You dont need to be in business to be liable…Its YOUR property and you ARE liable!!! BAD IDEA!!!
It sounds like you’ve made the decision you consider best.
I’m just going to add, for anyone else pondering the same decision, that not all commerical liability insurance is super-expensive. Plenty of companies that specialize in equine-related coverage will provide a custom quote, specifically for your circumstances. I have a $2M (IIRC) policy that covers me for boarding up to 4 additional horses (no training or lessons) for $600/year. Yes, I’m required to treat it like a business, including having waivers, contracts, and rules, but that literally takes a few minutes per year.
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Sketcher,
It will not be, in all likelihood, your friend that makes the decision to go after you and your assets but her insurance company over which she has no control…
I also detect possible insurance fraud in pretending that her horse is really your horse in a free lease in the event of a tragic accident…
Playing devil’s advocate here but you need to appreciate the repercussions of choices you may be making.
Even if you don’t have boarders on your propety you are still liable if one of your horses gets out and a car hits it, injuring the driver. If you have horses on your property you need liability insurance, period.
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;5851784]
Sketcher,
It will not be, in all likelihood, your friend that makes the decision to go after you and your assets but her insurance company over which she has no control…
I also detect possible insurance fraud in pretending that her horse is really your horse in a free lease in the event of a tragic accident…
Playing devil’s advocate here but you need to appreciate the repercussions of choices you may be making.[/QUOTE]
Again, yes I understand this. I am not concerned about someone’s insurance coming after me, I am concerned that my insurance covers me regardless of who comes after me. And if the horse is leased to me then my insurance considers that an acceptable arrangement which allows me to have a horse on the property not owned by me. Nothing nefarious about that except that we probably wouldn’t take the trouble to write up a lease agreement.
I have had my best friends two horses on my property with my two horses for
6-7 years now. Total of four horses, we have always split the cost of everything down the middle. Because of my back he takes care of them in the winter time. This set up has worked out great for us. If he knows he can’t do chores then he sets things up for me so I don’t have to carry hay.
Um, no I dont. I live on a private drive, and then my driveway is a 1/4 mile long (gated entrance), and none of my property has road frontage…and my barn is on the side of my property, which also has a gate (soon) seperating my barn area from my house for my toddler son’s protection. Unless my horse takes a bus to get to the road, he is not getting out. So, any other generalizations?
Ideally, that is how our situation would have worked too. I am still investigating options, just told my friend its a no go for now…but trust me, if i can make this work out, i will. She is a super person and we could both benefit from this…
Briggsie, maybe your friend could help pay for the insurance? I really understand your situation, it is so nice to have a friend boarder to ride with and horse sit if you go out of town. Please keep us updated and I’m crossing my fingers that you can make this work. 
[QUOTE=Briggsie;5853273]
Um, no I dont. I live on a private drive, and then my driveway is a 1/4 mile long (gated entrance), and none of my property has road frontage…and my barn is on the side of my property, which also has a gate (soon) seperating my barn area from my house for my toddler son’s protection. Unless my horse takes a bus to get to the road, he is not getting out. So, any other generalizations?[/QUOTE]
I’m sorry this made me laugh out loud! Not being mean, but you do know horses when out can get excited and up, and will and have travel several miles?
I have USAA, while they cover my barn and outbuildings, they wont cover equine liability. I have a seperate policy for that, but I also board 10 other horses. It’s only around 120 a month, well worth it!
We don’t boarder major roads either, but the horses busted through the fence in the bottom pasture (3/4 of a mile away) and I came home to them (luckily!!) standing beside the gate wanting in (it was feeding time). They mosied (as there was ‘evidence’ LOL!) along the trails up the side and to the front of the house. They very easily could have kept on mosying on up to the main road. Luckily for me the 9 of them waited there. Scared the CRAP out of me! 7 years and this is the first time they got out. Have NO idea how long they were out.
I just opened the gate and they came on in, closed it and ran ahead and opened the pasture gate and they went in and around to their feedstalls. I fed and while they were eating I hoped in the golf cart and headed out to find (and fix!) where they got out.
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Another issue beyond the insurance is whether or not your mortgage company (if you’ve got one) will allow you to take on a boarder. When I bought my house, my broker made it very clear that I wasn’t allowed to run a business (of any sort) from my property, based on the loan I got. YMMV.
My insurance agent also told me that I couldn’t board anyone else’s horse on my property without making some major changes to my policy.
Doesn’t bother me, as it gives me a very easy out when people say “Oh, you’re going to build a barn? I could keep my horse at your place!” I can kindly reply: “Sorry, my insurance won’t allow that” when in my head, I’m really saying “No effing way, sweetheart!”
What kind of insurance coverage would you need if you were just going to lease stall and pasture space to someone. If they’re totally in control of feeding, care, maintenance and upkeep of the portion they’re renting?
The insurance company worries about the liability from the animal and it’s owner being on the property, and not who does the care. It would still be running a business, and need commercial insurance.
[QUOTE=bdj;5853443]
Another issue beyond the insurance is whether or not your mortgage company (if you’ve got one) will allow you to take on a boarder. When I bought my house, my broker made it very clear that I wasn’t allowed to run a business (of any sort) from my property, based on the loan I got. YMMV.
My insurance agent also told me that I couldn’t board anyone else’s horse on my property without making some major changes to my policy.
