Page 1104 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

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VetBooks.ir FURTHER ADVICE AND PRACTICAL

TIPS

INSURANCE

Insurance is a competitive business. Most equine magazines have several advertisements and

each company is trying to attract your custom. However, equine insurance companies are
under increased financial pressure due to the sophisticated (and consequently expensive)

diagnostic techniques such as scintigraphy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance
imaging that are now increasingly available. Before taking out an insurance policy it is very

important that you are fully aware of the extent and limitations of the selected policy.

Do I need insurance?

There is no legal requirement to insure your horse, but at the very least it is advisable to have

Public Liability cover. This insures against claims and legal costs arising from damage or
injuries caused by your horse. Cases reported in the press have highlighted this need. In one

example, a couple of ponies escaped from a well-fenced field and caused an accident
resulting in serious injury to the driver of a car. Despite the owners having taken all
reasonable precautions to keep their animals secure, they were faced with an enormous

compensation bill. Public Liability insurance is included in membership of organizations
such as the Pony Club, the British Horse Society (Gold membership), British Eventing,

British Dressage and British Show Jumping.
Veterinary fee cover is another area where insurance is recommended. With new

developments in medicine, surgery and anaesthesia, the costs of successful treatment can
escalate. It is hard for the vet as well as the owner of a horse if a particular treatment cannot

be carried out due to economic constraints. Around 75% of horses now survive colic surgery,
but the cost can run into several thousands of pounds which is prohibitive for many owners.

The decision on whether or not to insure your horse and the type of cover needed must be

made after weighing the risks against the costs.