New horse excitement and an insurance exclusion query

Reacher

Reacher

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Hi,

Having been out off riding for 12 months due to my lovely elderly loan horse retiring from active duties, I have just purchased a 6 yo 15.2 ISH x dutch warm blood (though passport calls her ISH) mare. She is by Maltstriker out of a Clover Hill mare. She is light dappled grey with freckles on her face....

Will be doing general riding club stuff as out of practice but hoping to go back to BE90s once get back in the swing of things.

My insurance query is as follows:
At the first attempt at the vetting the vet identified some heat and swelling in the tarsal sheath. She was sound trotted up but positive in the flexion test. I had her revetted a few weeks later and heat had gone and she passed the flexion test. Vets report reads:
"Tarsall sheath effusion with no associated pain or lameness. Flexion negative. Sound at walk, trot and canter."

Insurance broker(using Horseandhound insurace comparison service!) has placed an exclusion on it. Is this acceptable? I argued it was no a pre exisitng condition as she is sound.
I took out the policy today and can cancel within 14 days but would have to pay £31.50 admin fee, and admin fee for any changes.
 
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It wouldn't be unusual to see that sort of exclusion, at least temporarily (you may agree to them removing it after a year).
I think to buy a new horse that was showing some swelling would create an exclusion on most policies, unless you ultrasound scanned to exclude specific damage to the structures.
 
Please dont go with E&L if that is who you are with. They have a very bad press.

I would say they have every right to exclude it. They have just put an exclusion of anything relating to 2nd degree heart block on my policy. Its a pointless exercise but they are just covering their backs.
 
ihatework said:
It wouldn't be unusual to see that sort of exclusion, at least temporarily (you may agree to them removing it after a year).
I think to buy a new horse that was showing some swelling would create an exclusion on most policies, unless you ultrasound scanned to exclude specific damage to the structures.
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Hi
Thanks for that. I realise they do slap on exclusions, maybe I will have to wait until policy is due to renew and change companies.

I forgot to add the vetting also said "...the conditions reported above DO NOT predjudice the horse's suitability for purchase for eventing, showjumping and general ..."

It was reading another insurance thread which mentioned challenging insurance exclusions which made me wonder if I could get rid of the exclusion
 
My boy had been turned away and mildly neglected and I had a load of exclusions when I first insured him (excluded all skin conditions on his face because he had a sunburnt nose!). A year after I got him I had the original vet send the insurance company a letter confirming all the issues highlighted in the vetting had turned out to be minor and were fully resolved, and all the exclusions were removed.
 
applecart14 said:
Please dont go with E&L if that is who you are with. They have a very bad press.

I would say they have every right to exclude it. They have just put an exclusion of anything relating to 2nd degree heart block on my policy. Its a pointless exercise but they are just covering their backs.
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Hi,
Thanks, its not E&L, its AmTrust Equine, though it was the broker 4counties that I was dealing with.
 
Hi Laura
Thanks, so it sounds like I'll have to wait a year then if it causes no issues, get a vet's letter and try and get it lifted.
 
Reacher said:
Hi
I realise they do slap on exclusions, maybe I will have to wait until policy is due to renew and change companies.
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It is hardly slapping on and exclusion, you are buying a horse that currently has a known defect so you should be willing to cover the cost of any treatment if it goes wrong - challenging insurance exclusions after 12 months clear is always worth doing as they will often lift them with a vets letter
 
I'm insured with AmTrust, and the leg I've had problems with came up on the vetting. However, they never asked to see a copy of the report, and paid out without an quibbles. They are also happy to have it as an ongoing claim. That's at £27 a month, although it sounds like your new neddy cost more than mine! :p

Can we have some piccies please? She sounds gorgeous!

Just seen your post that you are also with AmTrust (I am also through Four Counties). Odd!
 
TBH, I would ask after 6 months.

I can understand them placing the exclusion and I'm guessing the vetting date is fairly close to the policy incepting. Although the horse may be sound they are just covering their backs incase of a related lameness a month or so down the line. If your horse is still sound after 6 months with no lameness in that leg since inception and there is no pain/heat etc I would ask the vet to write a statement saying as such and ask them to remove it
 
hnmisty said:
I'm insured with AmTrust, and the leg I've had problems with came up on the vetting. However, they never asked to see a copy of the report, and paid out without an quibbles. They are also happy to have it as an ongoing claim. That's at £27 a month, although it sounds like your new neddy cost more than mine! :p

Can we have some piccies please? She sounds gorgeous!

Just seen your post that you are also with AmTrust (I am also through Four Counties). Odd!
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Good to hear you have had positive experiences with AmTrust (though sorry you had leg problems). So do you ring 4seasons rather than Am Trust when you need to make a claim etc?

Thanks I am very pleased and will try and download some pics! Looking forward to having lessons etc after a long break
 
Elbie said:
TBH, I would ask after 6 months.

I can understand them placing the exclusion and I'm guessing the vetting date is fairly close to the policy incepting. Although the horse may be sound they are just covering their backs incase of a related lameness a month or so down the line. If your horse is still sound after 6 months with no lameness in that leg since inception and there is no pain/heat etc I would ask the vet to write a statement saying as such and ask them to remove it
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Hi, yes the 2nd vetting was done between xmas and NY and I took out the policy today. That's a good suggestion, I will get it looked at again in 6 months.
 
My vet certificate noted cold and harmless swelling of one of my horse's back legs - it was just old lymphangitis scarring. But the insurance put an exclusion on all the ligaments and tendons of both back legs which remained there until she died. Ironically I did make a claim for epilepsy and after no more claims for this they actually removed that exclusion of their own accord.!! Crazy really.
 
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