General Liability
- Limits from $1 million to to $5 million
- Occurrence Policy Form
- Coverage for Athletic Participants
- Non-owned and Hired Auto option
- Sex Abuse and Molestation option
Accident
- Medical limits up to $25,000
- Deductible options
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment up to $10,000
*Please note Minimum Premiums apply:
- For Guided Trail Rides and Instructional Horseback Riding: $10,710.00 plus taxes and fees
- For Horse Drawn Vehicle Rides: $5,000.00 plus taxes and fees (if your gross annual receipts are less than $5,000.00, the carrier will decline.)
Carriage Ride General Liability Insurance and Risk Management Concerns
For those who love to work outside and with horses, owning a horse-drawn carriage business is a perfect fit. Carriage rides are tourist attractions in many cities, and there is a large demand for carriage rides for weddings, engagements, anniversaries, company events/promotions, parades, fundraisers, holiday events, proms, and birthday parties.
The first step in owning a carriage ride business is to own the horse and the horse-drawn carriage — both of which need to be in tip-top condition — as well as a truck and a trailer. Other necessary pieces of equipment include litter catches, feed, a “Slow Moving” sign for each carriage, reflectors, and harnesses. A stable needs to be nearby for housing the horse(s) and carriage(s). The basics of horsemanship, including harnessing, handling, hookup, safety, and vocal command giving, are a must for the business owner. The driver needs a thorough knowledge of the city and traffic patterns.
General Liability risk management precautions for the carriage business include a valid certificate of health for each horse (from the veterinarian), knowledge of and adherence to the strict requirements for the safety and care of your horses, your carriage, and all other equipment. Regular inspection of the horses, the stables, and the equipment. Updated training of the carriage horses and drivers is a must. Riders must be kept a safe distance from the horse and carriage. Rules should be posted and enforced at all times.
Even with the closest attention and care to carriages, riders, horses and traffic, unforeseen accidents and resulting lawsuits do occur. Horses can bolt from a variety of causes: loud traffic noises, firecrackers, speeding cars, cigarettes flung from a passing vehicle— even accidental instructions to the horse can cause an accident. Passengers can be thrown, pedestrians can be trampled or kicked, a harness might break enabling a horse to run free, or a runaway horse can cause other traffic accidents to occur. Injuries such as these may occur, but the chances can be dramatically reduced with sound risk management practices in place and General Liability policies for coverage in the event of such an accident.
Having a signed waiver/release form for all clients should be mandatory. Parents or legal guardians should sign a waiver for minor riders (in addition to the minor’s signature). These waivers are extremely important for the business owner because the waiver offers some protection from the amount of damages in the event of a lawsuit. The best protection for you and your carriage business is to have both Accident and General Liability insurance with sufficient limits.
What Our Customers Have to Say About Our Insurance Programs
“You responded quickly, told me when to expect a quote, are highly rated so I knew it was a good insurance company and came back with a very good quote for me. I felt ‘safe’ going with your company for my insurance needs on this new carriage venture!!” – Eilene White, Crestrail Carriage Company