Would you claim LOU? Sorry – this may end up a bit long.

[Bionic Boy]

I have a 14 year old TB/WB, when I got him about 6 years ago the vetting showed up a slight heart murmur so that is excluded on his insurance, he also lost a tooth when he was a baby so that area is also excluded. At the end of last September he was diagnosed with arthritis in both front fetlock joints which he was treated for so is not a problem but still it is now excluded from his insurance. Then on the 1st October last year he was kicked and fractured his elbow so that is also now excluded from the insurance.

I feel like I am at the stage where if he hurts his ear or tail we are OK but anything else – forget it.

He has made a good recovery from the fracture with only one set back when he spooked and spun round and sprained his elbow but we are over that now.

I have just had my renewal through and it is saying that now he has turned 14 they are going to limit the LOU to Accidental External Injuries only.

As I pay extra for the LOU I am wondering if it is actually worth having?
I did think about claiming the LOU when he fractured his elbow but wasn’t sure where that left me afterwards with regards to normal insurance and besides which I think I needed to claim within a certain time frame so too late to claim now anyway.

What would you do, leave as is or knock it off?

 

[alfiesmum]

i thought you have 12 months from date of injury to claim? could be wrong. i would speak to your vet as it would be them that would need to certify that the horse is no longer able to be jumped , ridden or whatever the lou is good luck , been there and done, was relatively easy to get my lou but so hard to have him pts with their permission, but eventually my vet wrote the company a very stern letter!

 

[Bionic Boy]

Thanks AM, we have had a tough year. Sorry to hear you had to have him PTS and very relieved I have not had to make that decision. It was bad enough when I was told to prepare myself for the worst when he went for his operation.

We used to do Novice dressage and some XC so he will not do that again, he will become a happy hacker which is fine as I am just so happy he is still with me. Whilst he will always have a weakness in that leg I have a brilliant Osteopath that is doing wonders with him.

I will check my insurance to see what the claim time is and also speak to my vet regarding the actual chances of claiming LOU but if I did does that effectively leave him uninsured for the rest of his life?

 

[Bionic Boy]

I have spoken to my insurance company and I can still claim LOU for him if I choose too but it would mean going forward I could only insure him for 10% of his now value (if they accepted the LOU claim) and then I would only be able to cover vet bills up to £3500 instead of the £5000 cover I have now.

If I do not claim LOU but take it out of the policy for this year it will save me about £360 so I think it would be worth doing if I don’t go down the LOU route from the fracture. I can only have LOU cover for this year anyway as from the age of 15 they do not cover LOU and as he is still in recovery we really aren't doing very much.

Hope this makes some sort of sense.

Just wondered what everyone else would do?

 

[BigRed]

At his age I wouldn't bother with LOU. As he is now, he will probably only ever be a happy hacker, and it's not as though you competed at a high level, so I am not sure hw much money you think you will be able to get out of the insurance company ? you will need to prove he was worth a decent amount of money prior to the fracture ?

 

[Bionic Boy]

Thanks BigRed. I tend to agree. I have spoken to the insurance company and my vets and know my figures but coming to the conclusion it really isn’t worth the hassle of it all and the tests etc. that I would have to put him through. He has been through more than enough this last year so not prepared to put him through anything else even if it does cost me. I will cancel the LOU for this years policy though which will save some pennies.