For most equine owners, their horse is not just a pet or a working tool – it’s their pride and joy. When it comes to horse care, it’s worth noting that horses have delicate needs and require professional monitoring since they’re a special species of domestic animals.
In that regard, horse insurance can cover anything from medical needs and accidents to illnesses and loss of use. So, what’s the best option out there? And more importantly, which one is right for you?
Why Do You Need Horse Insurance?
Most of the time, you’ll come across horse insurance referred to as equine insurance. There are different types of policies that deal with different facets and cover different aspects, including everything from emergencies and medical care, to providing reimbursement if your horse happens to die unexpectedly.
Unlike other domestic pet insurance policies, we believe that having horse insurance is an absolute must. Horses are very expensive to take care of, so every horse owner should provide them with adequate coverage, allowing the right medical, wellness, and special care decisions to be made when push comes to shove.
Also, one should seriously consider liability insurance as well, because it’s not uncommon for horses to damage property or cause injury to someone.
In addition to medical insurance, loss of use coverage is another option that you should consider if you are or plan on using your horse for breeding or sports activities. These plans provide coverage in instances when your horse is no longer able to perform activities that result in financial income, such as racing.
Types of Horse Insurance
There are a lot of horse insurance policies that can cover a plethora of different aspects. Here are some of the most common ones:
Mortality Insurance
Much like life insurance for people, mortality insurance for horses provides coverage in cases of death due to illnesses, accidents, or injuries. Most horse insurance plans offer mortality insurance as the foundation for other types of coverage, such as major medical, liability, and loss of use. Mortality insurance is treated as a platform on which you build up, within the horse insurance industry, though this practice varies from company to company.
There are two main types of mortality insurance: full mortality policies, which cover the full value of your horse, and limited mortality policies, which cover a percentage of your horse’s predetermined value, which is established beforehand. Full mortality policies apply if your horse dies and you have already utilized the major medical policy or in cases where your horse has been stolen. One thing to keep in mind is that mortality insurance rates typically get more expensive as your horse gets older.
Major Medical
Major medical coverage is along the lines of health insurance for people; the coverage offers vary from company to company. Keep your eyes open and review the policies carefully so that you know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.
Plans can provide coverage and veterinary care for everything from illnesses, accidents, vet visits, and diagnostic procedures, to medication, treatment, surgeries, and aftercare costs.
These policies impose a deductible and an upper limit on the amount covered annually. The annual coverage limits typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 in reimbursement, meaning that you pay your vet bill on the spot and then send your insurance provider the bill for review and approval. If you exceed the limit, everything else comes out of your own pocket.
Most major medical plans cover unexpected veterinary costs but do not cover preventive care, pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, holistic treatments, and dental care.
Surgical
Not all horses meet the given criteria for major medical coverage. Surgical policies offer coverage in case your horse is in need of life-saving or emergency colic surgeries that amount up to $10,000 annually. These policies only apply if your horse needs an operation and aren’t all-encompassing. Policies that cover only and are limited to colic procedures are also available, as this is a common health condition for horses.
It’s noteworthy that these plans usually do not cover room and board costs for staying in the hospital, just the medical expenses.
Loss of Use
Horse owners who use their horses for activities that produce income such as sports or breeding should acquire or at least look into loss of use policies. These policies are subject to extensive and thorough reviews due to the sensitive nature of the subject at hand.
That’s why insurance companies will only provide a policy after a detailed vet exam, a verified history of any previous vet visits, accidents, illnesses, and x-rays so they can be sure that everything is in order under the hood.
Keep in mind that a loss of use policy is not a standalone policy and is offered in conjunction with major medical and mortality policies. However, once acquired, the policy will subsidize the provisory income you would have received from the horse’s activities.
In most cases, loss of use policies only apply to breeding and racing activities, not horses used for pleasure riding.
Liability
Accidents can and will happen, regardless of how careful and diligent you may be. Liability insurance is a good investment to make if your horse is at risk of injuring someone or damaging someone’s property, especially if you have some kind of business involving multiple horses. If this is the case, you might even benefit from an experienced consultant that can determine what kind of extensive liability coverage will best suit your needs.
Sometimes, liability insurance is offered as part of the insurance company’s regular policies, however, we suggest that you double-check this with your provider.
Care, Custody, Control
This type of policy is a good fit for those who board, train, or breed horses. If you are in contact or work with other people’s horses, you may need care, custody, and control coverage.
