KBIS is a company made up of horse people for horse people. To help you get to know the individuals that make up team KBIS, we’re bringing you a specialist spotlight series. Here, we sit down with Equine Team Manager, Mike King to discuss how his love of horses began, how his journey at KBIS started, and his best advice for anyone looking to get into the insurance industry.
Thanks for joining us today, Mike. We’ll start by asking how long have you worked at KBIS and if can you give us an overview of your role and how it has developed?
I have worked for KBIS since 2015. I started as a Policy Administrator and worked my way up to becoming Equine Team Leader in 2019. Then in 2020, I became Team Manager for the Equine department, which is the role I am in now. In a nutshell, I manage the day-to-day workflow, training, and procedures for the Equine team.
Have you always been in the Equine team?
Yes, since my very first day at KBIS I’ve been in the Equine team. Working my way up means I’ve been involved in every aspect of the department including quoting, inviting renewals, processing documents and everything in between. I therefore have a good understanding of all of the work that goes into keeping the department running smoothly.
What do you enjoy most about being Equine Team Manager?
I think it’s that every day is different and working with so many great people. Managing a team of twelve individuals who each have different ways of learning and different working styles means there’s a lot of variety. First and foremost, I’m a people person and it’s rewarding to help horse owners, which is what we do as a team. Whether they are insuring a new horse, amending cover for a horse they have had for a while or assisting them with a claim, helping fellow horse owners gives me a real buzz.
Was it always a goal of yours to somehow combine working with people and horses?
Absolutely. I didn’t get into horses through the normal route. My parents were into vintage machinery and every year when I was a child, we would exhibit our military motorbikes at The Great Dorset Steam Fair. When I was eight years old, I think I must have been annoying my mother, so she sent me off to wander around. Six hours later she couldn’t find me because I had attached myself to a small hackney pony stallion who was doing a private driving demonstration at the fair. The lady who owned him thought I was lost and started chatting to me. My mother came down the horse lines and found me. So, I can track my love for horses back to that moment really. I went on to become this lady’s groom and travelled the country showing carriage ponies. I always hoped I’d keep horses involved somehow and to add in helping people as insurance does is just the icing on the cake.
So, how did you go from showing carriage driving ponies to working at KBIS?
Before I joined KBIS I was a freelance groom. I helped at local stables from about the age of fourteen and then went on to work for a showjumper to get experience in different disciplines. Being self-employed had many perks but it can be inconsistent. I actually broke my leg which is what stopped me in my tracks and made me think about taking a different path, which still kept me involved with horses but not as the person handling them on the ground. For me, working at KBIS combines the best of both worlds.
What would you say is your proudest horsey achievement to date?
I think for me, it would be having been one of the first mountain and moorland ponies to qualify for Horse of the Year Show in both the ridden and driven categories in the same year. This really put me on the map in the driving world and I have been lucky enough to go on to have lots of successes with my driving ponies since.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career in the insurance industry?
There are so many options and avenues to go down in the insurance industry. With KBIS now being part of Specialist Risk Group (SRG), the doors have opened even further so there are even more opportunities. I would say to anyone starting out in the world of insurance would be to make the most of all opportunities that come your way because you never know where it will lead.
Are there any trends you are experiencing in the equine insurance market currently?
We have certainly noticed changes as a result of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis with lots of owners getting in touch to find out how they may be able to reduce the cost of their horse’s insurance. We have seen some cancellations of policies with people deciding to self-insure or take the chance that they won’t need their insurance. It’s a tricky time as everyone’s finances are stretched, so being careful with your money is no bad thing. It may feel like a quick way to save money by no longer paying your insurance, however we know first-hand how grateful owner’s are that they do have cover when the time comes that they need to make a claim.
What would you say to horse owners who are weighing this up?
It is always worth checking with your insurer to see whether anything can be done to bring your premium down if you find yourself in this situation. At KBIS, we have so many options such as reducing your horse’s sum insured or increasing the excess on your vet fee cover, it is likely that there is a happy-medium to be found somewhere which gives you the best of both worlds.
Thanks, Mike. It has been really interesting chatting to you. We are going to finish up with three quickfire questions…
Who would you want to be stranded with on a desert island? I’ve said I’m a people person but I do also enjoy my own company. I’ll say my parents’ border collie, Ellie, she’s intelligent & does what she’s told so could be quite useful.
Favourite horsey event/show? Royal Highland Show, friendly people and lovely rings and weather! HOYS is great but it’s cold!
Favourite food? Chocolate.