Insuring horses with issues/vices and vetting

haejilnyeok

haejilnyeok

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Has anyone got any experience with insuring horses with known issues or vices?

I'm currently looking to buy a horse but don't have a massive budget so my options are quite limited. I'm going to view two this week but they both come with big "ifs".

One is a 9yo gelding, consistent competition record up to 1.20 showjumping but he's a windsucker.

The other is a 6yo gelding with very little milage due to having a tie back op and having time off as the other horses on the yard have taken priority.

Both are well bred out of good mares and I've no doubt I'd have a lot of fun on either but I've no idea how this would affect insuring them as I've never had anything with a vice or preexisting condition.

Does anyone have a horse with similar issues that they've been able to insure?

My last horse was approx. £82 per month (incl. vets fees up to £5000, public liability etc) to insure with no vices/issues on her record so I'm sort of blind to how much this could be inflated buly declaring a vice or condition.

Also, can either of these horses actually pass a vetting? I know they can both be sound, have clean xrays etc but to what extent do these issues affect a vet cert?

Thanks :)
 
I had a tie back done on insurance and her respiratory system was excluded on renewal. I didn't have a huge hike in premiums for that but the following year the vets went overboard investigating a minor tweak and there was barely anything left to insure after that - so I didnt.

Windsucking might get a colic exclusion which would worry me more.

Is the one which has been turned away back under saddle? If so then there's nothing to stop a 5 stage vetting just with their known issues mentioned. Horse insurance is eye wateringly expensive now IMO anyway
 
SEL said:
I had a tie back done on insurance and her respiratory system was excluded on renewal. I didn't have a huge hike in premiums for that but the following year the vets went overboard investigating a minor tweak and there was barely anything left to insure after that - so I didnt.

Windsucking might get a colic exclusion which would worry me more.

Is the one which has been turned away back under saddle? If so then there's nothing to stop a 5 stage vetting just with their known issues mentioned. Horse insurance is eye wateringly expensive now IMO anyway
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The windsucker has no history of colic but I know that's often a worry with them.

And the 6yo that's been turned away it still at grass but I've seen videos of him from last year (assuming post op) and looks a gorgeous type.

They're both homebreds from the same lady so she has their full history.

Insurance is outrageously expensive so I'm sort of weighing up if it's better just to open a rainy day savings account for any unexpected vets fees and just taking out a public liability policy as I ride for my yard owner too.

My previous horse had a lot of issues we never went through the insurance for and I always wonder was it worth having the policy as I was scared to declare any of it as it would skyrocket my premium for stuff I could afford out of pocket.

The only person I know that had ever made an insurance claim was for colic treatment (avoided surgery but had a 7 day stay in hospital). She had to claim for approx. £3000 and getting payment from the insurer was a nightmare. We're in Northern Ireland and they tried to say the treatment couldn't be covered as it was done in Dublin and all the invoices were in euros. The whole process of explaining that we don't have an equine hospital in NI was so exhausting. She obviously would never be covered for the condition again so sadly had her PTS when the colic reoccurred 6 months later.

Makes you think if it's all really worth it lol
 
lme said:
If I insure, I insure with Agria - pre-existing conditions excluded but no further exclusions applied going forward.
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Must have a look at their policies, I've only ever been with horseinsurance.co.uk (Insurance Emporium) who I later found out from my vet that they're a nightmare to deal with in the event of a claim
 
haejilnyeok said:
My previous horse had a lot of issues we never went through the insurance for and I always wonder was it worth having the policy as I was scared to declare any of it as it would skyrocket my premium for stuff I could afford out of pocket.
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Presuming that it’s the same in NI as here in England you must declare to the ins co any veterinary issues that your horse has had whether you claim for them or not. It’s not like car insurance where you can pay for a repair and it not affect your premiums.

If you had to make a claim the ins co will ask to see the horse’s vet records before accepting any claim. If you have not been fully upfront with them at renewal then your claim is likely to be rejected.

I self insure as I’d rather be total charge of my horses’ treatment at all times with no messing about with ins cos whose main aim is not to pay out so maximising their profits.
 
They should both be insurable but I’d expect exclusions for colic/ulcers and respiratory system respectively
 
haejilnyeok said:
Insurance is outrageously expensive so I'm sort of weighing up if it's better just to open a rainy day savings account for any unexpected vets fees and just taking out a public liability policy as I ride for my yard owner too.
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would you want colic surgery? if so 5k is nothing if not or if it would be excluded is it worth insuring.

Tiddlypom said:
I self insure as I’d rather be total charge of my horses’ treatment at all times with no messing about with ins cos whose main aim is not to pay out so maximising their profits.
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this
 
I insure if the horse doesn't have any exclusions. H is insured.

I don't insure if there are exclusions as the one thing you are likely to want to claim for is excluded, so I instead build up a rainy day fund. That does depend on you having enough money to pay out if something happens early on in ownership though.

Rigs is not insured as none of him would have been covered LOL. He has had, in the past 5 years, treatment for asthma for a couple of hundred quid, blood tests for EMS/Cushings, a couple of hundred quid, a colic that cost £1,650 and a quick colic that was £900. I actually found it a relief that treatment was entirely under my control. I decided what I would spend and didn't have to check with anyone. He is insured 3rd party only. He is value less in the £ sense anyway.
 
haejilnyeok said:
Must have a look at their policies, I've only ever been with horseinsurance.co.uk (Insurance Emporium) who I later found out from my vet that they're a nightmare to deal with in the event of a claim
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Having just claimed I have to say they were brilliant and my vets commented on how easy and straight forward they were to deal with!
 
haejilnyeok said:
Must have a look at their policies, I've only ever been with horseinsurance.co.uk (Insurance Emporium) who I later found out from my vet that they're a nightmare to deal with in the event of a claim
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This is not true, I've had multiple thousands payout from them without any issue at all and Liphook were quite happy to deal with them. They also have reasonable premiums
 
My lovely TB J had a tie back he passed the vet with it for the job I wanted him for,it probably would have been different if you were looking for a five star horse.
 
Goldenstar said:
My lovely TB J had a tie back he passed the vet with it for the job I wanted him for,it probably would have been different if you were looking for a five star horse.
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So in a case like that, do you still say he had a tie back? Because that really wouldn’t affect a non racer but?!
 
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