Ride Hard, Stay Protected!
September 26, 2025
Ride Hard, Stay Protected
Team chasing is one of the most exciting equestrian sports — fast, challenging, and a true test of teamwork. But like any high-adrenaline sport, things can go wrong, and when they do, the financial impact can be serious. At YPG Financial, we help riders cut through the jargon and put the right protection in place, so you can focus on competing with confidence.
Public Liability – who pays if someone else gets injured or something is damaged?
Public Liability (PL) insurance protects you if your horse causes injury to someone else or damages property — in team chasing context that could mean a spectator injured by a loose horse, or your horse damaging someone’s car as you walk past it.
Most riders already have PL through their horse insurance or sometimes even home insurance, but many policies exclude organised events and competitions. That means you might be unprotected when it really counts.
Please read the T&Cs of your current policies. If you don’t have suitable cover then you may be able to add it on to your current policy. If not, your options include taking out a standalone policy (eg with KBIS) or join an organisation which offers a PL policy of last resort which covers team chasing as part of their membership (eg The Countryside Alliance Equine Plus). From next year anyone who team chases will have 24/7 PL Insurance through their BTC membership.
Key facts for team chasing riders:
· PL is about liability to others, not your own medical bills.
· Check the wording on your PL cover, basic PL often doesn’t cover organised events like team chasing.
· PL will usually pay legal defence costs as well as settlements.
Horse Insurance (Where Public Liability Often Lives)
Horse insurance can offer a range of cover depending on the level you choose — from vet bills to loss or theft of your horse, tack and equipment, and sometimes Public Liability (PL).
The catch: many standard horse insurance policies exclude organised competitions or team chasing events. Always read the small print.
Personal Accident – a one-off payout for injury or worse
Personal Accident (PA) cover pays a lump sum if you’re injured (e.g. fractures, permanent disability) or worse while riding. It’s not designed to replace your income, but it does give you quick financial support to help with recovery costs, travel, or home adjustments.
Key facts for team chasing riders:
· Many PA policies exclude team chasing and ‘timed sports’, so it’s essential to check the wording on your cover.
· PA payouts are typically fixed sums, and you can choose the level of cover and how much you get paid out for each accident when you take out the policy.
· PA is useful for covering immediate costs but may be insufficient by itself for long-term income loss.
At YPG, we help riders choose PA cover that’s relevant and realistic, so you’re not left with token payouts that don’t actually help when you’re injured.
Income Protection – a long-term salary substitute if you can’t work
If riding is your job — whether as a professional rider, coach, or someone self-employed in the equestrian world — Income Protection (IP) is crucial. It replaces part of your income if you can’t work due to illness or injury, keeping your bills, mortgage and household secure. Unlike PA, it’s ongoing cover, not just a one-off lump sum.
Key things for team chasing riders:
· IP covers loss of income, not the cost of treating an injury. It’s the most relevant cover for self-employed equestrians
whose earnings stop if they can’t ride or work.
· Important to note that IP has a deferred/excess period (how long you must be off work for before payments start) –
you can choose how long this can be - longer delays lower premiums.
· Policies differ on whether they pay for inability to perform you own job, or any job. You need to make sure your
policy covers you for inability to perform your OWN job.
Income Protection is another of YPG’s specialities. We arrange tailored policies specific to you, so if you can’t do your job, you still get paid.
Why Professional Advice Matters
It’s tempting to turn to social media for guidance, but advice in a Facebook group or WhatsApp chat is rarely tailored to your personal situation — and can often be plain wrong. Insurance is too important to leave to guesswork or “my friend said this was fine.”
A qualified adviser will look at your income, lifestyle, existing cover and competition level, then recommend what actually works for you.
At YPG, that’s exactly what we do.
3 Myths You Might Hear on Social Media (and Why They’re Wrong)
❌“Your house or horse insurance will cover you at any horse event.”
✅ Not true — whilst some do, many home or horse policies exclude organised competitions. Always check the small print.
❌“Personal Accident and Income Protection are basically the same.”
✅ They’re not. PA is a lump sum for injury; Income Protection is ongoing financial support if you can’t work.
❌“All insurance policies are standard — just get the cheapest one.”
✅ Policies vary massively, and cheap cover often excludes the very risks riders face most.
Why Choose YPG?
· We specialise in equestrian financial protection and being a team of ex jockeys ourselves — we understand the risks of
sports like team chasing.
· We don’t oversell — we listen to exactly what you do and look for cover to suit you, we won’t push you towards cover you don’t need.
· We focus on what matters — ensuring your Personal Accident and Income Protection policies actually work when you need them most.
· We offer real advice — not generic answers copied from a Facebook thread.
At YPG Financial, our mission is simple: keep you riding, and keep your finances safe, whatever happens out on the course.
Want peace of mind before your next event? Contact Tim at YPG for a no-obligation review and ride with confidence.
Tim Eades, Founder of Your Protection Guaranteed - 07908419400