Insuring an eventer

With the Belton International Horse Trials upon us, the eventing season is well and truly underway. Riders, grooms and support teams have worked hard to produce their horses to competition level with rigorous fitness regimes and schooling. Months of preparation are behind us and a summer of loading and unloading lorries, horses, tack and people lies ahead. At this stage of the season, excitement and expectation are high and no one wants to consider a worst case scenario but part of the preparation should be to consider the insurance options available and to make sure that your horse is adequately covered. Insuring an eventer is, however, a necessary part of the preparation process.

There are many different types of equine insurance policies currently available. Your horse can be insured in different ways for different eventualities, including:

• All Risks of Mortality – including  the destruction of a horse on humane grounds;
• Vets Fees – we offer cover for bills up to £5,000 or £10,000, as well as a unique option for ‘life saving vets fees only’; and/or
• Loss of use – this covers the permanent incapacity for the purposes for which the horse is insured.

When you are busy with the practical side of preparing a horse, the question of insuring an eventer may seem a complex one.  This is where an expert equine insurance broker provides a valuable service. Understanding your requirements and explaining the merits of each policy, they will help you to decide what is best for you. They are also there to provide impartial advice in managing your relationship with the insurer.

It is important to understand that insurance cover is a two way process. When entering into a contract with the insurer both sides have definite obligations to fulfil. Disclosing all veterinary information about a horse is an important element of the trust between both parties. If in any doubt, talking to a specialist equine insurance broker about insuring an eventer will help you to know what information is relevant and what is not.

Please come and see us at the Lycetts hospitality marquee at Belton Horse Trials on Friday 31st March and Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April.