Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Policy Information

Equine And Horse Farm Insurance. If you own horses, you already know they are large and beautiful animals, along with a sizable investment. Owning horses also requires an investment in lots of equipment and land in order to care for them properly.

Horse farms (other than race horses) buy, breed, raise, sell, and train horses. They are kept in open pastures or paddocks during warm weather but in barn stalls at night and during inclement weather. The stalls must be cleaned regularly to remove manure and urine.

They are fed grain and hay along with vitamins and supplements to keep them healthy and strong. Horse farms may board horses belonging to others, rent horses for recreational purposes, and/or offer riding lessons.

Some horse farm facilities are used by rehabilitative service organizations to provide riding lessons for physically, emotionally, and/or mentally challenged adults and children. Some grow grain and hay to feed the horses.

In order to protect your horses, farm, land, and equipment, having the right type of equine and horse farm insurance will be vital to you. This coverage can protect your personal possessions, such as your residence, your outbuildings, staff quarter residences, and machinery.

Adding provisions such as personal and commercial liability will protect you and your assets if an injury or damage occurs to a 3rd party.

Horses themselves can be insured in the event of sickness, colic, and medical bills. It is like having health insurance that covers certain aspects related to the overall health of your horse. You can also purchase what amounts to life insurance for your animal in the event that the horse would succumb to death.

Equine and horse farm insurance protects your horses, trainers and farm from lawsuits with rates as low as $67/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Below are some answers to commonly asked equestrian insurance questions:

What Is Equine And Horse Farm Insurance?
How Much Does Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Cost?
What Type Of Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Do I Need?
Do I Need Commercial Horse Farm Insurance?
What Types Of Equine Insurance Are Available?
What Types Of Horse Liability Insurance Are Available?
What Does Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Cover & Pay For?

What Is Equine And Horse Farm Insurance?

Equine and horse farm insurance is a specialized type of insurance policy designed specifically for horse farms and facilities that provide services related to horses. This insurance coverage provides financial protection against potential risks and hazards that are associated with equine activities and facilities.

Some of the risks that can be covered by equine and horse farm insurance include:

Loss or death of horses due to illness, injury or accidents.
Liability claims resulting from accidents involving horses or riders on the farm.
Property damage to the farm facilities, equipment and barns.
Loss of income due to the death or injury of a horse that is used for breeding or shows.
Legal expenses related to lawsuits involving the farm and its horses.
Medical expenses for the horse in case of injury or illness.

Equine and horse farm insurance is essential for horse farms and facilities to protect their investment and financial stability in case of unexpected events.

How Much Does Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Cost?

The average price of a standard Equine And Horse Farm Insurance policy for small farms from $67 to $99 per month based on the type and size of operation, number of horses, location, payroll and more.

What Type Of Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Do I Need?

The coverage you need depends on what type of operation you have, and how large it is. Some equine and horse farm insurance coverage that are common to all equestrian policies are:

Coverage For Dwellings

horse farm insurance can provide you a policy package that offers protection for your home and items within that home. Unlike a standard homeowners policy, it can also cover the property structures that provide well-being to your animals such as the barns your horses shelter and live in, the sheds you house your equipment in and even the quarters that your staff reside in.

There are also coverages for the indoor arenas you may use as run-in sheds or show arenas.

These dwelling coverages can include:

Barns and sheds
Home (Farm House)
Indoor Arenas / run-in sheds
Tenant or staff living quarters

Coverage For Vehicles And Machinery

Acquiring equine and horse farm insurance will also protect the equipment you utilize to keep your farm operating. Any vehicle used to run your horse operation such as tractors used to make hay and the trailers used to transport your animals.

As these are vital to maintaining operations, having a policy that includes, these items can help to protect your investment in the case of a loss, and include:

Vehicles
Trailers
Tractors

Do I Need Commercial Horse Farm Insurance?

If your operations include boarding, clinics, and participatory trainings, carrying a liability policy is a must. With visitors and other parties taking advantage of your expertise in these areas, there are events to take into consideration.

