Important Notice to All Area Reps, County Reps and WES Approved Instructors.
Over the past month I have been negotiating with the WES Insurers in respect of the renewal of the Society Insurance cover. The underwriters are becoming increasingly strict in respect of their requirements, in part because of the inflationary claims which are being made due to injuries. Whilst WES has never had a claim Horse Riding is seen as a dangerous and Risk high sport due to the high cost of treatment following injury.
In order to retain our cover at a competitive rate we have had to agree to a number of changes to our rules in respect of Instructors and activities.
- We must reinforce that any Society activity covered by the Society insurance must be run by a member who has attended the Show Managers seminar. All activities should be risk assessed and a copy of the risk assessment must be submitted with the approval form.
- All Society activities involving horses not just shows must be granted approval – This includes Clinics, Shows and Trail Rides. Social activities do not. Approval to be sought from the Show Coordinator Mick Carder – forms are available to download off the website.
- Everyone riding at a WES Activity must wear a British Standard approved hard hat. However competitors competing as a WES approved show may wear a stetson subject to providing the Society with a signed disclaimer which is to be provided to the show secretary.
- As from 1st April 2012 All Instructors wishing to be listed on the WES Approved list must obtain at renewal Insurance cover of £5 million and all instructors must have obtained this cover by 1st April 2013.
Unfortunately due to the increasingly litigious society we are in these steps have had to be taken to preserve WES and maintain the sport of Western Riding. The agreement of the underwriters to allow stetson’s was particularly difficult but has been achieved.
WES has also agreed upon the recommendation of the underwritters to take out Employers Liability Insurance to help safeguard the increasing numbers of volunteers who assist as WES events, recognising whilst they are not actually being paid, they are being managed by officials of the Society.
The Society has had to make this change to the rules to protect our insurance cover. Competitors still have the choice of whether they wear a hard hat or a Stetson – it’s always been an option under the Society rules, however our Insurers are now insisting that anyone choosing not to wear a hard had has signed a declaration that they are doing so out of choice.
We have advised all Area Reps and County Reps and information is going out to Instructors as soon as Anne is able to send it.
All clinics and other Riding activities will require hard hats to be worn.
David Brindley – Chairman