Care, custody, and control plans will provide you with coverage in an unfortunate event where you might harm or damage another person’s horse. These policies are available as standalone purchases, as well as a part of liability coverage. The coverage they provide is per-horse and on an annual basis.
How Much Is Horse Insurance?
The rates depend on a multitude of factors and circumstances including, but not limited to:
The type of coverage: When it comes to horse insurance, you can build your own policies from the ground up; starting with the basic limited mortality plans and adding surgery coverage would be the most affordable option. You can also choose policies that cover everything within reason and then some. Just keep in mind that the all-inclusive plans come at a higher price.
The value of your horse: The cost of the mortality policies is directly influenced by the estimated value of the horse that is being insured. The estimate can be done by the insurance company or in some cases by a third party that specializes in horse valuing.
There’s no certain way of knowing how much a horse will be valued at. If the horse has gone through different owners, then its value can be determined on the prices that have been paid for it.
If the horse has received training or is participating in sports or grooming competitions,
that may increase the value of your horse. The horse’s age, breed, and pre-existing conditions also impact its value. Older horses and previously injured horses tend to have a lower value.
The deductible: The deductible is the amount that you pay before your coverage plan is activated. The deductible is also generally linked to the monthly premiums and insurance expenses; higher initial payments result in lower insurance monthly premiums.
Policy limits: The price of the monthly premiums always goes hand in hand with the annual coverage limit. The higher the limit, or in some cases unlimited annual coverage, the higher the monthly premiums will be; and vice versa, the lower the annual limit, the lower the premiums.
As these prices and policies are subject to change and can vary a couple of times per year, we suggest that you contact the companies directly and ask for a quote. That being said, every company has its own policies that have different offers and different rates, so policies will not always be comparable.
The Best Horse Insurance Companies On The Market
As we stated above, when it comes to horse insurance, different companies provide different plans. Let’s take a look at how they compare and what the market has to offer:
Blue Bridle Equine Insurance
Licensed in 42 states across the United States, Blue Bridle Equine Insurance is one of the pioneers in equine insurance, with a track record of nearly 40 years. They specialize in equine medical and surgical insurance and offer coverage for all types of horse owners.
Their policies cover a wide array of clauses, such as accident and illness coverage, including blood work, x-rays and ultrasound, loss of use policies, surgical and colic-only coverage, medical assistance, and policy extensions.
Their Territory Extension and Air Transit plans provide coverage should your horse travel outside the U.S. or Canada. Horses must be between the ages of 31 days through 20 years old to be considered eligible for a Blue Bridle Equine insurance policy. Deductibles are available per occurrence or incident.
ASPCA
When it comes to animal care, the ASPCA has provided premium pet insurance, extended coverage, direct vet bill payments, and comprehensive wellness plans as one of the most recognizable and reputable companies on the market for nearly 25 years. Now, their animal healthcare plans extend to horses.
With an added option for preventive care benefits, you can choose an affordable plan and cover colic and accidents or opt for covering colic, accidents, and illnesses at a premium.
Pricing Quotes – Colic + Accidents
Breed | Appaloosa | Arabian | Pony |
---|---|---|---|
Age | 2 | 4 | 8 |
Gender | Male | Male | Female |
State | New York | Colorado | California |
Annual Deductible | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Annual Limit | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Reimbursement | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Monthly Premium | $23.83 | $24.49 | $29.49 |
ASPCA’s plans provide coverage for colic – impaction, displacement, spasmodic, and enteritis; accidents – cuts, hoof abscesses, toxic ingestions, injuries from trailer accidents, and more.
However, there’s no cover for pre-existing conditions, navicular disease, arthritis joint injections, and illnesses (unless you choose the added illness option, listed below).
Pricing Quotes – Colic + Accidents + Illnesses
Breed | Appaloosa | Arabian | Pony |
---|---|---|---|
Age | 2 | 4 | 8 |
Gender | Male | Male | Female |
State | New York | Colorado | California |
Annual Deductible | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Annual Limit | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Reimbursement | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Monthly Premium | $62.87 | $61.07 | $101.01 |
This plan adds additional coverage for Illnesses – Cushing’s disease, strangles, cancer, hereditary conditions, and more.
Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency
In partnership with some of the best horse insurance companies in the country, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency offers transparent plans with a vast array of equine coverage, centered around major medical and surgical insurance. They offer Major Medical or Medical Assistance insurance coverage for horses at insured values as low as $1,000.
Furthermore, they provide comprehensive and affordable Liability insurance policies for riding instructors, horse trainers, boarding operations as well as other equestrian businesses and clubs.
