Why you should buy insurance for your horse.

AQHA Corporate Partner Markel helps you protect your most valuable assets.

You know that owning a horse is both an emotional and a financial commitment. Expenses for food, tack, boarding and vet care can really add up. But you also know they’re all essential for protecting your horse. The same is true for equine insurance. If your horse was stolen, became seriously ill or even worse, how would you handle that loss? 

You place yourself and your assets at risk every time your horse comes in contact with people or property. Equine-related lawsuits occur more frequently than one might expect, and many homeowners’ policies limit equine liability coverage or exclude it altogether. 

So many times, horse owners are not adequately protected from these types of situations and may not even be aware of their risk until an accident happens. That’s why Markel Insurance has developed the following list of questions to help you determine your basic equine insurance protection needs. 

Question:

Have you invested time or money in your American Quarter Horse? 

Answer:

The financial investment in your horse is too important to go unprotected. Markel’s all-risk mortality and theft coverage will reimburse you for the death, theft or human destruction of a covered horse. The company’s mortality coverage is simple, affordable and easy to obtain. Other highlights of this coverage include: 

• The optional medical/surgical plan pays up to $8,000 per year per horse for covered medical expenses or surgical procedures.
• You can also add liability coverage should someone claim that your horse caused their physical injury or damaged their property. (This coverage is not available in all states.)
• Agreed value settlement (except for racehorses.)
• Guaranteed renewal.
• Purchase coverage online 24 hours a day.

Question:

Could your horse kick someone or cause property damage to others? 

Answer:

If you own horses but don’t operate a commercial horse business, Markel’s private horse owner liability policy can protect you against legal claims that your horse caused bodily injury or property damage to someone on or off your premises. For example, if your horse gets loose in the road and causes an accident or injures someone at a show, you could be held liable. Other highlights of this coverage include: 

• Up to $1 million limit of liability available.
• Coverage applies on or off premises anywhere in the United States, Canada and U.S. territories.
• International liability coverage is available.
• Can be added to your mortality policy.

Question:

Do you give riding lessons or board, breed, race or train horses? 

Answer:

If you perform any of these activities on rented or owned premises, you need a commercial equine liability policy, even if you have other coverage that protects you for general liability exposures. This coverage is designed specifically for all types of horse-related businesses, such as: boarding, breeding, racing, sales, riding instruction, clinics and team roping/penning practices. Other highlights of this coverage include: 

• Up to $1 million limit of liability available.
• Coverage applies on and off premises in the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories.
• Fire legal liability and medical payments are provided in all states.
• International liability coverage is available.

Question:

Do you own a horse farm and need to protect buildings and a home, as well as cover your equine liability? 

Answer:

Markel’s horse farm package (aka Equi-Farm) provides complete coverage for a horse farm, including: 

• Property coverage – protects your house and its contents, tack, livestock, barns and sheds, and owned machinery and equipment.
• Liability coverage – protects your home and horse operation, on and off premises, including operations such as boarding, breeding, racing, training, horse shows and riding instruction.

Markel is the innovator of horse farm insurance. And ever since the company brought its first package to the market nearly four decades ago, it hs enhanced its products and services to meet your changing needs. The company’s insurance packages feature: 

• Up to $1 million limit of liability available.
• Basic, broad or special options for all property.
• Various property deductibles available.
• Available replacement cost on buildings and household contents.
• Package credit is available.

Question:

Do you care for anyone else’s horse in return for fees? 

Answer:

If you take care of someone else’s horse, you need the protection of Markel’s care, custody and control (CC&C) policy. This coverage reimburses you if a covered horse in your care is injured, becomes ill or dies, and you are found negligent. Most general liability policies exclude this coverage. 

• This coverage is available as an endorsement to Markel’s commercial equine liability and farm package policy.
• No deductible!
• Various limits are available to meet your needs.
• Includes coverage for non-owned tack up to $10,000.

Question:

Do you belong to a riding or hunt club? 

Answer:

Markel’s club liability policy can provide the protection your club needs for owned or leased premises, public event days and various club functions. 

• All members defended if a suit arises from a club activity.
• Coverage provided for all club activities on owned or leased premises.
• Liability limits available up to $1 million.
• Volunteers included as additional insureds for liability.
• Spectator liability.
• Fire legal liability and medical payments available.
• Markel can also write a farm package for clubs that own property.

Question:

Do you have an outdoor recreational business, such as a dude ranch, outfitter and guide or fly-fishing operation? 

Answer:

Markel offers custom coverage specifically designed for unique operations, as the company has been insuring these facilities for more than 20 years and understand their unique needs. 

• General liability limits up to $1 million.
• Custom-fit mortality coverages.
• Business interruption, fire, legal and medical payments.
• Care, custody and control of non-owned horses.
• Policy can be packaged to include property, inland marine and liability.

Get applications and product information. 

Question:

Do you need limits of liability higher than $1 million to protect your personal or business assets, or your club? 

Answer:

An umbrella policy might be the answer if $1 million worth of protection isn’t enough to protect your assets. Markel’s commercial umbrella liability coverage provides up to $10 million in additional liability protection over your Markel Insurance Co. general liability, business, auto and employer’s liability policies.