In the event of an accident to one of your animals or a 3rd party, protecting yourself from damages incurred from a lawsuit will be necessary in order to maintain operations.

Most states mandate a minimum amount of workers compensation insurance if you have employees.

Major Medical And Surgical Insurance

The healthcare of horses has improved dramatically over the past two decades. The costs associated with those advancements have become excessive and, at times, prohibitive. No one likes to make decisions about an animal we care so deeply about in terms of money, but you may run into this regardless.

Making a policy decision to include major medical insurance can help to soften the sticker price of a procedure that will help save your animal's life or well-being. This can include examinations, medications, and even surgery to stabilize the horse's condition.

These policies usually do not include regular routine care such as dental or elective treatments, nor preventative medicines such as vaccines.

Mortality Insurance

Horses are valuable to us in so many ways. Considering a life insurance policy on your horse is not a hard decision, but a peace of mind decision as well. This type of policy protects you against the loss of your animal in the event of an accident, injuries, illnesses or disease.

It can also protect you from theft of your beloved horse. There are different degrees of protection you can get covered by these types of equine and horse farm insurance policies as well.

What Types Of Equine Insurance Are Available?

Following are some of the equine insurance coverages available:

Full Mortality: Coverage for the death of an animal resulting from accident, sickness, disease, humane destruction and theft.
Limited Mortality: Limited coverage for death due to certain types of accidental causes such as fire, lightning, transportation, etc.
Loss of Use: Pay a portion of the mortality value if your horse becomes totally and permanently unfit to perform its use as specified in the policy.
Major Medical: After a small deductible, this coverage pays most veterinary medical and surgical expenses.
Stallion Infertility: Pays the insured mortality value if your breeding stallion becomes permanently unable to breed because of an accident, sickness or disease.
Surgical Expenses Only: After a small deductible, this covers up to the amount of coverage purchased of surgical expenses incurred to save the life of a covered animal when the surgery is required as a direct result of a covered accident, sickness or disease.

What Types Of Horse Liability Insurance Are Available?

Equine liability insurance helps protect your farm from third party bodily injury and property damage for which you are legally liable and can include:

Care Custody & Control Liability: Covers your liability for injury, death, or theft of a customer's horse while in your care, custody & control.
Commercial Equine Liability: Covers bodily injury and property damage claims resulting from your horse farm business.
Horse Club/Association Liability: Offers liability coverage for activities of your club/association.
Horse Show & Short Term Event Liability: Provides liability insurance protection if you put on horse shows, clinics, seminars, etc.
Personal Horse Owners Liability: Provides liability coverage for horse owners who have no commercial exposures.
Therapeutic Riding Program Liability: Provides liability protection for your therapeutic riding program.

Horse Farm's Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposures are high. Regular visitors to the premises include horse owners, riding students, prospective buyers, and veterinarians who can trip and fall on uneven walking surfaces, be injured by equipment, or interact with unpredictable animals.

Visitors should be accompanied by an employee and not be permitted in restricted areas. The exposure increases if tours are conducted. Housekeeping issues include keeping walkways clear of stable equipment and floor areas clean and dry.

Employees working with children or the disabled must undergo thorough background checks. Supervision is critical. Fences should be well-maintained and parking areas free of debris and physical obstructions. Horses, farm equipment and facilities present an attractive nuisance to children and teens.

Barns should be secured after hours to prevent access by unauthorized trespassers. Auctions and demonstrations may result in many visitors. These events require additional security and emergency evacuation planning.

Environmental impairment liability exposures are moderate due to the potential for air, land, or water pollution from the use of agricultural chemicals and pesticides, the disposal of animal waste and the existence of motor vehicle fuel storage tanks.

Drugs, needles, and syringes used to administer medications or to artificially inseminate horses are considered biohazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. If there are underground storage tanks, a UST policy will be required.

Professional exposures may be high if veterinarian or breeding services are offered. Veterinarians should be well trained, experienced, and properly licensed. Employees must carry out only the procedures they are licensed to handle.

