Insurance broker / Insurance questions / Dog and horse liability

How much does horse liability insurance cost in Germany?

In short

For a leisure horse you usually pay EUR 39 to 65 a year, for a competition horse or commercial use EUR 75 to 150. In Germany you are liable for your horse even when you did nothing wrong. Private liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) excludes horses, so you need a separate policy with EUR 10 to 15 million cover and field damage included.

Request a quote +49 3375 29 12 77

How much does horse liability insurance cost in Germany?

What it costs

Guide figures from published German tariff and comparison examples, as of 2026.

Example	Typical range
Leisure horse, EUR 10 million cover	about EUR 39 to 65 a year
Cheapest entry, basic scope	from about EUR 29 to 34 a year
Tariff with high cover and most add-ons	about EUR 64 to 100 a year (EUR 5.33 to 8.24 a month)
Competition horse or commercial use	about EUR 75 to 150 a year
Deductible of EUR 150 to 250	about 15 to 30 percent less, roughly EUR 20 to 40 a year
Second horse on the same policy	about 15 to 25 percent discount

Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples. The ranges for shared riding, breeding and commercial use, and the follow-on costs in the worked example, are guide values from our quoting practice. Your premium depends on use, number of horses and scope; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Leisure horse escapes at night, motorcyclist crashes

A real case: a horse had got out of its paddock, a motorcyclist saw it too late and has used a wheelchair ever since. This is what the arithmetic looks like.

Horse liability premium, EUR 15 million cover	about EUR 60 to 80 a year
Compensation for pain and suffering awarded by the Cologne appeal court	EUR 127,000
Treatment, home conversion, lost earnings and lifelong care	a multiple of that figure
Your liability under section 833 BGB	applies without fault and without an upper limit
Without a horse policy	your private liability insurer declines and you pay

About EUR 60 to 80 a year stands against a claim in which the award for pain and suffering alone was EUR 127,000. The follow-on costs are guide values from our quoting practice, the award itself is documented.

Why you are liable even without fault

A horse you keep for pleasure is treated as a luxury animal (Luxustier) in German law. Under section 833 of the Civil Code (BGB) you are liable as the keeper (Tierhalter) for any damage the animal causes, whether or not you fenced and supervised it properly. There is no upper limit to that liability, it reaches your personal assets.

That is why the cover amounts here are so high. Half a tonne of animal that startles easily and moves fast means injuries to people, not just dented cars. Anyone who looks after the horse for you is liable too, as a Tieraufseher under section 834 BGB, but that does not remove your own liability.

What drives the premium

Use matters most. A horse only you ride is cheapest. As soon as guest riders (Fremdreiter), a shared-riding arrangement (Reitbeteiligung), competitions, breeding or money are involved, the premium rises, because more people handle the animal.

Then come the number of horses, the sum insured, the deductible (Selbstbeteiligung) and the add-ons. Raising cover from EUR 10 to 15 million usually costs only a few euros a year. Paying annually instead of monthly saves about 10 to 15 percent.

Use	Typical premium range per year
Leisure horse, ridden only by you	about EUR 39 to 65
Leisure horse with shared riding or guest riders	about EUR 60 to 90
Competition horse taking part in events	about EUR 75 to 150
Broodmare with foal	about EUR 80 to 150
Commercial use such as a riding school or livery yard	from about EUR 150, often only with a business policy
Second horse on the same policy	15 to 25 percent discount

The add-ons a claim actually turns on

Field damage (Flurschäden) is the most common claim: the horse tramples someone's meadow or crop. Published comparisons suggest at least EUR 30,000 to 100,000 here. Almost as often something breaks in a rented stable or indoor arena, which needs the rented property add-on (Mietsachschäden), at least EUR 50,000 to 100,000.

Also check whether guest riders and a shared rider are named or covered as a group, whether competitions are included (races are usually excluded), how far cover reaches abroad (normally EU wide, or worldwide for 6 to 12 months), and whether an unintended covering (Deckakt) is included. Put the trailer and carriage driving in the policy if you use them.

If you think your private liability policy is enough

It is not. German private liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) expressly excludes dogs and horses and covers only tame pets such as cats, rabbits and birds. The German consumer advice centres state this in the same plain words.

People who miss this find out at the worst moment: the insurer declines and the claim stays with you. In a serious injury case that means compensation for pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld), treatment, lost earnings and decades of care. Many livery yards and riding clubs therefore ask for proof of the policy in the stabling contract.

When the cheapest tariff is enough

If you ride alone, the horse stands on your own land behind a sound fence, you do not compete and you tow no trailer, a basic tariff will do. Save through a deductible of EUR 150 to 250, not through the sum insured.

The other way round: as soon as somebody else rides, leads or feeds the horse, the extra for guest riders and rented property is money well spent. It usually costs a few euros a month and decides whether a claim is paid.

Step by step

Decide the use: only you, shared riding, competition, breeding or commercial.
Set the sum insured to at least EUR 10 million, better EUR 15 million.
Include field damage and damage to rented stables or arenas with real limits.
Check guest riders, trailer, carriage and cover abroad if those apply to you.
Weigh up a deductible, then compare quotes with identical cover.

Checklist

Sum insured at least EUR 10 million, flat for injury and property
Field damage (Flurschäden) with at least EUR 30,000
Damage to rented stable, arena and fencing included
Guest riders and shared riding covered
Unintended covering (Deckakt) included
Competitions and travel abroad covered the way you use them
Trailer and carriage named in the policy if you use them

Common mistakes

Assuming the horse runs along in your private liability policy
Comparing only the base premium and dropping field or rented property damage
Taking on a shared rider and not telling the insurer
Saving on the sum insured instead of taking a deductible

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How much is horse liability insurance per month?

Usually EUR 3 to 6 for a leisure horse, EUR 6 to 13 for competition or commercial use. Paying yearly is often 10 to 15 percent cheaper.

Is horse liability insurance compulsory in Germany?

Not by law. Many livery yards and riding clubs require it by contract, and without it you are liable with your own assets.

Is my horse covered by my private liability policy?

No. Cats and small pets are included there, dogs and horses are expressly excluded. A horse needs its own policy.

What are Flurschäden?

Damage to other people's meadows, fields or tracks, for example when the horse bolts through a crop. Look for a limit of at least EUR 30,000.

Is a shared rider covered?

Only if guest riders are in the contract. Report the arrangement, otherwise cover can be missing for exactly that ride.

Does the policy pay if I am injured myself?

No, your own injuries are never covered. That is what private accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) is for.

Can I get the policy documents in English?

Some insurers provide English service, many do not. The German wording decides a claim, so ask us when a clause is unclear.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Dog and horse liability

We compare several insurers and come back with a proposal. Free for you; the insurer pays our fee. You can write in English.

1Who is it for?

Personal My company

2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

Please review all my existing policies

3Details

Dog and horse liability insurance in Germany (Tierhalterhaftpflicht)

Which animals should be insured? * Breed or mix, for horses the type of use * For example Labrador, mixed breed about 20 kg, leisure horse Year of birth of the animal Is the dog classed as dangerous or on a breed list? * Claims caused by the animal in the last five years * What matters to you For example horse sharer, dog sports, dog walker, moving from abroad

4Your current policy

Current insurer Policy ends on What matters more to you?

5How can we reach you?

Name * Email * Phone Postcode Town Preferred contact Anything else we should know