Broodmares and youngstock added to popular ROA insurance scheme

The Racehorse Owners Association has expanded its third-party insurance scheme which provides members with cover against potential damages if their racehorse causes damage or injury to a third party or their property.

This insurance now includes, at no additional cost to members, cover for thoroughbred broodmares and youngstock.

The cover applies to foals, weanlings, yearlings or stores being kept solely for the purposes of rearing within the insured definition under the third-party liability scheme.

Charlie Liverton, ROA chief executive, said: “Our recent survey of members showed many owners are also small-scale breeders so we’re really happy Weatherbys Hamilton have been able to offer this valuable extension to our policy without any additional cost to members."

Charlie Liverton: 'Insurance benefit always ranks highly in member surveys'

He added: “The insurance benefit always ranks highly in member surveys as members would be hard-pressed to find a comparable premium for the cost of their membership; so for many members it’s their primary reason for joining.”

Jonny McIrvine, partner at Weatherbys Hamilton, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to extend the third-party liability scheme to include the hobby breeder and further enhance the ROA members’ benefits, something I know that Charlie and his team are working so hard to do.”

The ROA has continued to enhance its member benefits over the last few years, including expanding its free raceday admission schemes to include all members and taking over the funding of the owner-sponsorship scheme.

Cover will not apply where the ownership of breeding stock is professional or a business and will apply only where there is no more specific insurance in existence (as the current scheme terms)

Members liability insurance scheme extended to ‘amateur breeders’ - what you need to know

Q: How did this breeding extension to the ROA third-party liability insurance scheme come about?
A: In January 2019 the ROA conducted a survey of its members to see how many also had an interest in breeding. The response was good and evidenced that approximately one in six ROA members also had some sort of an interest in breeding. In order to further enhance the third-party liability insurance benefit for members, the scheme insurers agreed to extend the original cover, which applies to racehorses in training, to include broodmares and youngstock for members who are also amateur thoroughbred breeders.

Q: What is the definition of ‘amateur breeder?’
A: This scheme applies only to an amateur or hobby breeder, as opposed to somebody who breeds thoroughbreds by way of business. If breeding is the profession, occupation or business of a
member, then specific separate third-party liability insurance should be sought to cover the business.

Q: How does this affect breeding stock while in transit or away from home, i.e. a broodmare being covered in Ireland?
The cover is 24/7, whether breeding stock are at home or elsewhere in the UK. If abroad, for instance travelling to Ireland or to France to foal and be covered, then the insurance automatically extends to include this, but only for periods up to 90 days. This period should generally be adequate but if third-party liability cover for more than 90 days is required, then that would need to be specifically and separately arranged by the member.

Q: When does the cover cease to be in place?
A: As soon as a broodmare is retired fully from being used for breeding purposes. If the mare is being rested as a result of a late covering for instance, but the intention is to return to breeding, then
cover remains effective.

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