Equine Liability Insurance by State & Province
Understand your legal exposures, compare licensed equine liability specialists, and secure customized protection for horse sharing, leasing, and riding across North America.
The 3 Realities of Equine Liability
Homeowner's Policies Exclude Horses
Over 95% of standard homeowner, tenant, and condo policies have strict “equine activity” and “off-premises animal liability” exclusions. If a guest rider is injured or your horse escapes onto a roadway, standard personal policies almost always deny coverage and defense costs.
EALA Statutes Do NOT Prevent Lawsuits
While 48 states have Equine Activity Liability Acts, these laws only protect against inherent risks of equine behavior. They do not prevent a plaintiff from filing a claim alleging faulty tack, negligent matching of horse and rider, or misrepresentation. Defending against such claims costs tens of thousands in legal fees.
Canadian Provincial $5M Coverage
In Canada, active annual membership in your provincial equestrian federation (such as Ontario Equestrian, Horse Council BC, or Alberta Equestrian Federation) includes automatic $5,000,000 commercial general liability insurance covering personal horse ownership and non-commercial lease riding!
Find Licensed Providers For Your Area
Select your region to view licensed equine insurance brokers and underwriting programs.
Markel Equine Insurance Specialty
Contact Specialist: David Evans, Equine Specialist • (800) 446-7925
Private Horse Owner & Equine Lease Liability Coverage
Protect your assets with $1,000,000 in liability defense against third-party rider injury, lease disputes, and property damage across 48 states.
Licensed to bind coverage in US States:
Acera Insurance / Canadian Provincial Partner
Contact Specialist: Acera Equine & Sports Risk Group • (800) 670-1877
$5,000,000 Equine Liability & Federation Programs
Official provider for provincial equestrian federations (Ontario Equestrian, Horse Council BC, AEF). Comprehensive coverage for Canadian horse leases.
Licensed to bind coverage in Canadian Provinces:
Are you an Equine Liability Insurance Broker or Underwriter?
Represent your state or province on ShareMyHorse. Partner with our community to provide dedicated coverage for equine shares, leases, and local boarding facilities.
Equine Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-English answers to the most common insurance questions when sharing or leasing horses.
What is PHOL (Personal Horse Owner Liability)?
PHOL covers horse owners against third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage caused by their horse. It applies whether the horse is at home, boarded, at a show, or being ridden by an authorized sharer or leaser.
Does the rider need their own policy?
Yes. If a rider damages barn property, causes a trail incident, or injures a third party, the owner's insurance may subrogate against the rider. A Non-Owned Horse Liability policy or provincial federation membership protects the rider directly.
Does ShareMyHorse provide insurance?
ShareMyHorse is a software platform and does not underwrite or sell insurance policies. We partner with licensed, independent brokers and carriers to help members access regional coverage easily.
Are chore swaps considered commercial use?
Generally, exchanging stall mucking or turnout for saddle time is treated as recreational sharing rather than commercial horse hire. However, commercial operations (charging public hourly rates) require commercial general liability policies.
Ready to explore horse sharing?
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