Newbie to insurance, all help needed pls!!

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ChestnutConvert

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I just need a bit of advice on insuring my horse that i am in the process of buying.
She isn't an expensive horse, general all rounder with good breeding and is 9.
Any ideas on the best insurers to go with? I know they all have pros and cons but generally.

Tips on getting quotes as i will have to do that this week, any heads up on the routines?
Just general advice so I'm prepared for the calls and questions!
 
If you have her vetted, they'll want copies of the certificate. If the vet finds anything worth noting at the vetting (such as cataracts, lame on a certain leg, etc.), this will automatically be excluded on your policy.
Other than that, they'll just want to know the horse's info, as well as asking if you asked the previous owner if the horse has had any medical problems whilst in their care. If yes, what were they?
The quotes will depend on how much cover you want; vets fees up to the max amount (usually £5k) are what bumps up the premium price. As somebody who has claimed over £26k in vets fees over the years, it's totally worth it imo.
As for insurers, Im with Petplan & always will be. NFU have really bumped their premiums up, so i don't know if they'll be too pricey now. There are loads of companies, but what u need to ask your vet is "which ones won't require me to cough up the money for colic surgery myself?" Ie, in the (hopefully never-to-happen) event that your horse needs colic surgery, will the vet hospital say "oh you're insured with Petplan; that's fine" OR "oh you're insured with *&* ; please pay for the surgery now, cos they're renowned for not paying out/taking an age to pay out, so u can try & claim the money back yourself!"
 
Good advice given above. In addition, think about what you will be doing with the horse - what class of cover will you need etc. If you won't be competing then don't insure for it, but do add it later if you start. Also, will you want loss of use and death cover? And are you/will you be a bhs gold member and therefore already have liability insurance? I'm with stoneways who have always been very straightforward but I'm about to make new claim so fingers crossed I can still recommend them next week! Enjoy your new horse!
 
Agree with the comments as above, nothing more to add really- I would also ask what different excesses the company does as if you want to pay a lower excess the monthly premium is normally higher, and if you want a higher excess the monthly premium may normally work out lower. I just insure mine for vets fees, and my tack is kept at home and i get public liability through BD. I would definitely shop around, mine have always been with SEIB and they have been very good, and i also have one with Petplan.

And- good luck with your new horse!!- enjoy!
 
I moved from NFU because they hiked my premium up ridiculously when I'd never even claimed and been with them about 6 years (look on here for other posts about them...).

I changed to SEIB and they've been brilliant so far with a current claim I'm putting through. They were the cheapest when I changed and also they didnt ask for a vetting which I assumed they would do especially as I was insuring my horse for £8k (they just asked for a print out from my vet showing any treatments he'd had in all the years I'd owned him which was none!). Useful as it saved my money on a vetting, but then he'd had a 5 stage when he started with NFU and SEIB asked to see proof of his insurance with them. I would assume if you're starting insurance from absolute scratch you'd need a vetting, although not sure if that only kicks in at a certain value... I know for anything over £10k you generally need scans but dont think your ned falls into that category.
 
I've always insured with NFU and have found them to be brilliant.

If the horse is purchased for less than £5k then they won't require the vetting report (unless things have changed since my last purchase).
 
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