Field injury insurance

[ownedbyaconnie]

So my renewal has come through for pony who is 15 and in the last couple of years has had claims for hocks, coffin joints, cellulitis, kissing spine, SI joint, TMJ and front knee. So all those excluded and they want £99 a month. So essentially all I have left is back legs (bar hocks). I wouldn’t put through colic surgery.

Realistically say something did go wrong with stifle I don’t have the time with a toddler, job, imminent newborn and husband due to go away with work for an extended period of time to do the rehab anyway and she would be turned away and/or retired.

So I’m thinking of taking out the Harry hall or equivalent field injury insurance instead and putting the difference between that and the £99 petplan want into savings and building up a fund. I also have access to a fair bit of credit/savings should I need it. But tbh riding is not my priority anymore and as long as she is field sound she is perfectly happy mooching in her field (out 24/7 with access to good grass in summer and a round hay bale in winter). She is first and foremost a pet and part of the family.

I think really I know what I’m going to do but just wanted to see if I’d missed anything obvious!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

So my renewal has come through for pony who is 15 and in the last couple of years has had claims for hocks, coffin joints, cellulitis, kissing spine, SI joint, TMJ and front knee. So all those excluded and they want £99 a month. So essentially all I have left is back legs (bar hocks). I wouldn’t put through colic surgery.

Realistically say something did go wrong with stifle I don’t have the time with a toddler, job, imminent newborn and husband due to go away with work for an extended period of time to do the rehab anyway and she would be turned away and/or retired.

So I’m thinking of taking out the Harry hall or equivalent field injury insurance instead and putting the difference between that and the £99 petplan want into savings and building up a fund. I also have access to a fair bit of credit/savings should I need it. But tbh riding is not my priority anymore and as long as she is field sound she is perfectly happy mooching in her field (out 24/7 with access to good grass in summer and a round hay bale in winter). She is first and foremost a pet and part of the family.

I think really I know what I’m going to do but just wanted to see if I’d missed anything obvious!

That sounds like a good plan! Although in the interests of full disclosure, we haven't insured since I couldn't get a payout for loss of insured horse, many years ago.

 

[Widgeon]

Sounds sensible to me. In your shoes I would do the same. Your mare sounds very lucky to have you!

 

[Upthecreek]

As long as you have access to money whilst you build up a fund from saving what you would have paid in insurance premiums I’d go with injury insurance. With the amount of exclusions on the policy I can’t see it’s worth paying £99 a month for it.

 

[criso]

I've got an SEIB version which includes tack, personal accident, public liability and death, loss straying.

The things that could go wrong that you probably are covered for and wouldn't be are laminitis, breathing issues and colic or ulcers so I would make a plan for those. Some of the accident only policies cover colic surgery but not treatment so need a plan for that as even just the treatment and a hospital stay without operating can add up. Breathing issues, less likely to develop suddenly at 15 and laminitis is as much about long term management as vet treatment.

 

[Winters100]

I always take the view that, since insurance premiums are obviously calculated so that the likely outcome is profit for the company, I am better off not insuring provided that I could afford necessary treatment in case the need arose. In your shoes I would therefore not bother, especially at that price.

 

[criso]

I always take the view that, since insurance premiums are obviously calculated so that the likely outcome is profit for the company, I am better off not insuring provided that I could afford necessary treatment in case the need arose. In your shoes I would therefore not bother, especially at that price.

Up to a point but vets fees even for a small incident can be so high, I'm not sure how the insurers make money.

After similar exclusions to the OP, I moved to accident only. I'm in my 4th year. Premiums started at about £250 a year, now just over £300 so paid the insurers about £1100 over 4 years up to end of sept 2024.

I've had a bump to the head/eye injury which with a short hospital stay cost about £1500 and a leg injury which was £500. I'll need to be claim free to about 2027 for the insurer to come out ahead.

A weekend call out and follow up for even a minor injury is easily a few hundred by the time you add antibiotics and pain relief (oral and injection). Some staples and X rays push it up even more.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I have catastrophe insurance with KBIS as i have too many exclusions for vet fees.
Its this year bumped up to 54 a month. If it goes up much more ill probably cancel it and put the money into a savings account instead.
Have to say i definitely got my moneys worth out of vets fees insurance over the years, maxed out multiple claims , transport fees and physio appointments.

 

[skint1]

I'm with Harry Hall for one of my horses- and SEIB for the other. For a while I had Harry Hall for them both, it was £54 per quarter for them both, and although I never made a claim it seemed good. I may yet return to Harry Hall for both as the price doesn't change whether I have 1 or 2. Neither are ridden, but with one, I thought maybe some day she could be so I changed last year.

 

[criso]

I have catastrophe insurance with KBIS as i have too many exclusions for vet fees.
Its this year bumped up to 54 a month. If it goes up much more ill probably cancel it and put the money into a savings account instead.
Have to say i definitely got my moneys worth out of vets fees insurance over the years, maxed out multiple claims , transport fees and physio appointments.

I'm paying £31 with SEIB with extra added. Stayed the same to previous year when I renewed in September.

 

[Widgeon]

I have catastrophe insurance with KBIS as i have too many exclusions for vet fees.
Its this year bumped up to 54 a month.

Ouch! I don't pay a huge amount more than that for "full" insurance from Scottish Equestrian.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I'm paying £31 with SEIB with extra added. Stayed the same to previous year when I renewed in September.

Ill take a look thanks!
My cover is up to 7.5k i think seib is 3k, is that what yours is ?

 

[criso]

Ill take a look thanks!
My cover is up to 7.5k i think seib is 3k, is that what yours is ?

Yes, I reduced it as I figured that was enough for injuries. I wasn't interested in colic surgery as with a previous incident, it would be excluded even if it was something I would consider doing. I added tack or it would have been cheaper.

This was veteran option but the horse doesn't have to be a veteran but they've now introduced a core option which may be even cheaper.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Thanks everyone. Good to know I’ve not forgotten something obvious. I’m having a chat with my vet just to get her opinion too (she’s also a good friend).

It feels like a turning point and the first step towards her retirement which makes me sad but I guess it’s just part of life moving on. I’m turning 30, about to have 2 children and just don’t have the time to dedicate to horsey life like I did! But deep down I know I would rather have her happy in a field than pushing myself to the absolute limit trying to fit everything in. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this time last year I was posting about being permanently ill and run down and she was on rehab plan after rehab plan, and this winter I’ve had one cold and one sickness bug but otherwise been fine (despite being heavily pregnant!)

She’s also the type of pony I could leave in the field for weeks and drag out for a walk and she’d be good as gold (assuming fit enough of course).

 

[2 Dragons]

I moved my 2 to Harry Hall as they both have so many exclusions.
Both still in work but starting to slow down as they getting older, as am I . Also daughter 1 has move away and daughter 2 is at uni.
HH were great when my mare managed to kick herself on the inside of her leg, cutting the skin and chipping her previously broken splint bone, ( this type of craziness is why she has so many exclusions) they covered all the vet costs including x-rays.