KBIS British Equestrian Insurance

What KBIS British Equestrian Insurance does

KBIS British Equestrian Insurance (legal entity KBIS Limited) is a UK specialist insurance intermediary focused exclusively on equestrian risks, founded in 1986 as Kershaw Bloodstock Insurance Services and acquired by Specialist Risk Group at the end of 2020. The company distributes approximately 30 insurance products across five categories: horse (bloodstock, foal, sport horse, veteran, horse & rider, public liability, catastrophe cover), motor (horsebox, horsebox breakdown, trailer, trailer breakdown, farrier van, horse transporter), personal (personal accident, freelance groom, freelance rider, riding instructor, plus BGA and British Eventing-branded variants), business and organisations (yards, riding schools, racehorse trainers, events, polo, farriers, point-to-point), and property (high net worth, yard/property). Distribution combines phone-based custom quoting (0345 230 2323), automated online quote portals for sub-£20,000 horses, and channel partnerships with the British Grooms Association and British Eventing. Revenue is generated via commissions on annual or monthly-direct-debit premiums; horsebox motor lines are underwritten by ERS (Lloyd's A+).

Name

KBIS British Equestrian Insurance

Legal name

KBIS Limited

Website

https://kbis.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KBIS British Equestrian Insurance is a UK specialist insurance intermediary, owned by Specialist Risk Group since 2020, providing horse, motor, personal, business, and property cover to individual horse owners, equestrian professionals, and equestrian organisations, distributed via phone, online portals, and partnerships with the BGA and British Eventing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Insurance

NAICS

Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126), Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412), Other Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (524128)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Insurance Carriers, Nec (6399)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet Insurance (FSAJAMAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Excess/Surplus Lines (E&S) (FSAJAMAH), General Liability Insurance (FSAJAKAD), Accident & Supplemental (Non-Life) Insurance (FSAJAKAA)

Keywords

• Equine insurance
• Horse insurance
• Bloodstock insurance
• Horsebox insurance
• Equestrian liability

Headquarters

HQ city

Newbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: KBIS generates revenue through annual insurance premiums across multiple product lines including horse insurance, motor insurance (horsebox, trailers, farrier vans), personal accident, liability, and property coverage. Premiums can be paid annually or monthly via direct debit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KBIS provides specialist insurance products for the UK equestrian community, covering horses (mortality, theft, veterinary fees, bloodstock, sport horse, foal, veteran, and horse & rider), motor vehicles (horseboxes, trailers, farrier vans, and breakdown), personal accident and public liability for riders/grooms/instructors, business coverage for yards/riding schools/trainers/clubs, and equestrian property insurance. Policies are sold directly via phone and online quote portals, with premium collected annually or by monthly direct debit, and are underwritten by specialist insurers including ERS (Lloyd's A+ rated) for motor products.

