Horse insurance thoughts - please ponder with me...

[emma69]

In the last couple of years when I worked at the riding school, the decision was made not to insure any of the working horses for vet cover (ob had the necessary liability insurances etc). We paid less in vet care than we did in insurance fees, partly because we were very upfront with the vet about costs, and the treatment routes were very different to insured animals. Even the basic stuff like drugs, the vet would suggest alternatives that we could get from other sources, rather than giving them to us with a hefty bill. Our vet was very no nonsense tho, he would never have compromised a horses well being for want of cash, but he went 'old school' on some things (think epsom salts, not meds) which worked just as well.

 

[Tia]

Yes they do charge more if you are insured. When you do not hold vet fees insurance you will find your bills are significantly less. You have to tell the vet practice that you are not insured though to make use of this.

As you know, I own 19 horses and I do not have vet fee insurance for any of them. If they need treatment, they get it. My bills are very minimal over the course of a year - I estimate that for injuries/illness per year, on an average year I pay well under 1K for all of the horses put together. This obviously does not include vaccinations.

 

[kellydonn]

This makes for very interesting reading..our Tb is insured and after 3 months of having him he managed to jump out of the field and injure himself badly on some sheep wire while out and about on his travels. I cannot tell you how many times we were asked "is he insured" and the next question was "who with" Our vet referred him to liphook Equine who operated that night. He was insured for up to 5000 and the total bill was like 4750 !!! I often wonder if he hadnt of been insured would we of been offered a less dramatic option ?

 

[alsxx]

I'm thinking of doing this once the next year is up. I have never needed to claim, in fact in all the yrs I have had ponies/horses (since day dot pretty much) my parents never claimed for anything either. Yet now I have claimed for a lameness (currently 2 claims accepted, with 2 further seperate conditions currently unacounted for) and its been a nightmare. Disputing the diagnosis, on and on it goes and I have forked out for close to 6k now with less than half given back! Fortunately a certain ombudsman service have decided to get involved but whatever the outcome, I have bent over backwards for an insurance company (after paying them years of premiums) to receive the worst, most unhelpful service ever! Rant over!

 

[Shilasdair]

Thank you all for your ponderings - very helpful, particularly the financial ones, and your experiences in trying to claim.
I think I will 'self insure' by setting aside a lump sum initially, then adding a set amount each month.
S

 

[dieseldog]

I haven't insured my horses for vet fees for about 15 years. 2 years ago I got a £2K vet bill, I just paid it on my interest free credit card - so you don't even need to save up in advance. I am better off still, even with that bill

My horse now is not insured at all as she would have 3 legs excluded - what's the point? She's meat money. I'm a member of BHS, which gives you £10m Public liability anywhere in the world for any horse related incident and has £0 excess.

Vets do charge different rates. My bill for the operation came to £500 more than they quoted me and they knocked it off.

 

[oln]

at the end of the day insurance companies have to make money so if you can afford and be disciplined enough to put the money aside, the odds are stacked in your favour of saving money and you will also have more control on what you do pay out on.