Loss of Use

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Parkranger

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I know you're all going to shout at me for thinking the worst but if Oscar doesn't return to full work, when does loss of use kick in?

Another reason why I should find a good loan home for Ty (atleast for the next few years) so that if Oscar can't come back into work, I can afford to retire him.

I'm trying to be positive but also trying to prepare myself for the worst scenario.

He was brought as a riding club horse (jumping etc) and loss of use is £3000.
 
Loss of use is quite tricky in as much as some Insurance Companies ask what disciplines you will be doing with your horse and ask you to list 1,2,3 so if you put 1,SJ 2,DR 3,hacking they will not write him off if your Vet says he is still ok for hacking! If they are not in agreeance with your Vet writing him off they will send out their own Insurance Vet as a second opinion. If they feel he may recover they will hold out for up to 6 months to see the situation after 6 month period is up. The other thing you need to check on the small print is they tend to pay out 100% loss of use if you agree to destroying the horse or between 50% & 75% if you retire him but keep him yourself. Hope this gives you some idea
 
I was also informed that if I went for LOU, the horse is only insured then 3rd party. Any cover for colic etc would be nul and void.
 
My horse was under the care of the vets for lameness problems and the insurance company advised they would cover him for a year's worth of treatment. As we got nearer the end of the year we were still having problems so the vets advised me to consider claiming loss of use. I contacted the insurance company and they agreed to extend his insurance period for another 3 months and then consider loss of use as the vets hoped more rest might help.

Sadly it didn't and my horse remained lame. The vet wrote a report to the insurance company advising that in his opinion horse would only ever be suitable as a hack and that I would be claiming loss of use. The insurance company wrote to me and advised they valued him at £800 and asked if this was acceptable to me. I had to write back to confirm this was and send proof of ownership. He then had to be freeze marked with the loss of use stamp and a cheque was then sent to me for the difference between the amount I had paid and the amount he was then valued at.

It was all sorted quickly - the only real delay was with getting him freeze marked. The insurance company were fab in all that they did - I would highly recommend them.

His insurance policy was then cancelled by the company. I took out 3rd party insurance via the BHS and the loss of use money is sat in an ISA in case he ever needs any vet treatment.
 
Not all insurers will cancel a policy or reduce the cover dramatically, it would depend on the individual case. If the horse can still be used for light work then you are unlikely to get 100% LOU and may be offered a % (generally 60% - 75%) It will all depend on your insurer and what they class as still be a 'use' to be honest.

If the horse can not be used for anything again or you feel it's better to have it PTS than have it hobling around in pain but it doesn't warrant euthanasia under BEVA guidelines then, in these instances you would be entited to 100% LOU.

LOU cases can take a bit of time to settle as reporst from vets and possibly 2nd opinion vets may be required, This is largely dependant on the value of this horse though to be honest.
 
We're having this battle at the moment - event horse did her suspensory, vet said no to eventing but should come back for dressage / hacking. Insurers won't pay out as she is still rideable and have deferred paying out the claim till next April to see if she stays sound.... v. frustrating
crazy.gif
 
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