Product overview

KBIS British Equestrian Insurance is a UK-based insurance provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of equestrian insurance products. The company, established in 1986 and now part of the Specialist Risk Group, provides one-stop insurance solutions covering horses (Bloodstock, Sport Horse, Catastrophe Cover, Foal, Veteran Horse, Horse & Rider), motor (Horsebox, Horsebox Breakdown, Horse Transporter, Farrier Van, Trailer, Trailer Breakdown), personal (Personal Accident, Freelance Groom, Freelance Rider, Riding Instructor, British Eventing Personal Accident, BGA Grooms), business organizations (Yard, Riding School, Racehorse Trainers, Event & Show, Driving Club, Farrier & Blacksmith, Point To Point Trainers, Polo, Pony and Riding Club, Competition Centre), and property (High Net Worth, Property, Yard). KBIS operates through approved underwriting sources with exclusive contracts, offering flexible cover options to suit different budgets and needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Horse Insurance Comprehensive horse insurance covering Death, Theft and Straying with Legal Expenses up to £50,000, with optional Veterinary Fees, Public Liability, Personal Accident, Tack and Horse Trailer cover. Targeted at individual horse owners across the UK.
• Bloodstock Insurance Specialist insurance for flat and jump racehorses, point-to-point horses, thoroughbred breeding stock, and stallions, offering All Risks of Mortality cover with extensions including Gastro-Intestinal Surgery, Stallion Infertility, and Prospective Foal Cover.
• Sport Horse Insurance Specialized insurance for high-value sport horses valued above £20,000, covering Death and Theft with optional Veterinary Fee cover, Permanent Loss of Use, and Tack cover, with automatic Western Europe transit included.
• Catastrophe Cover Affordable standalone Vet Fee option covering accidental external injuries, colic surgery, joint/tendon sheath flushing for sepsis, and surgery for pastern/pedal bone fractures, with up to £7,500 total claim limit and premiums less than £500/year.
• Foal Insurance Insurance for foals from 24 hours old covering Death, Theft and Straying, with Veterinary Fee cover available from 90 days old, ranging from accidental external injuries to full accident, sickness and disease coverage up to £6,000 per incident.
• Veteran Horse Insurance Insurance coverage for older horses, with specific products designed for horses that may have limited mortality options due to age, covering accidental, external and violent injuries.
• Horse & Rider Insurance Combined horse and rider insurance with Personal Accident cover for anyone aged 5-75 years riding or handling the insured horse, including death, permanent disablement and dental work benefits.
• Public Liability Horse Insurance Stand-alone or add-on public liability insurance covering third party property damage and bodily injury, with limits of £2,000,000 or £5,000,000 and premiums starting from £56 annually.
• Horsebox Insurance Insurance for all types of horseboxes from 3.5 tonne vehicles to large HGVs, available as fully comprehensive or third party, fire and theft cover, underwritten by ERS.
• Horsebox Breakdown Insurance Breakdown cover for horseboxes including home start, roadside assistance, recovery service, emergency travel and accommodation, key cover, misfuelling cover, and replacement driver service, starting from £156.53.
• Horse Transporter Insurance Combined vehicle and business insurance for horse transporters, including Public Liability, Employers Liability, Care Custody or Control, and Motor insurance.
• Farrier Van Insurance Comprehensive insurance for farrier vans, underwritten by ERS with no mileage restrictions, covering gas bottles for forge equipment and loss of keys.
• Horse Trailer Insurance Insurance for horse trailers covering accidental damage, fire and theft for private individuals, with coverage up to £20,000 and minimum premium of £60 plus IPT.
• Trailer Breakdown Insurance Standalone breakdown insurance for trailers including cover for the towing vehicle even when not towing, priced at £132.08 per year including Insurance Premium Tax.
• Personal Accident Insurance Standalone 24/7 worldwide personal accident policy covering accidents and illness while riding and general life accidents, with weekly benefits for temporary total disablement and dental treatment coverage, from £8/week.
• British Eventing Personal Accident Bespoke personal accident insurance designed with British Eventing, covering accidents sustained while riding and handling horses at home, schooling or competing, from £152.72 including IPT with three cover levels plus junior rider option.
• BGA Grooms Insurance Personal Accident and Public Liability insurance offered in partnership with the British Grooms Association, available to BGA members at preferential rates.
• Freelance Groom Insurance Comprehensive insurance for freelance grooms covering Care Custody and Control, Public Liability, and general grooming services including clipping and schooling.
• Freelance Rider Insurance Insurance for freelance competition riders covering Care Custody and Control, Public Liability, riding activities and competing horses on behalf of third parties, with limits from £1,000,000 to £5,000,000.
• Riding Instructor Insurance Comprehensive cover for freelance riding instructors including Public Liability and Care Custody or Control with limits up to £10,000,000, available for qualified and non-qualified instructors with no limitations on when, where or number of hours taught.
