I can't get any insurance - what should I do?

[speedycivic]

I am having no luck getting vets cover or third party cover on my horse. I am worried sick. What do I do in terms of vets fees. Saving up money won't cover anything at all. One company has said they may cover her if she has a five stage vetting and full details on vets reports but will most likely not cover her injured leg. I'd rather not fork out for a 5 stage vetting if they then say they won't cover her.
The other issue is my damned vet who insists psd not related to her kick injuries - despite Potters bar saying they were and the claim went through as one claim on old insurance.
The horse is only six and so I really can't leave her uninsured. Also I know my vets are less than compassionate and really won't allow me time to pay invoices. They just love fleecing folk and insurance companies alike. I would never have a horse if I could not insure it as I won't be able to afford vet fees I should say that I only want to insure as a companion. She is not ridden.

 

[Bikerchickone]

Why are they refusing to cover her? I have mine insured with Petplan for the lowest value (£250 each) and vet bills only as I agree with you about not having cover being a bad idea! Have you tried lots of different companies? Usually 5 stage vettings are only wanted when the value insured is high (over £5K I believe.)

 

[speedycivic]

Tried all reputable ones. KBIS petplan, NFU. I was going to insure for 3k, but I don't think this is the issue, it is the vets claims she has had. Last year a horrific injury to OSH. Plus minor virus. Year before, blooming vet came to confirm previous leg injury resolved to remove exclusion from insurance that I had at the time. Vet said horse was lame in front - went gung

 

[ladyt25]

What bikerchickone said! There is no reason a company would not insure your horse - sure they may/will exclude a pre-existing condition/injury but wouldn't NOT cover the horse for other things. You should not need a vet's certificate unless the horse exceeds a certain value (this may vary depending on insurer) or if the horse has been uninsured for a length or time (usually more than 12 months). I would try another insurer or go througha broker, there are various ones out there. A few examples - Julie Andrews, Bargate Holroyd, Towergate Lloyd and Whyte, CETA insurance (online). They will be able to find different insurers for you.

 

[Orangehorse]

If she has an injured leg you won't get that covered anyway - insurance is for unexpected things.

If you are a BHS member (and some other organisations) you will get automatic third party cover - and maybe check out your household insurance cover too because it might be included.

If you are having trouble getting vets fees cover, why not go to a broker and see what they can offer. I think Pet Plan did a high excess policy, where they would pay out if the bill was over £250 or something, so you would be covered for a really serious thing like colic.

If she is only a companion then she isn't exactly doing high risk things.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Try AmTrust Equine, I'm with them and they're fabby.

 

[speedycivic]

Ho and investigated- had to tell insurance - turned out to be due to poor shoeing and at the same time said to me there were two small sarcoids- to leave them, but that she would tell my insurance and therefore they would be excluded from cover- I said that if they did that I might as well have them removed! So I did.

 

[rockysmum]

You can get third party insurance by joining the BHS. I'm not surprised that you are having trouble insuring the vets fees if you have had previous large claims. Not much you can do about that, they are in business to make a profit and will consider it a big risk.

If you are not prepared to keep her without vets fee insurance, I dont see a way forward. Perhaps you could find her a home as a companion, if she cant be ridden, but again people wont want horses which are likely to cost them a lot of money in vet fees.

Perhaps your only way forward is to put what you would have paid in insurance away each month to cover future bills. You might decide in advance that if something major goes wrong and you cant afford big bills you will PTS.

Best wishes, its not a good situation to be in.

 

[LMJ]

If all the 'vets cover' enquiries come back as a no no then at least you could get third party liability cover from becoming a gold member @ BHS. or joining BDS etc?

Hope you find a policy though

 

[StormyMoments]

im unsure as to why they are refusing to insure her. they usually ask for 5 stage vetting for horses worth 5k + but that is all some ask for a 2 stage but thats only some.

they are still willing to insure my horse who has de-nerved one foot and has apparently "tendon problems" in both of his hocks (which is a different story as this is untrue)

they have asked me to have a vetting if i want what wont be covered, covered. but i know they wont want to cover his foot as he can injure it and not know and ligament and tendon problems arent something they like either

i know it sounds stupid but why dont you not have that leg insured? i know it would be very unfortunate if in the event she injured that leg but it isnt the leg that isnt insured its the injuries she has already there so say she injured her self by cutting the scarring they wont pay out but a new wound they would

they are asking for a vetting because they want to make sure that the previous injuries dont affect her and wont cause problems later that you might claim for if you know what i mean

i hope you get this sorted soon good luck!

 

[speedycivic]

Hi ladyt25. Tried j Andrews. She said no. I will try the others. I guess little horse seems to be a bit of a liability. One claim for injury in2008 two things in 2009 because vets insisted and two in 2011

 

[skint1]

So is it that you cancelled one policy and now cant get one where your horse's existing conditions are covered?

 

[speedycivic]

Hi stormy. I totally accept the one leg not being covered, but they aren't interested in covering her at all. NFU said 5 stage vetting to consider cover but even with that won't cover that leg. I think it is totally insane!

