MEMBERS INFORMATION

Remember your Membership runs from January 1st to December 31st

All new members joining from 1st September get the remainder of the year and all of the following year for their first subscription

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INSURANCE 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS:  Your Personal Liability Cover by NFU Mutual as a member of the BDS gives cover  if have a 3 yr old pony that you are breaking to drive and need to drive on the highway.  This has been explained to me by the NFU Agent Mr. Ewan MacInnes January 09 following a question by an Area Member.   

Many BDS members will already have Personal Liability cover as part of their existing house contents or horse policy, but if you have no Personal Liability Cover in place elsewhere, you are automatically covered by NFU Mutual as a member of the BDS.

This means that if you have an accident and already have personal liability insurance a claim should be submitted to your existing insurance company (not NFU Mutual) in the first instance. If you are unsure of your Personal Liability Cover, check this with your current insurer The first £250 of any third party property damage claim is excluded. If you have a very large claim which exceeds the cover you have elsewhere, NFU Mutual's Personal Liability cover will apply on top of your existing cover - Up to a limit of £5 million pounds. For example, if you have £1 million of Personal Liability cover as part of your house insurance and you make a claim for £1.5 million, your house insurer should be responsible for £1 million and NFU mutual for £500,000.

BDS MEMBERS INSURANCE WHAT WILL IT COVER?

• Up to £5 million in compensation for accidental bodily injury or property damage, arising within the UK, from:
• Ownership, possession or use by any member of a horse or pony
• Any member riding, leading, handling or driving any horse or pony not owned by them
• Any cart owned, possessed or used by another member while unattached.
• The payment of legal and other defence fees in addition to the £5 million
• Provides cover on a public highway and the liability of one member to another.
• BDS official events and 'Fun Days' are covered.
• BDS Events Obstacles can be used but MUST NOT BE TIMED

 WHAT WILL IT NOT COVER?

• Any cover for business use, such as hire of carriages for weddings (separate cover required)
• Racing under National Hunt or Jockey Club rules
• Driving Trials (BHDTA Membership)
• Scurry Driving (Scurry Driving Association Membership)
• Indoor Driving Trials (Indoor Horse Driving Trials Membership)

 TAKING PART IN AREA DRIVES OR EVENTS.

 (Exceptions to this may only be made by the discretion of the Area Commissioner).

As a matter of courtesy for any of our events, please try to let the contact person know by the closing date beforehand that you are attending and arrive in good time, we need know in case of cancellation.

• All whips must be a member of the BDS and non members not to drive at any Area event unless they have third party insurance.
• Wear a suitable hat with gloves and apron at rallies etc., bring your BDS membership card along and always remember to carry horse passport in car or lorry.
• All horses/ponies must be shod and aged 4 years or over to take part in Area Drives or Driven classes.
•  Essential road safety features are high-viz gear for whip, groom and animal.
• Every turnout must have an able-bodied groom (who can be a non-member)
• Remember that those aged 14 or under must be accompanied by a competent adult at all times and must also wear a hard hat in the interests of safety.
• Whips are responsible for ensuring horse/pony is fit enough for the work it is expected to do and should ensure horse/pony is happy driving in company.
• The vehicle is maintained and the harness is in good condition, adjusted to fit horse/pony and suitable for the terrain to be covered.
• Basic spares kit is carried and should contain basic first aid for humans and equines and basic spares, including headcollar and rope.
• Your whip is an aid and should be in your hand, not the whip socket. 
• Show courtesy and consideration to motorists and acknowledge them
• Approach ridden horses with extreme care and pass pedestrians and horses carefully, not too close nor fast.
• Look behind before moving off or turning and use clear hand signals (see Highway Code) should be used by the whip and/or groom as necessary.
• Whip signals to be used only if driving in a convoy or in the show ring.
• Look well ahead and remember what you miss but your horse sees, could be the start of a problem.
• The whip should be the first to mount the vehicle and the last to alight and always ensure the groom is at the horse's head.
• Horses must be removed from a vehicle before un-harnessing, NB never remove the bridle before the horse is free of the vehicle and at no time may a horse/pony in full harness and attached to a vehicle be left unattended or tied up. 

When attending any organised drives please also remember

•  At least the length of one horse should be maintained between each turnout.
• After descending a slope remember all turnouts must be clear of that slope before anyone increases pace.
• Overtaking should not be necessary and only undertaken with the knowledge and agreement of the turnout in front. Exercise extreme caution.
• Racing is not allowed at any time.
• If any whip is in difficulties or has an accident stop if asked to do so.