What is equine insurance?

Equine insurance covers horses against death, theft, major medical expenses, and liability exposures.

How often should a business review its insurance coverage?

At minimum, every business should review its insurance program at each annual renewal. Any significant business change, such as new employees, new locations, new equipment, or a new service line, should also trigger an immediate mid-year review.

Who is responsible for builders risk: owner or contractor?

Depends on the contract. Most residential construction puts the owner in charge of builders risk (it's their building). Commercial projects often have the contractor carry it. Always written into the construction contract.

Do contractors need inland marine insurance if they have general liability?

Yes for most contractors. General liability does not cover damage to the contractor's own tools and equipment. Inland marine fills that gap, covering loss of contractor-owned equipment at job sites, in transit, and stored at the shop.

What's a bailee's customer policy?

Bailee's customer covers property owned by others while it is in the bailee's care, custody, or control. Critical for repair shops, dry cleaners, warehouses, and storage facilities.

Commercial FAQs

Does homeowners liability cover an injury caused by my horse?

All FAQs

Quick answer: Rarely, and only until any commercial horse activity such as lessons, boarding, or paid trail rides enters the picture, which typically ends the homeowners liability protection entirely.

Does homeowners liability cover an injury caused by my horse?

Rarely, and the protection that does exist disappears quickly. A standard homeowners policy's liability coverage may respond if your horse injures a guest on your property, but that protection typically ends the moment any commercial activity enters the picture.

How does a standard homeowners policy treat horse-related liability?

Commercial activities that can trigger a liability exclusion include boarding other people's horses, giving riding lessons, breeding for sale, and charging for trail rides. Even a small fee for lessons can be enough to remove the homeowners liability protection entirely. See how home-based business activity affects homeowners coverage for a broader look at how commercial use interacts with personal policies.

Where do the liability gaps appear when equine activity is involved?

Liability tied to any business use of the horse is commonly excluded.
Coverage for injuries during lessons, boarding, or trail rides for a fee typically disappears entirely.
The homeowners liability section that does apply to non-commercial horse ownership often carries limits that a serious injury claim can exceed.

For example, an owner keeps two horses at home and gives weekend riding lessons for a fee. A student is thrown and injured. Because the activity was commercial, the homeowners policy denies the liability claim, leaving the owner exposed to medical costs and any lawsuit. Equine specialty coverage would have responded where the homeowners policy did not.

What equine liability coverage exists beyond the homeowners exclusion?

A standalone equine liability policy can cover injury and property-damage claims arising from horse activity even where a homeowners policy would not, including some commercial uses a homeowners liability section excludes entirely. If you board someone else's horse at your property, care, custody, and control liability covers you if that horse is injured while in your care. A standard homeowners policy does not include this protection, and even a specialized equine policy may not add it automatically. For what happens to the horse's own value if it is hurt or dies, see livestock and exotic pets on a homeowners policy, which covers the property side of horse ownership.

Does state law limit an equine operation's liability?

Many states, including Georgia and Alabama, have an Equine Activity Liability Act that limits (but does not eliminate) the civil liability of equine activity sponsors and professionals for injuries from the inherent risks of equine activity. Georgia's is O.C.G.A. § 4-12; Alabama's is Code of Alabama Sec. 6-5-337. Both carve out exceptions, negligence, willful or wanton disregard for safety, and failure to warn of a known danger, so the protection reduces but does not eliminate legal exposure.

For example, if a guest is injured because required warning signage was not posted, the statutory protection may not apply. Understanding where the law's protections stop is part of confirming the right liability coverage is in place. A licensed advisor can review your specific operation and confirm what coverage your situation actually requires. Request a free coverage review and our team will identify the equine gaps in your current policy.