Doesn’t bother me, as it gives me a very easy out when people say “Oh, you’re going to build a barn? I could keep my horse at your place!” I can kindly reply: “Sorry, my insurance won’t allow that” when in my head, I’m really saying “No effing way, sweetheart!”[/QUOTE]
I’d never heard of a mortgage limiting boarders, interesting.
I was sued by a “best friend” about a week before the statute of limitations ran out (so like 3 years after we were in a car accident in a parking lot together). Even though the other driver admitted it was HIS fault, and he ran the stop, etc. Both drivers got sued. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding. I found her a place to live with one of my other good friends. The night before I got served she called to tell me how much she loved me (but not that I was getting served, of course).
Call me cynical.
Don’t know why it was, but she was very clear about it - maybe it was because I was doing a first time home owners thing? I’m totally fine with it - because I don’t want responsibility for anybody else’s critters - I have plenty of my own to deal with already!
[QUOTE=bdj;5853443]
Another issue beyond the insurance is whether or not your mortgage company (if you’ve got one) will allow you to take on a boarder. When I bought my house, my broker made it very clear that I wasn’t allowed to run a business (of any sort) from my property, based on the loan I got. YMMV.
My insurance agent also told me that I couldn’t board anyone else’s horse on my property without making some major changes to my policy.
Doesn’t bother me, as it gives me a very easy out when people say “Oh, you’re going to build a barn? I could keep my horse at your place!” I can kindly reply: “Sorry, my insurance won’t allow that” when in my head, I’m really saying “No effing way, sweetheart!”[/QUOTE]
Good Point. I just know that every circumstance is different…but really, in this case, it is a liability we don’t want to meddle with…policy or not. After having my AC stolen from my home in Maryland…and USAA refusing to cover it, because our home was vacant…EVEN THOUGH my neighbor Mark went in the house EVERYDAY and turned the lights on, (none of the drapes were removed), turned on the ac, and mowed our yard…they were like, um, there were no signs of life, even if your property manager did all that…go eff yourself valued customer of 18 years…you can see why I am a little gun shy. I don’t give a rats ass if the policy guaranteed ed McMahon and the publishers clearing house showed up on my door with a 2 million dollar check…I don’t want to deal with litigation whatsoever. Sorry, I have worked far to hard in my life to even have to monopolize my time with it. And yeah, nothing may have very well happened…but, in the 7 years I boarded at my trainers farm…I have seen my share of accidents and know what she had to go through with the gay insurance companies to cover her ass. NO thank you. And as of late, I am not completely confident in the insurance companies…they tell you what you want to hear to get your money, then they tell you what you don’t want to hear to keep their money.
[QUOTE=Briggsie;5853273]
Um, no I dont. I live on a private drive, and then my driveway is a 1/4 mile long (gated entrance), and none of my property has road frontage…and my barn is on the side of my property, which also has a gate (soon) seperating my barn area from my house for my toddler son’s protection. Unless my horse takes a bus to get to the road, he is not getting out. So, any other generalizations?[/QUOTE]
OK, any need for the snarky retort? Most people don’t live on property without road frontage. I personally know a horse trainer near me who had a drunk driver hit one of his horses that had somehow gotten loose on a country road and the driver sued the horse trainer for damages. Or, how about the uninformed neighbors who think it’s OK for their toddler to feed the cute horsie over your fence (never mind that they are trespassing on your property). If your horse happens to bite little Susie’s fingers, you could be sued.
Personally, I’m glad I don’t know you. Have a great day.
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[QUOTE=Briggsie;5853273]
Um, no I dont. I live on a private drive, and then my driveway is a 1/4 mile long (gated entrance), and none of my property has road frontage…and my barn is on the side of my property, which also has a gate (soon) seperating my barn area from my house for my toddler son’s protection. Unless my horse takes a bus to get to the road, he is not getting out. So, any other generalizations?[/QUOTE]
No, you still need liability insurance. Not a commercial farm policy, but something to cover the general liability of horse ownership. Personally owned horses can be often included in a homeowners policy depending on the carrier (I don’t know anything about your carrier), and an umbrella policy is also a great idea for horse owners.
Why? Because two gates and a quarter mile don’t absolutely guarantee a horse isn’t getting out. Trees fall down and knock fences over. Gates can be left open, and even automatic gates will malfunction. Because someone could pull in your drive to deliver something and wander over to pet your horse and get stepped on or bitten or kicked. Because your toddler son is eventually either going to have a babysitter over to watch him or friends over to play with, and horses attract people who know nothing about them like crazy. And because there are insane people out there who will God-only-knows-how figure out that you have a horse on your property and will figure out a way to trespass to pet and feed it.
The good news is that I think this type of coverage (non-commercial) is very inexpensive.
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This thread really has me concerned! We just purchased our dream mini farm in Scott co Kentucky (6acres) with statemfarm insurance. Any Kentucky folks with recommendations on farm insurance? And/or commercial liability insurance? We don’t taken in boarders but do have friends and their horses over to ride. Thought we had adequate insurance but…
Thanks?
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I once got a call that my horse and his pasture mate were taking a jaunt through the center of our town.
I board at a private barn with a long, long driveway, right on the trail system (no road frontage). Someone had opened the gate and let them out. Why they didn’t stay to graze in the lush green pasture, I don’t know.
Luckily one of the police officers on duty that day was an equestrian and he figured out whose horses they were and brought them back.
