WHY DO I NEED INSURANCE ? 

 
Years ago it was very rare to be insured if you were a groom. There was a lack of awareness about how and why insurance is important and many grooms have suffered life changing accidents and subsequently received no or very little financial support, potentially causing havoc with rent and bills.

When the car was first invented insurance was not thought of. It is now illegal to drive without insurance and lets be honest… you really wouldn’t want to, would you?! So why work with horses in a high risk occupation without any form of insurance? We hope that in 10 years time the BGA will be behind an ‘Insurance Revolution’ and it will be unheard of for grooms to work without personal accident cover.


What happens if I get injured and can’t work?
As a groom you will either be 'employed' or have chosen to be 'self employed/freelance'.
 
If you are 'employed' this means that you will qualify for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you are ill or injured. Depending on their generosity and your Statement of Terms of Employment, your employer might give you additional pay over and above the SSP rate. However by law they are only eligible to pay you SSP, quite possibly resulting in a serious drop in income for you.
 
If you are 'self employed or freelance', this means that you are your own boss and subsequently do not qualify for SSP... If you are injured and are unable to work, you are likely to meet financial difficulties and this when you must seriously consider insuring yourself.


What is SSP?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the basic rate you are entitled to if you are unable to work. If you're working for an employer under a contract of service (even if you've only just started), you're entitled to SSP if the following apply:
•    you're sick for at least four days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays and days that you do not normally work)
•    you're earning at least £95 a week before tax and National Insurance contributions are deducted.

The standard rate for SSP is just £79.15 a week which is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. The best way to protect your income is to have a personal accident insurance policy.


South Essex Insurance Brokers  (SEIB) have put together a choice of personal accident insurance giving you peace of mind just in case the worst does happen and you have an accident. They include some temporary disablement cover which ensures that if you cannot work because of injury, you will have some temporary income.

SEIB offers BGA members a special discounted rate on all three levels of personal accident cover. The BGA has attached this to the BGA Standard membership to create the Student, Premier and Platinum membership options.

CLICK HERE to go back to joining the BGA



BGA Member, Joanna Martin wished she had been covered by insurance when she had her accident:
“I am a freelance groom and have built up a good business with many clients. I had no insurance. One day I was catching a stallion in from the field, when he suddenly spooked and knocked me over and proceeded to trample me as he galloped away. I woke up in hospital with a double break to my right leg and a broken right wrist."

Joanna was unable to work for 19 weeks and as she was self employed she did not receive any financial aid. “It was a terrible time” she explained, “I had bills to pay and I was not earning anything.

If I had taken the SEIB insurance policy when I had joined the BGA I would be still earning whilst I was ill and would have job security and the knowledge that if I hurt myself, I would still be able to afford the bills. I would advise all BGA members to consider taking personal accident insurance, as you never know when it might happen to you.”

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSURANCE ?


TYPE
 DESCRIPTION
 RECOMMENDED FOR...
 WHERE TO GET IT
Personal Accident Insurance
 Will cover you whilst you are working with horses in case of accident.*
 All who work with horses, but especially freelance grooms and instructors.
BGA membership options
Personal Accident and Sickness Insurance
 Will cover you for certain injuries you receive when working with horses and can also provide a weekly benefit for if you cannot carry out your working activities.*
 Those who work with horses and would like sickness cover too.
 

 Direct from SEIB
Public Liability Insurance Covers third party property damage or bodily injury that arises due to your negligence or legal liability* All who work with horses
Direct from SEIB
Employers Liability Insurance Legal requirement if you have people working for you in connection with your business whether they are paid or not. Liability covers the injury to employees.*
Anyone that employs staff even on a voluntary basis.
Direct from SEIB
Care Custody and Control Covers the horse itself for any injury as a result of your negligence/legal liability* Grooms, Freelance Instructors/Trainers, Yards that stable other peoples horses Direct from SEIB
Professional Indemnity Insurance Provides cover for claims brought against the policyholder due to their professional negligence. Professional indemnity policy will offer cover for compensation you may need to pay to correct a mistake or cover any legal costs due to negligence, such as giving incorrect advice or making a mistake in your work. * Various professions – Freelance Instructors receive a proportion of this cover within a FL policy as long as it’s in connection with the tuition. Not included for saddle fitting etc
Direct from SEIB
Travel Insurance Covers costs of cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident etc when away on holiday. If a business activity away on holiday insurers must be notified and the relevant business travel cover purchased. * 
Anyone travelling Direct from SEIB


*Subject to full policy terms and conditions
            


YOUR INSURANCE QUESTIONS ANSWERED....


Will I get paid out immediately from my Personal Accident Insurance?
In the event that you need to make a claim on your personal accident insurance, claims should be directed to One Claims Ltd. Details of which can be found in the policy wording. This should be notified as soon as reasonably possible. Unfortunately as with any claim the time for settlement depends on the nature of the injury and the circumstances of the claim. The insurers aim to settle all claims as quickly as possible.


How do I prove my earnings if I am self employed?
If you are self employed your earnings can be proven by tax returns, accounts etc.


I am a freelance groom. Do I need Public Liability Insurance? What exactly is Public Liability Insurance and why does a groom need it?
Public Liability Insurance covers any third party property damage or bodily injury that arises due to your negligence or legal liability. As a freelance groom it is not a legal requirement that you have this insurance but is highly recommended due to the nature of work you carry out.
 

I only work for yards that would certainly have Employers Liability Insurance, do I need Public Liability Insurance?
If you work at yards that have Employers Liability Insurance you should still consider Public Liability. These are two separate insurance covers and Employers Liability will not cover for you for your legal liability to third parties. If however you only work at one yard and this is your permanent place of work, you should check that your employer has the relevant Public & Employers Liability in place.

 
I have some clients who only employ my services and don’t use any other grooms. They don’t have any Employers Liability – is it therefore important that I have my own Public Liability Insurance?
Public Liability is an important aspect of cover to have regardless of whether the yard has Employers Liability – as explained above they provide different covers.


How much will Public Liability Insurance cost me on average?
Public Liability costs vary substantially for different businesses. As a Freelance Groom it could be anything from £315-£525.


I already have PL via my BD/BE/BSJA membership, will this cover me whilst I am working?
Public Liability provided under various membership arrangements only provide cover for recreational purposes. Any business activities will not be covered by these.


I am employed full time as a groom. My employer pays my tax and NI. Do I need my own Public Liability insurance?
If you only work at one specific yard, it would be the responsibility of the yard to carry their own Public & Employers Liability Insurance.
 

For specific advice regarding your insurance needs, please contact SEIB directly on: 0845 450 9267


The BGA is an Appointed Representative of South Essex Insurance Brokers Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.