What sort of insurance can you get for breeding?

[Marigold4]

Just wondering how much of any possible breeding complications can be insured against. For example, if the mare has placental complications and needs expensive vet treatment. Or if foal is weak, won't suckle, needs hospitalisation? TIA

 

[TheMule]

The mare will be covered under a standard vets fees policy- had one we had to claim a significant amount for after a nightmare foaling and subsequent toxic laminitis. The foal, however, won’t be covered once it is born and so you would need separate insurance (often quite expensive and won’t start until 48hours old with good IGG results)

 

[Marigold4]

But that first 48 hours for the foal could be v expensive?

 

[TheMule]

But that first 48 hours for the foal could be v expensive?

Indeed! You can get specialist insurance for it, pretty pricey and not standard, but possible.

 

[milliepops]

The mare will be covered under a standard vets fees policy- had one we had to claim a significant amount for after a nightmare foaling and subsequent toxic laminitis. The foal, however, won’t be covered once it is born and so you would need separate insurance (often quite expensive and won’t start until 48hours old with good IGG results)

This. Last year my mare had some emergency call outs for colicy symptoms that just grumbled along. She was fine just with meds at home... unfortunately due to the high excess on her policy it wasn't worth claiming. But would have been covered if she'd needed anything more involved.
I got foal insured via a broker as soon as IgG came back. Some insurers won't give full cover on the foal until its a certain age so shop around if it's important to you.

 

[Marigold4]

This. Last year my mare had some emergency call outs for colicy symptoms that just grumbled along. She was fine just with meds at home... unfortunately due to the high excess on her policy it wasn't worth claiming. But would have been covered if she'd needed anything more involved.
I got foal insured via a broker as soon as IgG came back. Some insurers won't give full cover on the foal until its a certain age so shop around if it's important to you.

Thanks for that info. I'll have a look around at the foal insurance and start saving!

If you could go back in time, milliepops, would you do it again? Was it worth the worry? I'm getting near to the point of no return!

 

[AmyMay]

But that first 48 hours for the foal could be v expensive?

Well, yes. Potentially. Start saving ?

 

[milliepops]

Thanks for that info. I'll have a look around at the foal insurance and start saving!

If you could go back in time, milliepops, would you do it again? Was it worth the worry? I'm getting near to the point of no return!

Breeding the foal or insuring her?

For me, yes on both counts!
The breeding bit was nerve wracking and exciting, I pretty much stressesd about it throughout her pregnancy and we foaled down at home because of lockdown which felt like the biggest responsibility I'd ever had. I was as well prepared and educated as I could be...Fortunately it was all textbook apart from the little colic the mare had. The filly is amazing and I love watching her grow up.

Insurance wise...So far foal has been fine. But I don't have a big cushion of savings, and as my precious first born I wanted to have the best safety net I could provide. I have 7 horses and only insure 2 which are the ones I want to have all options available.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks for replying with your experiences. Just been to see the final one on my stallion shortlist today! Decisions loom!

 

[TheMule]

My sister and I have only bred a very small number of foals but we've had a full spectrum of tragedy within that. One dead foal late term (no reason found on post-Mortem), one horrific labour which resulted in a dead foal and, 3 days later, a dead mare, one 18month old being lost to a very rare case of intestinal cancer.
We also have a home bred 12 year old who never really achieved much in life through a combination of body and brain failures, a ridiculously huge yearling home bred from our own mare and stallion who has already outgrown both of them, a 5yr old who is really sweet but is not a natural jumper (despite the fact we owned and competed grandma, mother, great uncle all to a good level, and the stallion was a 1.50 jumper from an incredible sire and damline of jumpers)
Oh, and I've spent over 3k trying to get my mare back in foal but she didn’t take, 2 years running....
BUT, despite all that, my home bred 4 yr old makes me grin ear to ear every day. So of course it's worth it!

 

[milliepops]

and basically all of that ^^ is why i spent 342 days totally stressing my brain out of my ears I know I got super lucky, so far.

Even if mine doesn't amount to much it has already been a wonderful experience and I will remember seeing her take her first breaths as long as I live.

 

[Marigold4]

My sister and I have only bred a very small number of foals but we've had a full spectrum of tragedy within that. One dead foal late term (no reason found on post-Mortem), one horrific labour which resulted in a dead foal and, 3 days later, a dead mare, one 18month old being lost to a very rare case of intestinal cancer.
We also have a home bred 12 year old who never really achieved much in life through a combination of body and brain failures, a ridiculously huge yearling home bred from our own mare and stallion who has already outgrown both of them, a 5yr old who is really sweet but is not a natural jumper (despite the fact we owned and competed grandma, mother, great uncle all to a good level, and the stallion was a 1.50 jumper from an incredible sire and damline of jumpers)
Oh, and I've spent over 3k trying to get my mare back in foal but she didn’t take, 2 years running....
BUT, despite all that, my home bred 4 yr old makes me grin ear to ear every day. So of course it's worth it!

That's terrifying! Repro vet told me higher than 95% of horse births are free of major complications. So is that 2 major complications out of 5? Eek. You are putting me off this project! Mare has had two uncomplicated pregnancies before (not with me) - but I guess that doesn't guarantee anything.

 

[TheMule]

That's terrifying! Repro vet told me higher than 95% of horse births are free of major complications. So is that 2 major complications out of 5? Eek. You are putting me off this project! Mare has had two uncomplicated pregnancies before (not with me) - but I guess that doesn't guarantee anything.

2 out of 8, plus losing the yearling. But the 2 dead foals were the same mare so who knows if she was just unlucky or....? (though she’d already had 1 live foal so capable of producing ok ones)
Honestly, it is terrifying, you will watch her every minute of the day, take endless intimate images of her lady parts, read every single thing on Google a 1000 times but when that baby is out, stands and suckles ?

 

[Abi90]

2 out of 8, plus losing the yearling. But the 2 dead foals were the same mare so who knows if she was just unlucky or....? (though she’d already had 1 live foal so capable of producing ok ones)
Honestly, it is terrifying, you will watch her every minute of the day, take endless intimate images of her lady parts, read every single thing on Google a 1000 times but when that baby is out, stands and suckles ?

I’ve literally taken photos of my mare’s udder and sent it to the stud today! I was worried it was Placentitis but they said she’s at the point where she will be getting some swelling... phew

On the insurance front, Rosie is insured for foaling complications on her normal policy. She’s excluded for everything else so I won’t be renewing one the foal is on the ground and will just insure the foal instead.

 

[Marigold4]

and basically all of that ^^ is why i spent 342 days totally stressing my brain out of my ears I know I got super lucky, so far.

Even if mine doesn't amount to much it has already been a wonderful experience and I will remember seeing her take her first breaths as long as I

I’ve literally taken photos of my mare’s udder and sent it to the stud today! I was worried it was Placentitis but they said she’s at the point where she will be getting some swelling... phew

On the insurance front, Rosie is insured for foaling complications on her normal policy. She’s excluded for everything else so I won’t be renewing one the foal is on the ground and will just insure the foal instead.

thanks, that's useful info. Good luck! I hope it all goes well and look forward to the pics.