with them for free. However, if that horse escaped and caused any third-party property damage because a gate was left open who would be liable? Livery yard liability can cover you for such circumstances. Additionally, Property Owners Liability is included within Livery Yard Liability which protects you against instances where members of the public were injured on your land or in or around your buildings. This aspect is also available in isolation for private yards.
What liability cover do I need for my two grooms?
Employers Liability Insurance is a legal requirement for anyone employing staff and is designed to protect employees in the workplace. This will provide cover for both the employer, in respect of a claim made against them, and the employee should they be injured during their work.
Public Liability Insurance is recommended to protect the yard/horse owner against claims for damage or injury from third parties. This can be a standalone policy or added on to a variety of other policies.
Would the requirement differ if my grooms are self-employed or freelancers?
Anyone working with horses should look to carry their own Personal Accident and/or Public Liability cover whether they are self-employed or employed. Any freelance members of staff should have their own public liability insurance to provide cover should they be out of work due to an accident or injury.
We would recommend that yard owners still take out Employers Liability even if they predominantly use self-employed or freelance staff. Anyone working on the yard will use ‘equipment’ provided by the yard and therefore may have cause to claim against the yard owner should the ‘equipment’ be deemed faulty or dangerous.