Available 24 hours a day, their claim department can answer any questions you might have about their plans and policies.
Kay Cassell Equine Insurance
Established in 1981, Kay Cassell Equine Insurance is a family-owned business that takes pride in providing personalized service for all its policies, including major medical with optional surgical-only colic plans and equine transportation insurance. If your horse happens to be severely injured, shows signs of colic, or requires surgery or hospitalization, Kay Cassell Equine Insurance allows you to make a decision based on what’s best for your horse’s health. Their policies have upper limits of up to $15,000 and their operators are always standing by, in case you have any questions or inquiries.
Great American Insurance Group
The Great American Insurance Group provides highly customizable policies and is among the worldwide leaders in equine mortality insurance.
Their staff consists of experts in a variety of breeds and disciplines, such as racing, showing, cutting, dressage, hunter/jumper, driving, reining, saddleseat, and pleasure riding.
Great American also offers Major Medical, providing Equine Mortality with optional Major Medical and Surgical coverages. Their plans cover everything from pleasure riding horses to derby contenders.
Hallmark Equine Insurance Agency
Operating since 1983, the Hallmark Equine Insurance Agency provides Full Mortality coverage for death as a result of an injury, illness, or human destruction, as well as death as a result of theft. The Guaranteed Extension option provides coverage in the event of a condition occurring and reported during the policy period, for which the mortality coverage automatically extends for up to 12 months beyond the Full Mortality plan’s expiration date.
Their territorial coverage includes the continental US and Canada. Also, your horse need not be vet certified, if it is valued up to $100,000. However, foals younger than 30 days do require a Foal Vet Certificate.
Hallmark Equine Insurance Agency also offers Colic Surgery coverage at no extra cost with the Full Mortality policy, which includes coverage for colic surgery for up to $3,000.
If by chance your horse becomes permanently unable to perform as a result of an injury, accident, or illness, their Full Loss of Use plan reimburses up to 50% of the insured value.
Markel Insurance
With over 50 years of experience, Markel Insurance is one of the staples in the Horse Insurance industry. Their coverage ranges from private horse owners to instructors and farriers.
In a scenario where your horse dies, needs to be euthanized, or is stolen, they offer comprehensive and customizable plans with a network of exclusive insurance agents available around the clock. A vet certificate is not required for horses valued under $50,000 with no pre-existing health conditions.
Markel Specialty is also the official insurance supplier of The American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA).
Equine Insurance Specialists
Operating since 1992, Equine Insurance Specialists provides comprehensive plans for Equine Mortality Coverage with additional add-ons, such as Medical, Surgical, and Loss of Use policies. They’re used to cover both your potential financial loss and unfortunate emergencies.
Equine Mortality Coverage from Equine Insurance Specialists offers full Mortality coverage, along with Medical & Surgical, Loss of Use, Stallion Permanent Disability, and Worldwide Transit insurance.
Their Liability Coverage offers a vast array of equine and business insurance plans for horse owners across the whole country, except Alaska and Hawaii. Their policies include, but aren’t limited to Commercial Equine Liability, Riding Clubs and Associations, Individual & Race Horse Owners, Instructors and Trainers Liability, Equestrian Professional Liability, Care, Custody or Control, Farming and Commercial Auto, as well as Umbrella Liability insurance.
Regardless of whether you own or rent your farm, Equine Insurance Specialists will get you covered with their modular farm programs, offering policies for clients whose needs extend beyond their core Mortality, Farm, and Liability insurance policies.
So, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting exactly what you want, regardless of where your niche may lie; their coverage extends to both Farm & Ranch Owners and Tenant Farm operations.
USRider Horse Insurance
Bringing you peace of mind is at the very top of USRider Horse Insurance’s priority list.
They offer comprehensive policies that provide coverage for death, theft, and humane destruction, including illness or disease. Their annual Horse Mortality policies start at $200/year providing the overall protection you need for your equine. If you feel that their basic plans aren’t enough, their optional Medical Surgical, Equine Essentials Enhancement, and Liability add-ons are at your disposal.
You may enroll your horse in their Hassle-Free Mortality Program if it’s valued up to $50,000, has a clean health history, and is between the ages of 91 days & 15 years old.
If your horse does not fit the guidelines for the Hassle-Free Program, the Standard All Risk Mortality & Theft coverage can provide abundant coverage at an affordable price.
Additional Options
Commercial Horse Liability insurance policies primarily offer protection to horse-related businesses from third-party liability lawsuits. This includes riding instructors and independent trainers as well.
