Horse and Pony ownership can be a costly business. Insurance is a service that helps to protect you, the owner, against unpredictable and often expensive costs that can come with ownership. There are main types of cover available are:

Third Party Insurance

This type of cover is essential. Horses can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous both to you and others (third parties). If your horse damages other people’s property or worse somebody else, you could be liable for damages running into thousands of pounds, or substantially more for personnel injury claims. Taking out insurance cover to protect you against this risk is not expensive and should not be considered optional.

Mortality Insurance

These policies can be variable but essentially the horse is only covered if found dead or requires immediate euthanasia on humane grounds, for example fracture of a major long bone. Be aware that this is a limited form of insurance.

Veterinary Fees Cover

This policy covers non routine veterinary treatment following accident or illness. Quality veterinary care is expensive and if you do not have the means to pay an unexpected bill of up to several thousand pounds, you should strongly consider this type of insurance. An uncomplicated colic surgery will run to over £3000 with a full lameness investigation well over £1000. Hence you should insure your horse for up to £5000 per incident, (remember VAT is included within this sum), which will cover most eventualities. Inadequate cover may prevent your horse from receiving life-saving surgery.

Loss of Use Cover

This cover will provide reimbursement if your horse develops a permanent disability that prevents it from carrying on the activity for which it is insured. A loss of use claim is much more likely to be invoked compared to a mortality claim hence the premium for this cover is considerable. It will also be increased in line with the sum insured.

Most insurance companies will also offer personal accident cover. Other benefits such as saddle, tack, and trailer cover may also be added.

Which insurance company should I chose?

Independent advice should always be sought if you are unsure however please bare in mind several points.

• Be aware of the excess payable in event of a claim, this is especially relevant with policies that have the excess as a percentage of the final payout. E.g. an excess of 20% of the total claim will leave you with an £800 bill for a £4000 insurance claim.
• Look in the small print for exclusions on expensive diagnostic procedures, for example MRI/CT scans. Other companies will put a ceiling on the total amount payable for diagnostic purposes.
• Be aware of your company’s policy on hospitalisation and paraprofessionals (e.g. farriers and physiotherapists).