For Brian Moggre, Insurance Provides Peace of Mind

​Young show jumping athlete Brian Moggre has been a star on the rise since his early days in the sport where he proved he had the talent, grit, and dedication to make it as an elite athlete. As a junior competitor, Moggre participated in a number of US Equestrian’s (USEF) High Performance Pathway Programs, including the 2017 North American Youth Championships (NAYC) where he won a team gold medal, before progressing to the international ranks.
 
By 2019, Moggre had become a household name in the show jumping world after he clinched his first FEI grand prix wins on some of the largest stages in North America, and that same year earned the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation’s prestigious Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, an honor presented annually to a Junior/Young Rider in an Olympic discipline who exemplifies the USET’s ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship.
 
His brilliance in the show ring earned him a spot on the short list for the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, and shortly thereafter he was named to the U.S. team for the Mercedes Benz Nations Cup CSIO5* at the 2021 CHIO World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany. In an undeniably dazzling fashion, the 20-year-old and his partner of one year, Balou du Reventon, owned by Ann Thompson, jumped clear in all five of their rounds at the show, helping the U.S. team clinch a historic win in the Nations Cup competition and placing second individually in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen. 

Brian Moggre and Anne Thompson’s Balou du Reventon have amassed numerous accolades including being shortlisted for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, and helping the U.S. team secure a historic win in the Nations Cup competition at CHIO Aachen in 2021 in addition to placing second individually in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen at the same competition. Photo by Jump Media

​While Moggre is a talented athlete, he’s also demonstrated that he has the business acumen to make it as a well-respected professional by enlisting the support of experts that help him protect his horses and his livelihood. For Moggre, one of the cornerstones to doing right by all of his horses and protecting his business is having comprehensive insurance. However, between determining the type of coverage needed and identifying an insurance carrier offering the right coverage, the topic of insurance can be complex one.
 
In all aspects of his business, Moggre believes it is important to work with professionals he trusts. He notes this is particularly true when it comes to insurance coverage. He works with Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc., an insurance agency that partners with A-rated insurance carriers and has a team of individuals that are also horse people who understand and relate to their customers. We spoke briefly with Moggre about his experience enlisting an insurance agency. Read on to hear his advice for navigating this often-complex topic.
 
How does insurance give you peace of mind as a professional?
 
As a young professional, I’m building my business each and every day. Having expansive insurance coverage gives me the confidence that if something unexpected happens to one of my horses that I haven’t budgeted for or I’m not prepared for, I’m still going to be able to support myself and my other horses without being overcome with medical bills and expenses. I think a core foundation of building a strong operation is that you’re able to protect yourself and your assets and ensure you’re capable of providing the best possible care to your horses. To me, that’s why having good insurance is so important, especially when you’re competing at the top levels and working to grow yourself as a professional athlete.
 
How do you determine that an insurance agency is well equipped to support your needs?
 
Having the reassurance that you have a fully supportive and knowledgeable team behind you is really comforting, especially if and when you have to make hard decisions or are pressured to make quick decisions depending on your circumstances. That’s what makes Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. so unique and great at what they do. As a young professional, it’s important to have the right people supporting you so that if and when you do get into those potentially difficult situations, you are given the proper guidance and are able to clearly understand the process and next steps, which is where Laura Connaway and her team really excel.
 
What piece of advice would you give to any horse owner about insuring their horses and identifying the best coverage for their needs? 
 
When you’ve dedicated your life to this sport, you need to be able to protect and care for what matters most, which is our horses. They’re absolutely essential, as is their care, and having insurance coverage provided by agents who you trust and truly care about you and your horses has always been very important to me and is a key part of how I choose to operate my business.
 
Moggre is quick to acknowledge that working with animals creates a lot of unknowns. Horses, like people, can have good and bad days and may not always be feeling their best. As someone who has recently begun to build a business, having a partner that is knowledgeable about both the insurance industry and intricacies of the sport horse world gives Moggre peace of mind that he will be able to provide the best possible care for his horses in the event that something unexpected happens. It’s also something that Moggre doesn’t take for granted.