Finding the Right Insurance Plan for Your Horse

Unsure about what they need and how much it will cost, many horse owners are hesitant to purchase an insurance policy. Those of use who have been lucky enough to own horses for years without encountering an expensive medical problem are often hesitant to commit to a guaranteed annual fee, with no guarantee that it will be necessary. Unfortunately the flip side of that coin is that your new horse can back off the horse trailer and injure himself the day you bring him home. Making the decision whether to purchase insurance on your horse is a question everyone must answer for themselves, but finding the right information can be tricky.

There are basically four types of insurance for the private horse owner. Major medical and mortality insurance are somewhat tied to each other. Mortality insurance reimburses you upon the death of your horse. Major medical/ surgical cover the medical expenses associated with illness and injury. Major medical/ surgical does not cover maintenance expenses such as vaccinations and worming.
Mortality insurance allows the horse owner to recoup their expense on the loss of their horse. It can relieve a great deal of financial pressure if you know that you will have the replacement value of your horse available to you in the case of an emergency.

Unfortunately many people become overwhelmed at this initial stage of the shopping process. If you buy a young horse, or a horse to retrain, it is very likely that your horse can quickly become much more valuable than his purchase price. Be up front with your agent. This is a very common situation, and most companies are prepared to deal with it.