An avid horseman, Mike King started his own insurance practice specializing in the equine market in 1998 and quickly made his mark when called upon in 2000 to help shape Ontario’s helmet law, which now stands as a point of reference for all jurisdictions in Canada.
Fast forward a couple of decades: Mike has systematically worked with provincial equine associations and their members to put his own stamp on the Canadian insurance industry through the development and management of several proprietary products. Today, Mike and his team are responsible for the insurance programming in all provincial/territorial equine associations (except for Quebec because of the language barrier – but he’s working on that!). The policies and programs by his design and under his oversight protect literally tens of thousands of horse enthusiasts across the country.
In part because of his long-standing relationships with key industry influencers, Mike was recently tasked by Equestrian Canada to develop the insurance component embedded in the newly-launched Coach License. His input went beyond crafting the insurance policy coverages and included assisting in the development of acceptance criteria for new licensees and creating a claims mitigation and management strategy. His involvement has helped to crystalize the risk associated with coaching at sanctioned horse shows and everywhere else that instruction is provided.
Mike’s day-to-day work across Canada contributes positively to the protection and education of all coaches and their riders and will for years to come as a vital part of the evolution and modernization of equestrian sport. He regularly contributes as an expert in various online education courses at Equine Guelph and speaks across the country on the subjects of risk associated with a lifestyle surrounding horses.
Foreseeable Future
“The first goal this year is to communicate with as many coaches and facility operators as possible to ensure that the coach license project is successful. This is so much more than the activities of a coach at an EC-sanctioned event – this is about a long overdue and significant shift in how the industry functions.
“The second goal is to provide the level of service expected to our PTSO partners and all of their members. A strong PTSO membership means that the industry will continue to grow.”
Memorable Moment
“A highlight has to be when I was asked by Equine Guelph to develop risk management material for some of their online education courses. After all these years, I still look forward to my ‘guest instructor/expert’ interaction with students from around the world who share the passion for horses – very cool.”
