A recent case where the part-owner of a racehorse received a claim for £14m after a work rider was injured in a fall on the gallops, has highlighted the need for all owners to have sufficient public liability cover, even if the horse is not in their day-to-day care. H&H speaks to legal experts to find out more, including how this relates to horses on loan...
Owners must ensure they have the right public liability cover in place for their horses, even if the animals are not in their care, or face “losing everything”.
Under the Animals Act 1971, “strict liability” for damage or injury caused by animals falls to their owners or keepers, both of whom could therefore face sizeable claims for compensation.
Glynn Linder found himself in this position when a rider suffered life-changing injuries in a fall from a racehorse he part-owned, and submitted a claim for £14m.
Campaigners are determined to find a new way to amend the Animals Act to reduce liability on responsible animal owners
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
