Horse insurance

Horse insurance can be worth considering if you would struggle to cover a large vet bill, replace the value of your horse if they died, or pay legal costs and compensation if your horse injured someone or damaged their property.

You don't necessarily need every type of cover available. Horse insurance can be quite modular, so consider the financial risks you want protection against. For example, Animal Friends includes vet fees, death and public liability, while The Insurance Emporium lets you add benefits including vet fees, public liability, loss of use, saddlery and tack, personal accident and referral vet transport and livery.

The key is to compare what each policy actually includes and choose cover that reflects your horse, how you use them and the costs you could afford yourself.

Horse insurance primarily protects against risks associated with the insured horse, but some policies can also protect people riding or handling them.

For example, The Insurance Emporium offers optional personal accident cover for specified serious injuries to people riding, handling, caring for or interacting with the insured horse. Its public liability cover can also apply to someone riding or handling the horse with the owner's permission, subject to the policy terms.

Always check exactly who is insured and in what circumstances, particularly if other people regularly ride your horse.

You don't legally need horse insurance simply because you ride your horse on public roads, but public liability cover can protect you financially if your horse causes an incident for which you're legally responsible.

Riding on public roads comes with specific risks, including collisions with vehicles, sudden spooking, or accidental injury to pedestrians or damage to property. Even a calm horse can behave unpredictably in traffic, and without insurance, the resulting legal or compensation costs could be significant.

While liability insurance is valuable, following road safety best practice is equally important. Riders should follow legal and safety guidelines, such as wearing hi-vis clothing, using lights when riding in low visibility, and undertaking road safety training where possible.

No, there is no legal requirement to insure your horse. However, it is strongly recommended. Veterinary bills can be unexpectedly high if your horse falls ill or is injured. Also, under Animals Act 1971 you are legally liable for any damage or injury your horse causes, even if you are not present.

Without insurance, you could face significant veterinary or legal costs. Horse insurance helps protect you financially against these risks, making it a sensible precaution even though it’s not compulsory.

Yes, many insurers offer cover for veteran horses. The age at which a horse becomes a veteran can differ between insurers, but it usually around 15 to 20 years old. Some horse insurers have maximum age limits. These are usually for horses 30-40 years old.

Be aware that premiums for older horses can be higher, and/or some insurers will impose exclusions for pre-existing conditions. For example, The Insurance Emporium does not cover illnesses in veteran horses. You may also need to provide a recent veterinary report or health check before cover is agreed.

Horse insurance can cover competitions, but you need to check that your particular discipline and level are included.

Both horse insurers available through MoneySuperMarket specify the equestrian activities they cover. These can include activities such as dressage, show jumping and eventing, but limits apply. For example, Animal Friends sets maximum levels or fence heights for several activities, while The Insurance Emporium divides activities into two different categories of cover.

If your horse is injured while taking part in, or preparing for, an activity outside those covered by your policy, your claim may not be paid.

Yes, horse insurance can cover vet bills, but check your policy carefully. Unlike standard pet insurance, some horse insurers only offer vet fee cover as an optional add-on.

Horse insurance is also often time limited. This means you can claim for a veterinary incident for up to 365 days from when your horse is injured or first shows clinical signs of an illness or condition. After that, you will have to pay for any further treatment yourself.

A veterinary incident starts when your horse is injured or first shows clinical signs of an illness or condition. Any conditions diagnosed while investigating or treating that incident may be treated as part of the same veterinary incident.

Your policy will also have a vet fee limit, which is the maximum your insurer will pay. Depending on the policy, this could apply to each veterinary incident or to your medical claims overall. You can usually choose between several limits when you buy your policy.

For example, say you have time-limited cover with a £7,000 limit. Your horse starts limping and acting stiff under the saddle, and your vet diagnoses Navicular Disease and Kissing Spines. While resting in a stall to recover, your horse becomes stressed and develops Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS). All three conditions could be treated as one veterinary incident. You could claim for treatment until you reach £7,000 or 365 days have passed, whichever comes first.

You'll also need to pay an excess when you claim. This is the amount you pay towards the claim before your insurer contributes.

The horse insurance policies available through MoneySuperMarket provide time-limited vet fee cover rather than lifetime cover.

That means they let you claim for a condition for up to a year or until the vet fee limit is reached, whichever happens first. After the 12-month period ends, that condition will no longer be covered.

The claims process depends on your insurer and what you're claiming for. Contact your insurer as soon as possible when something happens and check its claims requirements before arranging non-emergency treatment or euthanasia where possible.

Animal Friends

Vet fee claims can be submitted by your vet through its Pawtal system or using a claim form. You'll generally need your horse's full veterinary history, and additional evidence may be required depending on the claim.

The Insurance Emporium

Requires completed claim forms, medical history and veterinary reports for relevant claims. Other evidence can be required depending on what you're claiming for, such as proof of your horse's value for a death claim.