Do you need horse rider insurance and what does it cover?

Horse rider insurance is designed to protect riders who don’t own the horse that they ride, whether you are riding occasionally or on a regular basis. If you don’t have a horse of your own but enjoy riding when you can, then a horse rider insurance policy may be a sensible choice.

Instances where you might benefit from horse rider insurance include:

• loaning a horse
• helping friends exercise their horses
• riding a horse as part of a share agreement
• riding at a riding school

Simply put, these policies typically cover the rider for accidents and injuries when riding someone else’s horse, as well as giving them public liability cover for any damage or injury caused by the horse while it is in your care.

“If you own a horse, rider cover can sometimes be added to the horse insurance policy but this is often quite limited,” says Lawrence Gill, executive director of KBIS insurance. “If you don’t, and plenty of people who ride most weeks don’t, you can buy cover in your own name.”

“Riding a horse comes with its fair share of risks,” says Jordan Brownless, claims and customer experience manager at The Insurance Emporium. “Should the unexpected happen, knowing you have horse rider cover in place could provide you with peace of mind. Even straightforward incidents can result in significant costs, from veterinary treatment following an accident to liability claims if a horse causes injury or property damage.”

Who is horse rider insurance suitable for?

Lawrence says a KBIS Rider & Driver policy is designed for sharers, riding club members and anyone riding friends’ or riding school horses, and it combines personal accident with liability.

Cover is normally available for riders aged five to 75 and riders in this age group can take out a policy, or have one taken out on their behalf, at many major UK insurance providers.

“One common misconception is that riders are automatically covered under someone else’s horse insurance,” explains Jordan. “In reality, the level of protection can vary, which is why it’s important to understand exactly what cover is in place before riding.”

It’s also worth checking what you already have before you purchase cover.

“Membership of bodies like British Dressage or the British Horse Society can include a level of liability and limited personal accident cover, and plenty of riders end up paying for the same thing twice!" remarks Lawrence.

It’s important to note that horse rider insurance does not cover professional horse riders.

“Rider cover is designed for riding as a hobby, so if you’re exercising or schooling horses for money – even occasionally – you need a policy for a freelance groom or rider instead,” advises Lawrence.

What is covered?

Although horse rider insurance policies will vary between different companies, many include emergency veterinary fees for external visible accidental injury of the horse you are riding, as well as public liability and custodial liability linked to that animal while it is in your care.

At the Insurance Emporium, policies can provide cover for saddlery and tack, public liability, personal accident, dental treatment and, for children in education, private tutoring.

“It can also provide emergency veterinary fees cover for the horse following an external accidental visible injury, and even death or euthanasia,” Jordan explains. “Theft and straying cover is also included as a standard benefit, alongside advertising and reward expenses.”

Jordan adds that public liability claims against riders could potentially leave them in severe financial difficulty. “For many riders, public liability is among the most important benefits due to the potentially high cost of legal claims.”

Lawrence concurs. “Liability is the part I would never ride without. We see public liability claims of more than £2 million, and nobody plans for that sort of number from a hacking out on a Sunday.

“I’d always check the liability limit, and whether legal fees are included on top.”

Personal accident matters too, particularly if you’re self-employed and there’s no sick pay to fall back on if a fall keeps you out of action for a few months.”

While personal accident and public liability cover are typically included in most horse rider insurance policies, it is worth checking under what circumstances and up to what value this will pay out.

“A good policy is clear about the amounts for serious injury and whether there’s any weekly benefit if you can’t work,” says Lawrence.

Income protection insurance is not always included as standard, so if you want peace of mind that your income will not be hit if you can’t work due to a horse-related incident, then this will need to be taken out separately.

What horse riding insurance doesn’t cover

You should always to read the insurance policy wording to understand any exclusions that would apply to your specific insurance cover.

Jordan advises that individual policies comprise standard and optional benefits and that these vary between providers.

“It’s worth choosing the cover most appropriate for your needs. Your policy may also include an excess on some of the benefits, which is the part you pay towards a claim.”

Wearing an up-to-standard riding hat is a must for any mounted activity, and Lawrence warns that some providers may reduce the personal accident payout if you weren’t wearing an approved hat.

“Rider liability often excludes damage to fences and crops, and it won’t cover a horse you own, because that belongs on the horse policy,” he adds.

It’s also important to be clear on whether the cover follows your activities with any horse, not just a named horse on the policy.

Jordan adds that not all policies cover all equestrian activities. “It is worth bearing in mind the types of equestrian activities you can take part in while riding as there may be certain activities that aren’t covered; for example, racing.”

How much does horse rider insurance cost?

For riders hoping to cover everyday riding, hacking and riding club-type activities, Lawrence estimates cover to start from under £100 per year for an adult.

“The price moves for a number of reasons – what you do is a big one,” he continues. “Eventing, team chasing or polo will cost more than hacking and riding club activities. Then there’s the liability limit you choose, your age, and how much personal accident cover you want.

“My honest view is that liability is cheap for what it protects you from, so it’s the last place I’d look to save money; if the budget is tight, look at the personal accident level instead.”

Everyone involved with horses knows that they are not a risk-free way to spend your spare time, so if you want the peace of mind of knowing you have cover in place, then a horse rider policy may be worth considering.

“While having horse rider insurance isn’t a legal requirement, for many riders, public liability is among the most important benefits due to the potentially high cost of legal claims,” says Jordan. “Ultimately, choosing which cover to go for will depend on your riding activities, as well as where and how often you ride.”

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