Interns must be carefully supervised. A complete medical history should be obtained for each animal patient, with ongoing history of inoculations, diseases, injuries, and treatments noted.

Workers compensation exposures are high due to the interaction with unpredictable animals that can bite, kick, suffocate, or trample an employee. Turnover may be high. Training, supervision, and communication is important in maintaining a safe work environment.

Employees must be trained in appropriate restraint techniques. Problem animals should be identified. Slips, trips, falls, back injuries from lifting, foreign objects in the eye, and muscle strains are common. Exposure to farm chemicals, noxious odors from waste, and organic dust can lead to respiratory issues.

Employees can pick up diseases from working with animals and must be trained in disease prevention and identification.

Property exposures are high because of numerous ignition sources, such as heaters, and electrical fixtures combined with combustible materials such as hay, straw, animal feed and bedding, oils, and motor vehicle fuels. Wiring must be up to date and of sufficient capacity.

Electrical fixtures should be dust and moisture proof. Lightning may strike buildings unprotected by rods and Ground Fault Interrupters (GFIs), and severe winds and tornados may destroy property in certain geographical areas.

Most horse farms are in rural areas where fire response time may be slow and a water supply to douse a fire may be undependable. Auxiliary fire-fighting procedures should be in place that includes evacuation of the horses.

Fire extinguishers should be well distributed. Automatic fire detection and suppression systems should be considered. Smoking should be prohibited. Temperamental actions of animals may result in damage to the building or personal property. Horses and riding equipment may be a target for theft. Appropriate security measures should be taken.

Crime exposures are from employee dishonesty and theft but are relatively minor unless the horse farm keeps high-value show animals. Pre-employment checks should be conducted for employees. All ordering, billing and disbursements should be separated.

A money and securities exposure exists if cash is accepted for riding lessons or purchases. While the farming equipment is not attractive to thieves, show horses, tack and saddles, some prescription medications for animals, and semen may be targeted.

Inland marine exposures include accounts receivable if the farm bills for services, computers, goods in transit, livestock coverage for owned horses, mobile equipment, and valuable papers and records for ownership, lineage and medical information for horses and documents relating to pesticides and other chemical applications.

Horses may be regularly transported over public roads. Most farms have extensive mobile equipment exposures. Bailees coverage will be needed if the farm boards horses or keeps equipment belonging to others. High-value horses may be candidates for animal mortality coverage.

Commercial auto exposures are moderate. Vehicles may be used to transport horses, haul hay and feed, remove manure and other waste, and to run errands and pick up supplies. Horse trailers and hitches must be properly equipped and maintained to keep horses safe and prevent them from escaping.

Drivers must be trained in handling sway in the trailers and driving during adverse conditions. Drivers must be experienced and have acceptable MVRs that are checked on a regular basis. Vehicles must be well maintained with records kept in a central location.

What Does Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Equine And Horse Farm Insurance Claim Form

Equine and horse farms are often sued for a variety of reasons. Some of these include personal injuries, property damage, horse injuries or deaths, and contract disputes. Each lawsuit poses a significant financial risk to the business, but insurance can provide essential protection. Here are several scenarios where insurance can help mitigate the financial impact of these lawsuits:

1. Personal Injury: This is perhaps the most common reason equine businesses face lawsuits. Individuals can get injured while riding a horse, working in the stables, or even just visiting the premises. In these cases, General Liability Insurance can help protect the business. This type of insurance covers legal fees, court costs, and any judgments or settlements that the business may be required to pay if it's found liable for the injury.

2. Property Damage: Another common reason for lawsuits is property damage. This could be damage to vehicles, buildings, or other property caused by the horses, employees, or operations of the farm. Again, General Liability Insurance can help cover the costs associated with these lawsuits, including legal fees and damages.

3. Horse Injury or Death: If a horse is injured or dies while under the care of the equine business, the owner might sue the business for negligence. In these cases, Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) Insurance can be invaluable. This type of insurance is specifically designed to cover the costs associated with lawsuits related to the injury or death of non-owned horses in your care, including defense costs and potential judgments or settlements.

