Care, Custody, and Control Liability Insurance

If you’re responsible for horses that you do not own, it’s imperative to have Care, Custody, and Control liability insurance. Whether you’re training, boarding, caring for, or handling these animals, this specialized horse insurance ensures you’re covered if an incident occurs while the horses are in your care.

In the unfortunate event of illness, injury, or even death of a horse under your supervision, this insurance can cover veterinary and surgical costs and also provide legal defense if you face a lawsuit. This specific coverage shields you from financial loss by providing a legal defense, regardless of the lawsuit’s validity.

Coordination with General Liability Insurance

Care, Custody, and Control liability insurance coordinates with Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance to provide comprehensive coverage:

• Commercial General Liability Insurance: This covers bodily injury and property damage for third parties, such as clients, guests, or trespassers. It applies to injuries or damages on your premises or due to your business operations.
• Care, Custody, and Control Liability Insurance: This coverage is essential for the loss of a horse under your care but not owned or leased by you. For instance, if a horse escapes and causes a car accident, the GL policy would handle bodily injury and property damage, while Care, Custody, and Control insurance take care of the horse’s loss.

Be aware that Care, Custody, and Control liability insurance is not automatically included in a CGL policy; it must be specifically requested and endorsed. Some insurers may only offer it as a separate policy. When applying at Ark Agency, ask about Care, Custody, and Control, and we’ll be able to include it with your GL policy.

Obtaining the Right Coverage

When completing an application with Ark Agency, make sure to request this additional coverage. The application allows you to specify the appropriate limits based on:

• The average and maximum values of the horses in your care.
• The combined total value of all horses in your care at one time, representing your potential maximum loss (e.g., in the event of a barn fire).

For example, if you care for ten non-owned horses valued at $10,000 each, you might choose coverage limits of $10,000 per horse and $100,000 in total.

Comprehensive Protection for Equine Professionals

Keep in mind that Care, Custody, and Control insurance does not take the place of the horse owner carrying their own life and major medical insurance policy on their horse. Your negligence must be a factor before an owner is paid for the loss of a horse.

It is important to advise horse owners that because they have a financial investment in their horses, it is up to them to insure their financial loss should the horse become sick, injured, or die.

Common Liability Claim Scenarios

Here are four typical Care, Custody, and Control liability claims:

• An injury to a horse you’re training or showing.
• Injury to a horse due to a trailer accident while transporting it.
• A boarded horse getting hit by a car after escaping due to damaged fencing or open gates.
• Injury or death of a horse due to unsafe conditions on your property, like faulty fences or toxic plants.

Where to Begin

When you are working with horses, you should have a horse insurance policy tailored to cover your exact needs. Whether you need horse trainer insurance or horse medical insurance for horses in your care, Ark Agency can help protect your business. Reach out to our team by calling 1 (800) 328-8894 to receive a quote for horse insurance.

*General information is provided on this insurance topic. Acting on our coverage recommendations does not guarantee coverage if you have a loss or claim.