 

[speedycivic]

Skint1, no. Policy expired and current insurer went out of insuring horses

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I suspect the insurance companies do not accept the 3k value, especially as she is to be a companion only (suggesting she is not fully sound).

I suggest you may have more luck getting her insured for meat money.............harsh but MHO.

 

[ladyt25]

Hi ladyt25. Tried j Andrews. She said no. I will try the others. I guess little horse seems to be a bit of a liability. One claim for injury in2008 two things in 2009 because vets insisted and two in 2011

Hmm, well that's a bit odd. Still, there's plenty of others out there:-

South Essex
KBIS
AMTrust
Amlin
CETA (Insuremyhorse.co.uk) that's a policy through Towergate AIUA
Towergate Lloyd and Whyte (Towergate AIUA Policy also but they do use KBIS I think)
Rural Insurance (RIG)
NFU
Bargate Holroyd (Sue Holroyd there is horsey) . She is based cambridge way I think but she has access to various insurers.

 

[speedycivic]

Hi piebald. Oh do you think so? She is sound and I thought that value might not have been an issue. Will try dropping value

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Hi piebald. Oh do you think so? She is sound and I thought that value might not have been an issue. Will try dropping value

She may well be sound now, but the fact you only want her insured as a companion, would (IMO) possibly rise doubts in the insures mind (given her history) as to whether she capable of working (hence the need for a vetting). Obviously soundness would have a massive effect on market value, hence vetting to prove market value.

You are also going to have to face that Sarcoids and the affect limps will almost certainly be excluded too on any cover offered.

 

[speedycivic]

I am trying AM Trust, Bargate, Towergate so far. Will keep fingers crossed for cover. Otherwise it really seems that it is not worth saving her from her previous injuries as she may be PTS for a minor injury now as I won't be able to afford the bill.

 

[annunziata]

Have you thought about dropping the value to 1000???? It maybe because you want to indure for 3K and there is a chance she maybe put to sleep and they have to pay out loads???

 

[indi4]

Seems very strange that you carn't get any insurance, i made three massive claims within a year with KBIS and never had a problem re-insuring her. I do think that the value of 3k for a field companion is very high though.

 

[speedycivic]

Seems very strange that you carn't get any insurance, i made three massive claims within a year with KBIS and never had a problem re-insuring her. I do think that the value of 3k for a field companion is very high though.

I have dropped the value to 1800. But have asked if that can be adjusted if that makes any difference in them covering me. But it seems it is the number of claims she has had that is the issue.
Honestly I don't think she has had that many!
But the last claim was massive about £4500 and that is a big part of it I think.
Will let you know what they come back with. Otherwise, I think I am going to have to say that I put a limit of £1000 and any vet issue that is more than that, I'll have to PTS. Seems awful though, but what else can I do??

 

[aquamarine]

Why such a high value if she's only a companion? If I was an underwriter, I'd be questioning that, tbh, especially if it's the vet fees you really want the cover for.

 

[AmyMay]

I have dropped the value to 1800. But have asked if that can be adjusted if that makes any difference in them covering me. But it seems it is the number of claims she has had that is the issue.
Honestly I don't think she has had that many!
But the last claim was massive about £4500 and that is a big part of it I think.
Will let you know what they come back with. Otherwise, I think I am going to have to say that I put a limit of £1000 and any vet issue that is more than that, I'll have to PTS. Seems awful though, but what else can I do??

Her value is zero pounds, as she is a companion horse only.

 

[indi4]

Have you tried insuring for accidental injury only to see if that makes a differance.

 

[Lady La La]

Have you tried Carriage House? If not, I would suggest giving them a try, but if its the vets bills that you want cover for, why not drop her value right down?
As others have said, she is just a companion, so they will be questioning her value, which is probably why you are being declined.
Drop her value and give carriage house a go.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Try scottish equestian or E&L (E&L are not that bad as im with them had had NO problems and theyve ALWAYS payed out on my claim).

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Her value at £3k is way too high.
Firstly try insuring her for pennies in terms of payment when she passes away.
3rd party cover is often included on some house hold insurances as if she is unridden as some insurance companies will then class her as a pet (i went through this with sidney).

If no one will touch her for vets bills the only other thing to do is to put aside an amount a month to cover vets bills and find yourself a vet that would allow you to pay in installments for treatment?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Sorry i opened a bank account put the premium i would pay them into it and that way no exclusions, got stung by 2 insurances companies so now i just do that I am into 4 figures now and only had the account open 6 months havent touched it yet

 

[Persephone]

I would be insuring her as low in value as possible. As Amy May said her value is really zero.

It will make your premiums lower too!

Incidentally I had a mare who had everything that could go wrong, go wrong! she had so many vets claims, well over your 4,500! Each ailment that she developed reduced her sell on price IMO so I reduced her value to the lowest my insurer (Petplan) would go. I have the money to buy another horse as a one off outgoing, but I don't want to potentially have to pay out thousands of pounds on vets bills!