Shortly after midnight on the morning of May 31, 2011, tragedy struck at True Prospect Farm in southeastern Pennsylvania. An electrical fire destroyed the barn rented by international event rider Boyd Martin, resulting in the death of six horses. Martin, who was later named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team, ignored orders from firefighters on the scene and rushed inside the barn along with his coach, Phillip Dutton, to rescue horses. In total, five horses survived the blaze and were treated for smoke inhalation and burns.
In the aftermath of the fire, the barn’s owners requested a swift resolution of the claim. As their insurance broker, HUB International negotiated the loss with the client’s risk manager and ACE Private Risk Services, the personal lines insurance company who insured the property. This complex claim was settled quickly to the complete satisfaction of the owners. ACE and HUB also made donations to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation in memory of the lost horses.
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that provides funding for America's elite and developing equestrian athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.
Click here to make a donation.
Photo: Bruce Duchossois, co-chair of the USET Foundation's Development Committee, receives check from Bob Courtemanche, ACE Group Private Risk Services, in honor of the fallen event horses. Also pictured left to right: Boyd Martin, Kirk James, HUB International, and Phillip and Evie Dutton.