PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get vets fee's added onto your horse insurance !!

SS.89

SS.89

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Ive had the most horrific experience over the last few days since owning toby ... As some of you may know he is extremely accident prone, so back in October last year I thought to myself to get vet's fee's added on to my insurance.
I went down to ride him yesterday morning so put him in his stable at 9.30 to get a call from my boyfriend that he'd been sick at work so could I go get him. So off I huffed and left tobe in eating his hay. Went and picked the invalid up to take him home and stopped to have a cup of tea. I was back up the yard no later than 11.30am literally 2 hours later to go into tobe's stable and found this:

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Its much deeper than it looks as well its about 2 inches deep.

In comparison to the size of the other hock :

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Temporary dressing until the vet arrived!

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Called one of the other girls on the yard and she imediately said to call the vet as there was already yellow joint fluid coming out of the wound ... cue me PANICKING. Rang the vet as she was there within an hour & a half. She took one look and said '' erm are you insured? '' Knowing herself that it was too big a job for our local practice she referred us to Newbury, a 76 mile journey away :( Luckily I have my own box so we loaded him straight on and took him down where he travelled like a gem.

Vet has called me today as he had to have surgery this morning to flush out the wound and scope under anasthetic and all is well and he will have to be under surveillance for at least 5/7 days.

If I hadn't of had vets fee's covered I will admit I would have been up s**t creek. For one they would of required a deposit of £1500 there and then yesterday evening which I certainly don't have readily available, plus the cost of the surgery and stay on top which they have roughly quoted me as £2000-£3000 *GAWP*

I know this is common sense to most of you but for those trying to save the pennies during a recession ... its not worth it unless you have available savings :( I always said if worst comes to the worst he would need to be PTS, but now I have been in the situation I would not be able to bear making the decision!

Fingers crossed now his recovery will be as quick as he blimmin made the injury ! The muppet.

SS x
 
Are vets not automatically included then ? So exactly what are we all paying insurance for ?

Genuine question :)

Glad your boy is getting all the help he needs, that does not look very nice
 
kerrieberry2 said:
Bl**dy hell! did you find out how he managed to do that? thank good for vet fees!
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The only thing we can put it down to kerrie was that he became cast and caught himself. I wouldn't be so confused myself if he was in his field as its group turn out and he does like to play but the fool was in his stable on his own! He does lie down a lot so we can only think he got himself stuck :( when I got back he was happily eating but looked down and was like HOOOOLY CR*P.

I would genuinely be stuffed if I didn't have it on my policy. Just hope an incident like this will let people realise how important it is. For a horse to do this within the space of 2 hours in his stable !!

Horses eh

SS x
 
One thing to note please also check with your vet which insurers they deal with, something i didn't know until the time came and everything had to be paid up front and then claimed back on the insurance myself, despite having more coverage with my insurer, all bills had to be paid in full up front unless i was with Petplan. Was informed by the vets that this is in the small print on the back of all invoices/statements and in the news letter, however when i checked this there was no written statement declaring this! Caught me out so would advise others to check with their vets.
 
mulledwhine said:
Are vets not automatically included then ? So exactly what are we all paying insurance for ?

Genuine question :)

Glad your boy is getting all the help he needs, that does not look very nice
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With my particular insurance company you can either opt for economy insurance which just covers legal liability or personal accident. So basically if your horse causes damage or injury to anyone other than the insured rider you would be covered as well as your own personal accident cover.

If you do not get vet's fee's added on this is all you are covered for. Therefore if your horse has an injury to himself which needs veterinary consultation or in my case surgery, you would not be covered on basic insurance.

Its all such a palava !!

SS x
 
Hope your horse is ok. There's very little point taking out insurance with an insurance company if you don't include vet's fees; gold membership with the BHS covers public liability for any horse you own.
 
Sugar1987 said:
One thing to note please also check with your vet which insurers they deal with, something i didn't know until the time came and everything had to be paid up front and then claimed back on the insurance myself, despite having more coverage with my insurer, all bills had to be paid in full up front unless i was with Petplan. Was informed by the vets that this is in the small print on the back of all invoices/statements and in the news letter, however when i checked this there was no written statement declaring this! Caught me out so would advise others to check with their vets.
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Wow ... thanks for this i'm going to check this now !!
SS x
 
Vet's fees are only one part of what insurance can be made up of out a 'menu' - LOU, death, disposal, theft, third party and public liability - depends what you want / need / have a credit card for.

SS, nasty business and so soon after a move! Sending healing vibes.
 
They must have been stung by referals not paying as they didnt request deposit up front when I worked there ( in equine department ) and they get a lot of referals. There are certain insurance companies they will not deal with and demand payment by owner first or balance before horse leaves.

Have you found anything protuding in his stable or any skuffs on him, scratches on wall etc? Im only asking as it looks more likely to have happened in the field, possibly a stray kick or him striking into himself having a hooley around.
 
flaxen said:
They must have been stung by referals not paying as they didnt request deposit up front when I worked there ( in equine department ) and they get a lot of referals. There are certain insurance companies they will not deal with and demand payment by owner first or balance before horse leaves.

Have you found anything protuding in his stable or any skuffs on him, scratches on wall etc? Im only asking as it looks more likely to have happened in the field, possibly a stray kick or him striking into himself having a hooley around.
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Yeah was definately done in his stable as there is scuffs along the back on the left hand side wall. Wasn't done in his field as I took his boots off when he came in and there was certainly nothing there.

SS x
 
Also worth checking that your vets accept who you are insured with - was at my vets recently, someone was with E&L, vets said they don't class them as an insurance company and all bills to be paid up front before the horse could be removed.
 
Eek its amazing how much a small injury can end up costing! Defo going to check our local vets accept the insurance company I go with, I didn't know about that one!
 
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