The Equi-Farm Package fully protects your horse farm, combining property and liability to your home, barns, sheds, owned machinery, equipment, tack, livestock, and horse operations.
The Private Horse Owner Liability policies apply if your horses aren’t involved in commercial equine business. These plans protect you from claims of property damage or bodily injuries.
The Commercial Umbrella Liability policy serves as coverage in extreme cases or during catastrophic events when the threshold of your commercial liability has already been exceeded.
Horse Insurance Specialists
Horse Insurance Specialists offers Full Mortality coverage dealing with a horse’s death due to an accident, injury, or disease. Furthermore, your equine is eligible for Emergency Colic Surgery insurance with an upper cap of $3,000 after the first year of enrollment.
It’s worth mentioning that the value of one’s stock and property is agreed upon before the policy is established with a mutual agreement between the policyholder and the company.
The monthly premiums mostly depend on four factors – age, breed, value, and use. That being said, $250 is set in stone as the policy minimum. You may insure more horses on the same policy or extend the basic plan with the Major Medical add-on in order to meet the monthly minimum.
Major Medical
The Major Medical add-on cannot be purchased alone and is only available as an addition to the Full Mortality coverage. This provides coverage for veterinary charges for treating accidents, injuries, or illnesses that occur during the policy’s tenure.
Upper payout limits are available and start at $5,000 and go up to $15,000. The deductible is on a per-claim basis and there is an age limit with a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 16 years.
Loss of Use
This coverage is only available as part of the Full Mortality plan. It applies in the case when an equine becomes permanently unable to perform during the policy period due to an injury or disease. Nevertheless, this coverage must get a stamp of approval from Horse Insurance Specialists. To get this coverage, your horse will be required to go through a veterinary examination.
Stallion Infertility
The Stallion Infertility plan is another add-on to the basic mortality plan.
Once activated, the policy will provide full coverage in case a breeding stallion loses the ability to produce offspring because of disease, accident, or injury.
As an owner, you may claim and be reimbursed for 100% of the mortality value of your stallion. Much like the Loss of Use policy, your horse will pass through a veterinary evaluation including breeding ability tests in order to qualify for this plan.
The minimum age of your horse must be 2 years and the upper limit is 17 years.
This coverage costs a one-time fee of 1.0% of the full mortality insurance rate of your horse.
Limited Mortality
The Limited Mortality plan offers coverage in cases of death as a result limited to fire, lightning, explosion, collision, transportation accident, windstorm, hail, earthquake, flood, accidental shooting, drowning, electricity, attack by wild animals or canines, building collapse, and theft.
This policy is usually obtained for horses that are ineligible for Full Mortality coverage. The rates usually start at 1.25% and go up to 1.85% of the insurance value and apply on a per-horse basis. The monthly premiums range from $100 to $250.
AEIG
AEIG has offered a broad array of equine insurance policies for over three decades. All of their insurance carriers have an “A” rating and are prominent providers of coverage for everything from equestrian professionals and show and pleasure horses, to shows, clubs, and horse farms.
With utmost devotion to everything equine, AEIG stays committed to combining the best coverage with the most competitive rates on the market. Their Liability Insurance is customized to satisfy anyone’s needs, from amateurs to professionals, regardless of whether they’re after protection for horse trainers and riding instructors or commercial events.
Travelers
Travelers provide equine coverage for horse owners, stables owners, breeders, and trainers. Their high level of commitment in protecting your investment is mirrored in their broad range of horse and stable insurance coverage options that are customizable to meet your specific property, liability, and operational needs.
They offer coverage for commercial equine operations such as boarding, breeding, lessons, riding programs, shows, clinics, and training. Travelers also provide options for horses owned for personal use, stable owners, care, custody, and control, equine professional services, endorsement, equine property endorsement, personal liability, and stable liability.
ARK
ARK believes that horse owners should protect themselves and their horses at every turn. They offer Full Mortality and Theft insurance that’s comparable to personal life insurance policies. Their policies cover cases that include natural or accidental deaths or theft, both in instances when the stolen horses remain in North America or, in some situations, the insurance extends beyond borders and is valid for other countries too.
In order to qualify for full horse mortality insurance plans, there needs to be proof that the horse is physically sound and in good health overall. Horses that are valued below $50,000 often do not require a veterinary certificate of health. The policy can be expanded with optional short-term Air Transit insurance or European Extension add-ons if needed.