4. Contract Disputes: Equine businesses often enter into contracts for breeding, boarding, training, and other services. If a party believes the business has breached a contract, they might file a lawsuit. Professional Liability Insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance, can help cover the legal costs associated with these types of lawsuits.

5. Worker Injuries: If an employee gets injured on the job, they might file a workers' compensation claim. If the claim is disputed, it could result in a lawsuit. Workers' Compensation Insurance not only provides benefits to injured workers but also includes Employer's Liability coverage, which can help pay for legal costs if an employee sues over an injury.

In conclusion, equine and horse farm owners face a variety of potential lawsuits related to their operations. Having the right insurance coverage can help protect the business from the financial impact of these lawsuits. It's always advisable to work with an experienced insurance agent to ensure you have adequate coverage for your specific risks.

Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification

SIC CODE: 0272 Horses and Other Equines
NAICS CODE: 112920 Horses and Other Equine Production, 115210 Support Activities for Animal Production
Suggested ISO Farm and Commercial General Liability Code(s): 01518, 01519, 01618, 01619, 01718, 01719, 01818, 01819
Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 0083 Farm - Cattle or Livestock Raising NOC & Drivers

0272: Horses and Other Equines

Division A: Agriculture, Forestry, And Fishing | Major Group 02: Agriculture Production Livestock and Animal Specialties | Industry Group 027: Animal Specialties

0272 Horses and Other Equines: Establishments primarily engaged in the production of horses and other equines.

Burro farms
Donkey farms
Horse farms
Mule farms
Pony farms

Equine And Horse Farm Insurance - The Bottom Line

Your horse farm and equestrian operations are vital to you, or you wouldn't have made the investment in the first place. Whether it's a massive operation or small, you should prepare your policy choices around the things you seek to protect.

Acquiring equine and horse farm insurance should be centered around the choices you need to make that are best for your operation. Protecting everything is an added layer for your peace of mind and allows you to enjoy your animals.

Additional Resources For Agribusiness Insurance

Learn about small business agribusiness insurance - a type of commercial insurance protects farmers against loss of, or damage to crops or livestock.

The agribusiness industry is a vital sector of the global economy, providing food, fiber, and other essential products to people around the world. However, it is also a complex and risky industry, with many potential sources of loss and damage. This is why the agribusiness industry needs commercial insurance.

One major risk in the agribusiness industry is natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes. These events can devastate crops and livestock, leading to significant financial losses for farmers and other agribusiness owners. Business insurance can help protect against these losses, providing a financial cushion to help businesses recover and continue operating.

Another risk in the agribusiness industry is the potential for accidents or injuries on the farm. Farming can be a dangerous occupation, and accidents can occur while working with heavy machinery or handling animals. Insurance can help cover the costs of medical treatment, lost wages, and other expenses related to these accidents.

In addition to these risks, the agribusiness industry is subject to various legal and regulatory requirements, such as food safety standards and environmental regulations. Noncompliance with these requirements can result in costly fines and legal action. Insurance can help cover the costs of legal fees and settlements, protecting businesses from financial ruin.

Overall, the agribusiness industry needs insurance to protect against the various risks and challenges it faces. Without commercial insurance, businesses in this industry would be vulnerable to financial losses that could threaten their survival. By investing in insurance, agribusiness owners can safeguard their businesses and ensure their continued success.

Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Buildings, Business Personal Property, Crop Insurance, Employee Dishonesty, Accounts Receivable, Computers, Goods in Transit, Mobile Equipment, Valuable Papers and Records, General Liability, Environmental Impairment, Umbrella, Business Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.

Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Business Income and Extra Expense, Earthquake, Equipment Breakdown, Farm Owners, Flood, Computer Fraud, Employee Dishonesty, Forgery, Money and Securities, Cyber Liability, Employee Benefits, Employment-related Practices Liability, Product Recall, Underground Storage Tank, Stop Gap Liability and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) (Drones).

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