Insurance Questions and Answers
These questions and answers were compiled by our Association to help clarify our insurance benefits for members and potential members. Call us if you have any other questions.
- Is Horsemen's United Association an insurance company?
- What is the basic insurance coverage for members?
- Who is insured?
- What are the limits of liability?
- Can we increase our insurance limits?
- When are the insurance benefits applicable?
- Does Horsemen's United Association carry medical insurance for our members and participants?
- Where can we obtain Hold Harmless forms?
- Our club, together with a number of other clubs, is a member of a parent Association. This Association is already a member of the Horsemen's United Association. Are we automatically covered under their benefits?
- If our club allows another club to use our facility, does our insurance cover them?
- If our club uses another club's grounds are we covered?
- What is an Additional Insured Endorsement?
- What is a Certificate of Insurance? How is it different from an Additional Insured Endorsement?
- How do I request an Additional Insured Endorsement? What is the cost?
- Is it necessary for us to request an additional insured endorsement each year after having once requested the same the previous year?
- What should we do in case of an accident?
- Will our club ever need to contact the insurance carrier directly to make changes?
- Does our club have to take the $1,500 bond for the Club Treasurer?
- Do we have to renew the bond each year?
- If we have a bond and change our bank account in the middle of the year should we notify your office?
1. Is Horsemen's United Association an insurance company?
A: No. Each year, Horsemen's United Association negotiates an insurance policy that covers all of our member clubs. We do not write or sell insurance.
2. What is the basic insurance coverage for members?
A: Commercial General Liability. This insurance is intended to protect our clubs from financial loss arising from liability claims brought by specatators or the general public.
A: The Horsemen's United Association, Inc. and its member clubs. We accept non-profit horse clubs as members. Our current members include all kinds of equine enthusiasts, from rodeo associations to polo clubs.
4. What are the limits of liability?
A: For 2005, we offer two membership levels: Option A - Liability Limits $500,000 per occurrence/$500,000 aggregate; $50,000 Fire Liability; $500,000 Advertising/Personal Liability; $500,000 Products Liability. Option B - Liability Limits $1,000,000 per occurrence/$1,000,000 aggregate; $50,000 Fire Liability; $500,000 Advertising/Personal Liability; $500,000 Products Liability. Please download the 2006 membership packet for more detailed information.
5. Can we increase our insurance limits?
A: Not through the Horsemen's United Association. Our charter provides every member club with equal benefits. Each club receives no more or no less coverage than any other club.
6. When are the insurance benefits applicable?
A: During organized horse club activities. Very simply, your benefits of coverage extend to all your horse club events scheduled with Horsemen's United Association that are sponsored, organized, and supervised by your club.
7. Does Horsemen's United Association carry medical insurance for our members and participants?
A: No. Since there are inherent risks associated with equine activities, we ask that you have all members, volunteers and participants sign a "hold harmless" waiver stating that they will be responsible for their own injuries during events.
8. Where can we obtain Hold Harmless forms?
A: You may download a sample Hold Harmless Agreement from our site. Most clubs have a statement printed at the bottom of their entry forms that is acceptable, but our Association strongly recommends that every club consult an attorney to tailor a hold harmless agreement to meet their needs.
9. Our club, together with a number of other clubs, is a member of a parent Association. This Association is already a member of the Horsemen's United Association. Are we automatically covered under their benefits?
A: No. Each club sponsoring, organizing, or supervising its own activities must secure its own membership insurance benefits.
10. If our club allows another club to use our facility, does our insurance cover them?
A: No. Have the guest club provide its own insurance and add your club with an additional insured endorsement.
11. If our club uses another club's grounds are we covered?
A: Yes.
12. What is an Additional Insured Endorsement?
A: An endorsement (or "amendment") to our liability policy that names another entity, such as a fairgrounds or landowner, to our policy for the duration of an event. Each additional insured must be named separately on individual certificates. They are only protected against claims made by spectators and/or the public resulting from a direct liability of the member group.
13. What is a Certificate of Insurance? How is it different from an Additional Insured Endorsement?
A: A certificate of insurance is a standardized form that lists the basics of a policy: limits of liability, named insured(s), insurer, policy number, etc. We provide these at no cost to our members. An additional insured endorsement actually names another person or entity to our policy.
14. How do I request an Additional Insured Endorsement? What is the cost?
A: You may download a request form, or contact our office five days prior to your event. Current cost is $90 per endorsement ($65 for a NonEquine Event (meetings,banquets, etc.)).
15. Is it necessary for us to request an additional insured endorsement each year after having once requested the same the previous year?
A: Yes.
16. What should we do in case of an accident?
A: Do not admit responsibility for any accident! Be sure that any injured party receives immediate medical attention. Do not consider whether the club is liable or not. Notify the Horsemen's United Association within 48 hours of the accident. We will fax you an accident report, or you may download one here.
17. Will our club ever need to contact the insurance carrier directly to make changes?
A: No. Correspondence with the insurance carrier must be directed through the Horsemen's United Association, Inc. The insurance carrier maintains a correspondence file only with our Association's corporate office.
18. Does our club have to take the $1,500 bond for the Club Treasurer?
A: No. It is entirely optional.
19. Do we have to renew the bond each year?
A: Yes.
20. If we have a bond and change our bank account in the middle of the year should we notify your office?
A: Definitely, yes.
