INSURANCE

Membership of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners provides valuable Third Party Liability Insurance for Racehorse Owners. Third party Liability Insurance is very important to you and you can find out all the relevant information about the benefit that it offers to you below.

  • Without third party liability insurance, racehorse owners could be vulnerable to potentially very high claims for damages if their horse causes injury to a third party or damage to their property- A recent case in the UK is evidence of this.
  • Members of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (including syndicates) will receive automatic third party cover up to €6.5 million.
  • If you are not a member of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners it is strongly recommended that you join up and receive adequate insurance cover and you will also avail of other benefits of membership
  • Annual Membership Subscription is €80.
  • See Policy Summary
  • You can apply now to become a member of AIRO by contacting the Association's Manager, Aiden Burns at 045-878173.
  • For more information on the Insurance policy, please click HERE airo_members_wording_2021.pdf

POLICY SUMMARY

The policy indemnifies each racehorse owner who is a member of AIRO and whose name is maintained on the register held by AIRO during the period of Insurance. The covered activities are the ownership of any horse kept for the purpose of racing under the Rules of Racing, National Hunt Rules and Point to Point (providing the horse is being trained by a licensed trainer only).

Members are indemnified for all sums, which they shall become legally liable to pay as damages and claimant's costs and expenses in respect of:
  • Accidental Bodily Injury to any person
  • Accidental loss of or damage to Property happening during the Period of Insurance and arising out of the covered activities and while the horse;
    • is being prepared to go in to training at a licensed trainers yard in Ireland / The UK including Northern Ireland, or,
    • is being trained at a licensed trainers yard in Ireland / The UK including Northern Ireland, or
    • is out of training, providing the horse is only out of training on a temporary basis
    • is temporarily put of Ireland or Great Britain for the purpose of participating in a race only.
  • Also covered are all costs and expenses incurred with the written consent of the Underwriters in the defence of any claim against the member, which may be the subject of indemnity under the policy.

Extensions
The policy will also indemnify a member of AIRO for liability to another member of AIRO.

Limit of Indemnity
Underwriters liability in respect of any one occurrence or all occurrences of a series arising out of one original cause shall not exceed 6,500,000.

Excess
Cover excludes the first €1000 of each and every claim for third party property damage.

Significant Conditions
If any claim covered by the policy is also covered in whole or in part by any other insurance, the liability of the Underwriters shall apply as excess of and not as contributory with such other insurances.The member should take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury or damage to property.
Significant or Unusual Exclusions

    •    Injury to any employee of the member.
    •    Injury to any horse or damage to any property belonging to the member.
    •    Property in the care custody or control of the member or any employee of the member.
    •    Terrorism
    •    Hazardous materials.
    •    Fungus, including but not limited to mildew, mould, spore(s),or allergens.
    •    Asbestos or related products

Claims Notification
In the event of a claim or possible claim under the policy the member must immediately notify:
Ben Evans
Howden UK Group
Woodlands
Manton Lane
Bedford MK41 7LW
England
Tel: 0044 (0) 12 3440 8610

​THE MEMBER MUST NOT ADMIT LIABILTY OR OFFER OR AGREE TO SETTLE ANY CLAIM WITHOUT THE UNDERWRITERS WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Cancellation
Being a group policy effected by AIRO the policy does not provide the member with the statuary right to cancel an insurance within 14 days that applies to individual insurance policy contracts.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP FROM AIRO FOR ANY CAUSE OR REMOVAL OF THE MEMBERS NAME FROM THE REGISTER HELD BY AIRO WILL SIMILARLY TERMINATE COVER UNDER POLICY FROM THE SAME DATE.

INSURANCE Q&A

What is third party liability insurance?
It is also known as Public/Personal Liability Insurance and will indemnify the Member for their legal liability arising out of their ownership of any racehorse. The cover applies in respect of damages,(including costs) that you may become legally liable to pay as a result of any accident or injury to a third party and / or their property. This insurance is in excess of any other more specific insurance.
What in respect of this insurance constitutes a racehorse?
​The definition of a racehorse under the terms of this policy is at the time of a claim an animal being kept for racing (under the rules of any recognised Turf Authority). This would include being prepared for racing, resting or recuperating (provided it is the intention of continuing a racing career). If the horse is not in a licensed yard at the time of an incident it will be the members responsibility to prove that the animal qualifies under the aforementioned definition.
​If my trainer has insurance why do I need cover?
It may be that your trainer's insurance doesn't adequately cover you. If your horse is out of training you may also not have indemnity. The animals act 1971, that applies in the UK including Northern Ireland, imposes strict liability in some cases, on an owner of a horse irrespective of whether they are the keeper of the animal or not.
Will cover be applicable to a horse that is owned by a Syndicate or a Partnership?
  • If a Syndicate is a member of AIRO then indemnity is provided.
  • In a Partnership then cover is ONLY applicable to those Partners that are members of AIRO.
​Is a yearling bought at the sales covered?
Cover is applicable from fall of hammer provided it is the intention to begin preparation for training.
Will a horse being prepared for a breeze up be covered?
Cover applies from the time the process starts.
​Am I covered for horses that I own trained in France?
No. Cover only applies to horses in training in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
​Am I insured if my horse travels to the UK, France or Germany to race?
Yes. Cover is world wide provided the horse remains in the care of an Irish/UK based trainer. Indemnity is subject to the EC Jurisdiction clause. (Indemnity will apply but legal action must take place in an EC court)
Are Hunter Chasers or Point to Pointers covered?
Both Hunter Chasers & Point to Pointers are covered, if they are trained by a licensed trainer.