Additional Options
Horses that may not qualify for Full Mortality can often be insured under their Limited Mortality insurance which is activated in cases of death caused by aircraft, objects falling from an aircraft, bridge and culvert collapses, explosions, loading or unloading accidents, natural catastrophes, accidental shootings, wild animal attacks, building collapses, drowning, as well as short-term coverage for animal air and ground transit.
Since every situation is different, Ark Agency has representatives waiting to help any horse owner about how their policies should be constructed. They would explain how everything works – the cost of the monthly premium, what requirements are needed in order to get covered, establishing their specific needs when it comes to horse mortality insurance, the age of the horse, the amount of work it’s subjected to, the amount of travel, and the area where it lives.
Equine Insurance Center
The Equine Insurance Center is an established equine enterprise, offering stability through their equine mortality insurance providers. The Equine Mortality policy provides life insurance for your horse. It’s basically a plan that provides coverage for death or theft, regardless of the cause. Nevertheless, there are certain exclusions, which are stated in the equine mortality insurance policy.
The Equine Insurance Center will cover 100% of your horse’s value at the time of the accident or illness that had resulted in its death. Their policies feature a fantastic extension, by which they prolong your coverage from 90 days up to one year if your horse happens to be sick or injured before the policy expires and you have reported the sickness or injury during the policy’s term.
In that case, they will validate your claim should the horse die within the extended time from the same cause.
The following add-ons are optional and can be added to the base equine mortality insurance policy, provided that the necessary requirements have been met.
Certain exclusions, including racing, apply.
Major Medical
Major Medical equine health insurance offers reimbursement for vet fees for surgery, major illness, and disease. Depending on your company of choice, deductibles range from $250 to $1500 for each Major Medical claim offered with a variety of limits to meet your needs.
Let’s take a look at some of the providers’ offers and how they compare:
Praetorian (QBE)
The Mortality Limit must be equal to or higher than the requested Major Medical Limit.
$5,000 Major Medical Limit ($500 per-claim deductible);
$7,500 Major Medical Limit ($500 per-claim deductible);
$10,000 Major Medical Limit ($500 per-claim deductible);
$10,000 Major Medical Limit HD ($1,000 per-claim deductible);
$15,000 Major Medical Limit ($500 per-claim deductible).
The Hartford
Offers Medical plans from $5,000 to $15,000. The deductible is $300 or $1500 depending upon the plan you select.
Great American
The Mortality Limit must be at least $15,000 in order to be considered eligible. The Major Medical limits are $10,000 – $15,000. The deductible is $500 per incident with an upper limit and has a 20% co-pay for each claim.
For Colic Treatment and Surgery, Great American offers a limit of $10,000 and will reimburse you up to 80% on customary veterinary fees limited at $10,000 per covered animal. There’s a $250 deductible. This coverage is provided to all horses that qualify, including those used for racing.
American Equine
The Mortality Limit must be equal to or higher than the requested Major Medical Limit.
$7,500 Major Medical Limit;
$10,000 Major Medical Limit;
$15,000 Major Medical Limit.
The Major Medical is not available for horses with a Mortality limit of less than $7,500 and the deductible is $400 per claim for all Medical plan limits.
Equine Catastrophic Accident and Illness coverage is available at a $5,000 limit with an annual premium of $300. A deductible of $375 will apply on a per claim basis.
Surgical Only
Much like the Major Medical policies, should your insured horse require surgery, the Surgical Only equine health insurance plan will provide coverage in the form of customary charges for surgical treatments caused by accidents, injury, or illness. The upper surgical limit goes up to $10,000, which is paired with a $0 or $250 deductible, once again, depending on your company of choice.
Loss of Use
This policy protects you in a scenario where your horse becomes fully and permanently incapable of providing and functioning. However, if the horse’s condition does not necessitate euthanasia for humane reasons, you may be exposed to financial loss.
Trip Transit
The Equine Insurance Center provides coverage for importing or exporting equine internationally by air. More details, additional terms, provisions, conditions, limitations, and exclusions are available upon contacting your provider.
Equisure
Equisure is a company that has been crafting its experience in the equine insurance industry for decades. They have combined their equine insurance expertise and knowledge in the industry trends to construct their customizable plans and provide unique policies for their customers.
The employees at Equisure insurance are people who are passionate horse owners, and regularly participate and compete in equestrian activities. Their goal is to surround you with people who thoroughly understand the industry and possess the necessary skills to provide the best protection for your horse.
With a track record of 20+ years, Equisure’s services are available in each state across the country.
