Self-insuring horses - do you do it?

I've always insured my horse. In the time I've had her I've two big claims, one was for DDFT surgery and the other was in relation to PSD. I've realised during the course of these events that the vets main aim is to throw everything at the problem as quickly as possible in order to spend your insurance money (on themselves). Whereas without insurance, there would be an opportunity for 'watchful waiting' which just does not seem to happen when insurance is involved. I know the owner can make the decision to follow treatments etc but it's very hard when you have the 12 month claim period in the back of your mind and the vet saying 'we need to do this this and this'.

For the two claims I've had, the main treatment was rest which I can do anyway.

I'm going to stop insuring after this years policy expires, however I'm fortunate to be able to save some money each month to go towards emergencies.
 
I have two non-insured horses. One technically belongs to my Mum so she would pay (and can afford to) and the other one I would pay from my savings/ salary. I live rent and bill free in work provided accommodation so don't have significant outgoings, and have a decent amount saved. It's not specifically for the horse but I could use it for her if needed. I suspect that my Mum would insist on paying towards my horse's vet bills too, as she is very sentimental about her (she was bought for me when I was 11, over 16 years ago).

The reason we stopped insuring was that both had a lot of exclusions and due to age and health we would not consider colic surgery for either horse and would have to think long and hard about any injury that required a lengthy period of box rest.
 
It has been suggested that an insured owner can reject treatments in exactly the same way that an insured owner can. This is true but not the full story. If you reject what the vet is saying should be done, then the insurance will refuse to pay for further treatment and for loss of use or humane destruction if that's how things turn out.

So the only way you can choose the treatment path yourself if you are insured, is to lose the insurance payout anyway. In which case there is no point in having the insurance in the first place.
 
£150/month for 2 horses ..... and every time it reaches £1,000 I put it into premium bonds so it’s not too easily accessible - but I have other cash funds I could raid if necessary.
 
I've never insured either horses or dogs and I do have limits as to what I will put any of them through in terms of treatment and/or surgery.

Current horse has £5k in Premium Bonds "in case" or for if I shuffle off my mortal coil which will then go to a friend who will take him on but already has her own to pay for. I also put £25 a month away in "his" account. However, if there has been nothing untoward in the previous year, I sometimes use this to pay for vaccinations and teeth.

In the five years I have had him, I have had two vet bills - one of c £400 for x-rays when he was lame which showed the issue which was then sorted with remedial shoeing and box rest and one last year for an eye infection which necessitated a couple of vet visits and some drops and I think totally around £250. Based on what I was quoted for insurance, I'm still coming out well on top. The same can be said of my dogs.

Now touching wood, crossing fingers etc, like mad! Hope I haven't jinxed it...
 
I have some ponies, a welsh cob and dogs etc, I made the decision not to insure some years ago, I have savings and the resource of a credit card. I don't do an awful lot with my gang now, and have been able to cover the odd emergency in the past so it seems to work for us.Fingers crossed etc!
 
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