Vet/Insurance dilema, loss of use??

[LouB]

Bit of a dilema.....

We have a homebred 9yr by Mayhill, who has been insured for vets fees and loss of use since day one.

He was diagnosed with kissing spines two years ago and after a bone scan at Bushy was treated with cortisone. He is competing at Novice level eventing but is now unsound. The vet has been blocking multiple areas to diagnose and now suspects it is a problem in the coffin joints and maybe even stifles as well. (in my opinion, his skeltal system just isn't strong enough and he compensates in many different ways which just leads to more problems) The vet suggests again, cortisone. To the best of my limited knowledge I don't believe treating with steroids is a long term solution, a. the effect wears off after a while and b. it has a degenerating effect.

Now, I have battled with this horse since the day he was broken, he has a mind of his own and is very jekyll and hyde. On his day he can be awesome but he is not a 'nice' ride, nappy, bucking and rearing are all in his repotoire. I don't know how much is physical and how much is upstairs. To cut a long story short, the vet is suggesting multiple problems which will cut short his eventing career. However, he is a competition horse and not a happy hack.

I do not wish him to fall into the wrong hands and we have contemplated having him put to sleep. Like I said, he has been insured for the past nine years and it would be some comfort to be able to claim back a little of the money we have invested over the years. However, upon looking at the insurance docs it seems a horse is only deemed to be covered for loss of use if it cannot be used for 'hacking'. How is 'hacking' interpreted in the insurers eyes? does mean a walk and trot here and there or longer more strenuous riding? The horse may be capable of 'hacking' physically, but mentally his brain would be idle and he would be a nightmare.

Does anyone have practical advice or past experience of similar situations?
Many thanks

 

[Uniique]

Im afriad i was unable to claim for loss of use for the same reasons, and i no longer take out loss of use insurance. After battling with athritius for many years mentally and physically i could no longer school my 12 year old. He just didnt hack, didnt have the mentality of it and would not semi-retire to be a hacking horse, but as he was still of use to someone, somewhere, i couldnt claim.
Best of luck x x

 

[LouB]

Damn, seems very unfair, our fees for two horses have been at least £900 every year, whats the point!
If it is his coffin joints and he is unsound without medication, surely that would warrant him unsuitable for hacking? Being unsound and therefore in pain?

 

[cellie]

I had a ex racer ( sprinter )from 4 year old and he was similiar in description to yours .He reared bucked and rodeod sometimes in excitement and I always thought he would be high maintainence horse.I spent thousands on treatment , he had multiple leg injuries probably from his early days racing.I never thought he would be a happy hacker but found a lady who was able and willing to take him on as companion with the hope that he might come sound.It was in his best interests to have plenty of turnout and dr green .Constantly bringing him back into work only to find he was uncomfortable wasnt fair on him and after 4 years it had worn me down.It really broke my heart letting him go but she promised him home for life in 10 acres with other rescue /unwanted cases .She turned him away for nearly year as promised I had already given him months off with extensive treatment.
I am pleased to tell you he has come sound is barefoot and is ridden out bareback in halter.Giving my horse time off to relax and be a horse completely de stressed him although he was always lovely on the ground because I did lots of work in hand with him to help with boredom.
Why not give him a chance take the pressure off and see what happens.
I claimed loss of use Ollie was 8 at the time.We didnt feel that he would ever be 100% sound but maybe just couldnt cope with regular strenuous work.
I had long lengthy chat with insurance company and gave them the choice of continued treatments and expense they offered 50% lou for retirement and no future claims.I had aleady claimed £11,000 so think they were glad to see back of me.
re Reading your letter I noted that you are dealing with coffin joint injury as well.We had tendon coffin and spavin to name a few.
Good luck with whatever you decide its never easy.

 

[LouB]

Thats very interesting, thank you. I don't really think giving him time is the answer, he is homebred and we have battled for the past 5 years.

I was wondering how much I should discuss with the insurance, im with NFU and altho they've always been very prompt paying the vets fees, they only cover one particular area/diagnoses for 12 months, which I know is standard, therfore I can never claim for any future back issues. So will we just keep having to find different areas to claim until the insurers offer loss of use? I do he has multiple problems.

 

[FAB_FERN]

My mare has been off work with coffin joint lamness. She's had 2 mri scans and variuos other treatments and is in the field resting atm. I'm hoping to do some hacking over the next few weeks too see how we get on. Our insurance have paid up each time no problem even for the second mri to show she was on the mend. Vet wanted to do steriod injection but I refused as she's over weight so at risk of lami side effect.

I wondered about loss of use if she doesn't come sound. She's insured upto BE events so surely if she can't ever do that again then they would have to pay?? Not sure how it works as i'm not really looked into it too much yet. Best had as her year is up in September.

Does anyone know if they still freezmark them even if my mare is already micromarked??