Horse Trainer Insurance
(Top Horse Trainer Risks You Never Thought About)
Written by
Jessica Huneck is an insurance writer from TrustedChoice.com. She began her writing career in 2011 and has since earned herself a bachelor's degree in English writing.
In 2010, famed Olympian and horse trainer Courtney King-Dye came off one of her horses while riding him for a perspective buyer. This skilled professional rode many horses per day, from young stock to older horses, of the highest calibur.
To say she knew her way around an equine was an understatement, which is why the horse world was shocked when Courtney was hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury, and was in a coma.
To this day, Courtney still sees therapists for speech and physical therapy, and uses a cane to get around her farm. She wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of her accident.
Horse professionals have a need for insurance protection that is beyond that of most animal trainers and handlers.
Fully grown horses are powerful creatures who are large and sometimes unpredictable, and some have values ranging into the millions of dollars. Trainers can be held liable any time a horse experiences a health or performance issue.
Our independent agent matching tool will find you the best insurance solution in your area. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll recommend the best agents for you. Any information you provide will only be sent to the agent you pick.
Save On Farm Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Useful Equine Industry Data
- There are over 9 million horses in the U.S.
- 2 million Americans own horses.
- 4.6 million Americans are involved in the equine industry as owners, trainers, employees, and volunteers.
- The horse industry supports over 4.2 million full-time jobs.
What Horse Trainer Insurance Covers
With litigation on the rise in the U.S., engaging in any business without some measure of protection is very risky. That risk is compounded in the equine industry. Here are some useful policies that horse trainers may consider:
- Liability insurance: Protects you against the high cost of lawsuits that may be attributed to your negligence. Typical limits range from $250,000 - $1 million per occurrence and $500,000 - $2 million annual aggregate.
- Care, custody, and control (CCC): Protects you against the high cost of claims for injury or death of horses in your care. Basic coverage includes $100,000 - $200,000 per occurrence and $200,000 - $400,000 annual aggregate.
- Boarding and breeding: This is based upon the average number of horses boarded monthly and gross annual receipts (GAR).
- Clinics, pony rides, rental, camps, etc.: These options are also based on trainer and facility specifics.
The cost of horse trainer insurance will vary directly with GAR. Since the limits and optional coverage can vary so greatly, it is not possible to come up with an average annual cost for this type of insurance.
Who Is Liable for an Injured Trainer?
If you are injured during the routine performance of the job, the financial and legal responsibility for your injury (including medical payments and time away from work) falls upon the you, the horse trainer.
In 46 states, there are laws on the books to support this logic. However, there are times when the horse owner can be held liable for your injuries.
Cases that have been won by horse trainers typically involve situations where the horse owner either knew or should have known that the horse was dangerous to a rider or bystander. As a result, horse owners are wise to consider this possibility when obtaining their own liability insurance.
It may be wise to seek legal counsel, as well as an independent insurance agent, when you are purchasing insurance, setting up at a new barn, and taking new clients as a horse trainer.
Save On Farm Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
How to Locate the Best Horse Trainer Insurance
Any horse trainer who charges a fee for services should strongly consider horse trainer insurance protection. Trainers often find themselves moving around from stable to stable, where ownership, management, and staffing changes.
Because every barn is different, every horse you ride and train will have a different set of risks they bring to the arena. Students, too, have different risks due to a lack of knowledge and experience. Because you face all of these liability challenges, make sure you're well protected.
Use our independent agent matching system to find the best insurance plan in your area. You tell us what you’re looking for, and our technology will recommend the best agents for your needs. Any information you give us will only be sent to the agents you pick.
The most important aspect of coverage is ensuring that your horse trainer liability insurance is suitable for your circumstances. One of the attractive features of a well-designed insurance policy is that it will follow you anywhere, and can protect you for a variety of risks.
This means that, no matter whether you're at a barn or a show, a track or an auction, you'll have the coverage you need to avoid the sometimes crippling cost of legal claims.