The three most-common horse insurance questions answered

There are many horse insurance policies on the market and it can be difficult to know which one will suit your requirements – especially if you’re new to owning or caring for a horse.

Whether you’re insuring a much-loved companion or a competition prospect, understanding the details of your horse insurance policy is key. Knowing what is – and isn’t – covered ensures you know where you stand if you have to make a claim.

To help guide you through the sometimes confusing world of insurance, SEIB Insurance Brokers’ experienced horse insurance team has answered some of the most common questions asked.

SEIB Insurance Brokers brings over 60 years of equestrian insurance expertise to its clients. The company understands that every horse and owner is different, which is why its team of experts have developed SEIB’s horse insurance policies to be clear, flexible, transparent and tailored to individual needs.

Do you need a vetting for horse insurance?

Whether you require a veterinary certificate (vetting) for horse insurance depends on the type and level of cover you choose and factors such as the value of your horse.

A vetting is usually required for more comprehensive policies for higher-value horses, as the insurer will need to assess the horse’s health before offering this wider protection.

However, there are budget-friendly policies available that offer peace of mind by providing protection against wounds, rather than illnesses, which do not require a veterinary certificate.

For example, Core Horse Insurance from SEIB offers cover online from just £10* a month with no veterinary certificate required. This policy includes cover for public liability and personal accident, as well as veterinary fees for accidental external injuries (wounds) up to £1,500 in any one claim per policy year. Flexible optional add-ons include increased veterinary fees cover, additional tack cover and colic surgery cover.

More comprehensive and flexible policies, such as SEIB’s Classic Horse Insurance, offer wider levels of cover and higher levels of protection – such as veterinary fees cover up to £5,000 for both injury and illness. Because of the more comprehensive cover offered by policies like this, a veterinary certificate may be needed.

Does horse insurance cover vet bills?

Yes, generally horse insurance can cover veterinary bills, but the level of cover will depend on the type of policy you choose.

There is a wide range of horse insurance options available, so it is important when comparing policies to check and understand the key policy information before choosing a policy. This information should be clearly available from the insurer.

Some lower-cost policies such as SEIB’s Core Horse Insurance will only cover veterinary fees for accidental external injuries (wounds) whereas more comprehensive policies such as Classic Horse Insurance cover both illness and injury.

Before buying horse insurance you should check:

• The type of veterinary cover provided – are vet bills covered for accidents only or for both illness and injuries?
• The level of veterinary fees covered – is there a limit on the number of claims or a total aggregate claims limit amount each year?
• The excess amount on the policy – how much you will pay towards each claim?
• Is it a co-insurance type policy? Will you need to contribute an additional percentage towards claim costs?
• Do some procedures or treatments require pre-authorisation from the insurer?
• Are there any other exclusions?

To make things clearer, SEIB has a user-friendly online horse insurance comparison table to help you compare policies, including the level of cover available for veterinary bills.

Does horse insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

In many cases, horse insurance policies will exclude any pre-existing conditions – such as illnesses, injuries or other health issues – that a horse or pony had before the policy started.

An exclusion is placed on a horse insurance policy to be clear as to what the policy does not cover. Exclusions will generally relate to a specific ailment, illness or area of the horse’s anatomy.

When taking out an insurance policy it’s essential to declare your horse’s full medical history and understand any exclusions applied to your policy.

As specialist horse insurance brokers, SEIB works closely with veterinary advisers to ensure that exclusions are proportionate, fair and based on appropriate professional guidance tailored to your horse. Exclusions are intended to provide clarity and transparency, so policyholders fully understand what their policy does and does not cover.

SEIB has over 60 years of equestrian insurance expertise. Our experienced team understands that every horse and owner is different, which is why our team of experts have developed SEIB’s horse insurance policies to be clear and flexible.

To find the right horse insurance to suit your needs, visit www.seib.co.uk or call 01708 850000.

*T&Cs apply. SEIB Insurance Brokers is a trading name of SEIB Insurance Brokers Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration number: 479477. VAT registration number: 477 7248 00.