Does A Horse Need Insurance On The Road
Discussion
You'd probably have some sort of insurance to cover a major vet bill or illness. If you are insinuating they 'need' it for traveling on the road, there is no need - just a need to educate drivers on how to properly control their vehicles.
After driving around the country and meeting hundreds of horses over two decades when I meet them I simply either reverse for them if it is more beneficial for me to do do this rather than the rider turn the horse to pull in back where the road widens or I pull over onto the verge. Most of the time on roads wide enough to pass I just slow right down, so there hasn't ever been any conflict with the animal, I also travel with the understanding that on many roads I might meet a horse or see cattle crossing so I have already reduced my speed according to visibility which is something people are rarely prepared to do these-days.
If it eases your mind I can, in all honesty, say they pose very little threat to you or your car. Understandably I am sure this sort of thing arrises on a car forum because people are overly concerned about their P&J being damaged by an uninsured individual/animal. What I am trying to point out is that so long as you are driving sensibly, which is your responsibility, any damage to your property caused by a horse is extremely unlikely, so it really shouldn't be a concern if the horse is insured. What should concern you is how you drive when you approach them.
After driving around the country and meeting hundreds of horses over two decades when I meet them I simply either reverse for them if it is more beneficial for me to do do this rather than the rider turn the horse to pull in back where the road widens or I pull over onto the verge. Most of the time on roads wide enough to pass I just slow right down, so there hasn't ever been any conflict with the animal, I also travel with the understanding that on many roads I might meet a horse or see cattle crossing so I have already reduced my speed according to visibility which is something people are rarely prepared to do these-days.
If it eases your mind I can, in all honesty, say they pose very little threat to you or your car. Understandably I am sure this sort of thing arrises on a car forum because people are overly concerned about their P&J being damaged by an uninsured individual/animal. What I am trying to point out is that so long as you are driving sensibly, which is your responsibility, any damage to your property caused by a horse is extremely unlikely, so it really shouldn't be a concern if the horse is insured. What should concern you is how you drive when you approach them.
RV8 said:
any damage to your property caused by a horse is extremely unlikely
Same as any car crash then, does that mean we don't need car insurance?I think they should need insurance, because of the risk they can do damage etc. As it's already been said, any sensible rider gets insurance so the horsey community appears to agree with this.
Oh & as to driving sensibly. I've seen more horses cause or nearly cause damage to cars because they are out of control as the rider isn't capable or riding them than I have due to poor driving.
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