INSURANCE is the product people pay for that they will hopefully never have to use. Yet with costs on the rise – feed, livery bills, fuel and so on – it’s tempting to cut corners on insurance, or cancel it altogether. But while doing this may lift the pressure on your monthly bills in the short term, it could be more damaging for you and your horse in the long run.
We take a closer look at what levers you can pull to make horse insurance work harder for you, while still getting the cover you need to keep your horse protected.
UNDER OR OVER
WHETHER it’s done by accident or on purpose, a lot of owners underinsure.
“People might step up a level in competition and forget to review what they actually insured the horse for when they originally set up their insurance, or they’ll forget their horse’s value changes over time,” explains Lawrence Gill, executive director of KBIS.
The problem is that if you’ve underinsured, this could affect your position in the event of a claim.
You can of course end up going the other way and have cover that you don’t need. Alice Holborow, equine partnership manager at Agria, explains that some owners overinsure their youngsters.
“Owners of young horses often tend to insure their horses for what they hope to be doing with them, rather than what they are currently doing, which may take the horse into a higher activity category,” she says. “But you can increase your activity group at any time – don’t feel you have to cover novice eventing if you’re not doing it yet.”
This story is from the March 28, 2024 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 28, 2024 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Super subs
Can a huntsman take on a different pack of hounds for a day and produce good sport? It can indeed happen,as Andrew Sallis explains
Welsh star is on the dot
A delightful Welsh section A leadrein contender is the best of a super-strong novice supreme on his winter championships debut
Edwards' remarkable home-soil hat-trick
The Welsh wonder Mark Edwards dazzles on home soil and a syndicate horse does his owners proud
The King retains his crown
Global superstar King Edward joins the ranks of such legends as Milton and Shutterfly as a back-to-back World Cup winner
Kittel takes thriller
Patrik Kittel becomes the second Swedish rider to win a World Cup Final, while the British favourite is eliminated
The start of something special
Royal Windsor is often a show horse's first experience of an electric atmosphere. Alex Robinson learns how the pros use the prestigious fixture to see if an animal has what it takes for the big league
Sore jaws
True pathology of the temporomandibular joint is an uncommon cause of a number of relatively common signs. Robyn Graham MRCVS explains how the problem is identified and treated
Safari guide
Natalie McComb owns Nile Horseback Safaris, leading expeditions through the Ugandan wilderness
Access all areas Tim and Jonelle Price
New Zealand's premier eventing couple are in their second season based at the impressive Chedington Estate. Pippa Roome finds out how they work together and their plans for this Olympic year
Running at a loss, even if you win
Jodie Hall McAteer weighs up the pros and cons of jumping abroad