• Yard Insurance Insurance for livery yards covering various liability needs including Public Liability and optional Care Custody and Control for yards handling client horses.
• Riding School Insurance Comprehensive insurance for riding establishments including Public Liability, Employers Liability, and Care Custody and Control automatically included.
• Racehorse Trainers Insurance Insurance coverage for racehorse trainers including liability and mortality cover for horses in training.
• Event and Show Insurance Insurance for equestrian events and shows covering liability and various risks associated with organizing competitions.
• Driving Club Insurance Insurance coverage for driving clubs including liability and organizational risks.
• Farrier & Blacksmith Insurance Insurance for farriers and blacksmiths covering liability risks associated with the profession.
• Point To Point Trainers Insurance Insurance for point-to-point trainers covering liability and mortality risks.
• Polo Insurance Insurance coverage for polo players and establishments including liability cover.
• Pony and Riding Club Insurance Insurance for pony and riding clubs covering organizational liability and member activities.
• Competition Centre Insurance Insurance for competition centres covering liability and operational risks.
• High Net Worth Insurance Specialized property insurance for high net worth individuals with equestrian interests.
• Property Insurance Property insurance for equestrian properties and yards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dedicated equine claims team can liaise directly with veterinary practices, allowing policyholders to concentrate on horse treatment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBIS works closely with BEVA to ensure products are suitable in today's market. KBIS was the first company to offer increased cover for colic surgery up to £7,500 after vets expressed concern about available insurance coverage. BEVA guidelines are referenced for mortality claim requirements.
• ERS (Eriorace Limited)coreTechnology or IntegrationERS is a Lloyd's A+ rated insurer providing underwriter services for KBIS horsebox and farrier van insurance products. ERS has over 60 years experience in rural and agricultural insurance. KBIS horsebox and breakdown claims are handled through ERS.
• British Grooms Association (BGA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKBIS works in conjunction with the British Grooms Association to provide BGA members with Personal Accident Cover and Public Liability Insurance at preferential rates. Grooms can access information and take out cover via the BGA website britishgrooms.org.uk.
• British EventingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKBIS British Eventing Personal Accident insurance is designed in conjunction with British Eventing to provide members with access to comprehensive Personal Accident insurance at preferential rates. British Eventing is an introducer appointed representative of KBIS. Policies available from £152.72 including IPT.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Admiral Group: UK's largest motor insurer by customers; competes with KBIS's horsebox/trailer insurance at the generalist level but does not address equestrian-specific risks.
• Hiscox: Lloyd's-aligned specialty insurer offering high-net-worth property and personal lines that overlap with KBIS's property and HNW equestrian cover, though not focused on the equine niche.
• Direct Line Group: Major UK personal lines insurer whose motor division overlaps with KBIS's horsebox and trailer products, but lacks KBIS's specialist equestrian focus and partnerships.
• Aviva: One of the UK's largest general insurers offering personal and commercial lines that overlap with KBIS's property, liability, and personal accident products but without equestrian specialism.
• Towergate Insurance: Large UK insurance intermediary with rural and commercial practices serving riding schools, livery yards, and equestrian businesses; competes with KBIS for the business and organisation segment.
• Ardonagh Group: Major UK insurance broker group that places equestrian and rural risks for commercial clients; competes with KBIS for the yard, riding school, and trainer insurance wallet at the broker level.

Direct peers

• NFU Mutual: The UK's largest mutual insurer with a substantial rural and equestrian practice, offering horse, horsebox, riding school, and equestrian property cover. It is the most direct general competitor to KBIS in the UK equine insurance market.
• Petplan: UK's leading pet insurance provider with an equine and livestock insurance line that competes with KBIS in horse mortality, vet fee, and liability products for individual owners.
• Markel UK: Specialty insurer with established livestock and equine mortality lines across the UK and Europe, directly competing with KBIS in bloodstock and high-value sport horse cover.

Emerging players

• Many Pets: UK-focused pet insurance challenger brand with growing animal coverage; partial overlap with KBIS's horse vet fee and mortality products but focused on smaller companion animals today.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KBISInsurance
• Instagraminstagram.com/kbisequestrian
• Xx.com/KBISInsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kbis-british-equestrian-insurance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KBIS British Equestrian Insurance