Equine Third Party Liability
Add the Equine Third Party Liability Endorsement to your mortality policy to help protect you financially if your horse causes an accident that injures someone or damages their property. If you become legally obligated to pay damages because of a covered “occurrence” caused by the insured horse during the coverage period, the policy can pay on your behalf—and it also provides legal defense, with the insurer handling the claim process and settlement discussions.
This endorsement has an important built-in limit structure to understand. Your Limit of Insurance (shown in the Schedule) is the maximum total amount available under this coverage—and investigation and defense costs reduce that limit, meaning legal expenses come out of the same bucket as any settlement or judgment. Coverage territory for this liability protection is limited to the contiguous United States.
Like all liability coverage, it has guardrails. It does not cover punitive or exemplary damages, fines, or penalties, and it excludes several common scenarios, including claims tied to commercial use, carriage/buggy use, unintended breeding, injuries to people boarding or training the horse, and injuries to service providers you hire (such as farriers and veterinarians). It also excludes damage to property you rent, property you own or control, liability you assume by contract (with a limited exception), workers’ compensation-type obligations, and pollution-related claims. To keep coverage in force, the horse must remain insured under the underlying mortality policy, and you should report any incident immediately and forward any related documents right away.
Additional Details
This Equine Third Party Liability Endorsement adds liability protection to your mortality policy for the scheduled horse. It can help protect you if your horse causes an accident that results in covered bodily injury or property damage to others during the policy period.
What it Covers
- Bodily injury to a third party when you become legally obligated to pay damages because of a covered occurrence caused by the insured horse
- Property damage to a third party when you become legally obligated to pay damages because of a covered occurrence caused by the insured horse
- Defense costs (the insurer defends you and handles covered claim investigations and settlement negotiations)
- Coverage generally applies in the contiguous United States, subject to the policy’s terms and the limit shown on the schedule
Reporting Rules
- Notify the insurer promptly if an occurrence happens that may lead to a claim
- Send copies right away of any demands, letters, notices, summons, or legal papers you receive
- Do not admit liability or make payments/assume obligations without the insurer’s consent
- Cooperate with the investigation and defense (statements, records, witness info, etc.)
Key Exclusions
This endorsement typically does not cover:
- Punitive/exemplary damages, fines, or penalties
- Liability arising from commercial or business use (as defined in the endorsement)
- Incidents involving carriage/buggy use
- Claims arising out of unintended breeding
- Injury to certain people involved with the horse (such as those boarding or training the horse, and service providers you hire like farriers and veterinarians)
- Damage to property you own, rent, occupy, or control/care/custody
- Liability you assume under a contract (with limited exceptions)
- Workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, and similar obligations
- Pollution-related claims and other standard liability carve-outs listed in the form
Practical Summary
Think of this as “liability protection for what your horse might do to someone else.” It can be a strong add-on if you want financial protection and legal defense when a third party claims your horse caused injury or property damage. The most important practical points: report incidents quickly, forward legal papers immediately, and remember that defense expenses may reduce the amount available to pay damages under your limit.
Important: This summary is provided for convenience. Please refer to the actual policy wording for full details and exclusions.
- American Equine Third Party Liability Coverage Form (EMP2140516)
Standard Mortality Policy and Automatic Coverages
Optional Coverages
Several additional coverages are available to enhance your full mortality policy. Details of each endorsement are available by following one of the links below.