Insurance for commercial equine operations

Start with Markel Specialty’s commercial equine liability insurance

Your business is horses. Markel Specialty is committed to providing insurance protection for your business.

For over 50 years, we’ve been providing insurance coverages for equine businesses. Markel Specialty’s commercial equine liability policy is specifically designed for almost any type of horse-related business including:

• Boarding
• Breeding
• Training
• Riding instruction
• Horse sales
• Clinics
• Personal/pleasure horses

Whether you conduct your business on your own premises or rent/lease property, Markel Specialty policies are customizable to fit your needs, your budget, and your business.

Why do I need liability insurance for my commercial equine operation?

You can never be quite sure how a horse will react in a certain situation. Even the gentlest of horses can injure someone or damage property. If it’s a customer or visitor who gets injured, or someone’s property is damaged and you are found negligent, you could be held responsible and at risk of having to pay a high monetary settlement. That’s why you may need a Markel Specialty commercial equine liability policy—even if you have other coverage that protects you from general liability.

Here are two examples of claims we've paid out for our customers*:

• A student was riding on our customer’s property, when the horse suddenly stopped. The student was thrown off and fractured her spine.
• A prospective buyer of a horse took the horse on a trail ride after our customer first had them sign a trail ride release. Along the trail, the horse wanted to turn around and go back. The buyer was told several times to rein the horse in or turn him around, but the buyer let the horse proceed. The horse picked up speed and the rider fell off.

You never can tell what might happen. However, Markel Specialty's commercial equine liability insurance can provide insurance protection for you and your horse business. Get a free quote today.

*These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. Any claim submitted under the policy would be evaluated on its own merits and facts compared to the terms of the policy.

What can insurance for commercial equine operations cover?

Even if you have other coverage to protect you from general liability claims, you still need Markel Specialty’s commercial equine liability policy to cover your horse-related liabilities.

General liability
Limits of $300,000 to $1 million are available for bodily injury and property damage. General liability aggregate limits are 3 times the liability per occurrence limit.

• Commercial general liability coverage applies on and off premises in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
• Fire legal liability up to $100,000 at no charge (in most states)
• Medical payments up to $5,000
• Limited professional liability coverage for trainers, riding instructors and clinicians personal/advertising injury included
• Products/completed operations included
• No liability deductible
• Defense cost paid in excess of policy limit
• Limited athletic participants coverage included

Additional coverages available
Care, custody and control
Insurance coverage for defense and court costs for litigation, according to policy limits, and payment for judgements up to the aggregate policy amount (per animal limit applies)

Non-owned horse equipment
Available by endorsement to your commercial equine liability or horse farm package policies

• $10,000 liability limit for non-owned horse equipment
• Choose from various limits to meet your needs
• No deductible applies

Excess or umbrella liability
Coverage is an excess limit of general liability over third party liability coverages. We require the primary general liability policy to be written with Markel Specialty. The auto and employers liability can be written with outside carriers. Self-insured retention of $10,000.