They provide insurance plans in partnership with groups such as:
- North American Trail Ride Association;
- United States Equestrian Federation;
- Certified Horsemanship Association;
- Intercollegiate Horse Show Association;
- United States Hunter Jumper Association;
- American Endurance Ride Conference;
- United States Team Roping Championships;
- Interscholastic Horse Show Association;
- PATH International.
With them, you can also apply if you need insurance as a horse club owner, riding instructor, or trainer.
Their General Liability plans start at $725 per year without additional charges for certificates of insurance.
With most of their policies, you’d get the Care, Custody, and Control add-on included for free.
You can also opt for their Worldwide coverage plan, with liability limits starting from $250,000 and maxing out at $2,000,000.
The policies cover Professional Liability at no additional charge for certificates and extend to additional equine activities like horse sales, judging, boarding, equine-assisted therapy, pony rides, breeding, clinics, etc.
EMO
EMO has been protecting horse and equity investments for more than 30 years, earning a reputation as one of the highest quality insurance providers on the market today, while still managing to keep their monthly premiums at competitive prices.
EMO is an agency that provides its services through specialists and professionals who are also horse people that ride, compete, and fox hunt.
Equine Mortality and Theft
The Equine Mortality Insurance Policy is an all-encompassing life insurance policy that provides coverage for your horse for everything from accidents, illness, and disease, to theft and humane destruction. Equine mortality insurance policies are based on the horse’s age, breed, sex, use, level, and overall value.
As part of the equine mortality policy, EMO’s providers usually also include a free Emergency Colic Surgery (ECS) add-on, applicable for horses without a previous history of colic or other gastrointestinal issues. The price and limits of the ECS depend on the company coverage that you have chosen to administer your plan.
Major Medical
An Equine Major Medical Insurance plan for horses is very similar to a health care insurance plan, providing coverage in cases when your horse is affected by an illness, injury, or disease. It covers diagnostic testing, medical treatment, surgical services, and aftercare treatments. Deductibles are also available where applicable.
Loss of Use
In cases when your horse becomes permanently unfit to perform or be of use as a result of injury, illness, or disease, but does not require termination for humane reasons and is protected by an Equine Loss of Use (LOU) endorsement, you will be reimbursed for a specified percentage of the insured value.
The LOU endorsement falls into two categories – accidental and degenerative. The lowest insurance minimum comes at $25,000 and a maximum is set at $100,000. The age limits for this type of coverage are 1 year to 12 years old.
Specialty Policies
These policies are customized equine insurance plans that cover a plethora of unconventional and unique situations. A good example of this would be fertility coverage, for situations where stallion or mare productivity is your main concern and focus.
Commercial General Liability for Horses (CGL)
The general liability policies are aimed at professionals who deal in breeding, instructing, boarding, training, or running equine facilities. The plans provide coverage for both third-party property damage or bodily injuries due to commercial equine activities.
You can choose to extend the policy to include coverage for private horse riding instructors or trainers as well. However, the policy does not provide coverage to those same professionals if they engage in activities outside of your company or operations. For that, they should obtain their personal CGL coverage. Only the activities that are listed on the application and approved by EMO are considered valid for coverage. Undeclared activities are not covered in any way.
If you require a liability coverage plan for a clinician, you have the option to add them to your CGL policy as an Independent Instructor or Trainer. EMO also provides a great extension policy by which, if you obtain the CGL plan and happen to have a spouse, they are automatically covered by it. Your children, however, if they are of legal age, will be listed under the Additional Insurance column, should you choose to enlist them.
Equine Personal Liability (EPL)
The Equine Personal Liability plan is targeted at horse owners or lessees of horses and provides coverage for both third-party property damage or bodily injuries caused by your own or a leased horse, regardless if the damages or injury had occurred at a time when using the horse for pleasure or personal purposes.
The EPL can be an extension of a CGL policy or can be activated on its own.
Care, Custody, or Control (CCC)
This policy provides coverage in cases of boarding, breeding, training, or transporting horses, as most Commercial Liability Policies don’t cover damages or death of non-owned horses. The Care, Custody, or Control plan will provide coverage in cases of damage, theft, humane destruction, or death.
Equine Event
This type of coverage is best suited for equestrian events, clinics, or private horse shows. The provided coverage extends beyond the actual event days to include days needed to set up and take down the venue/premises.
However, your application, along with a competition fact sheet must be received within a minimum of five days before the start of the event.
Horse Insurance Quote
EMO may not be able to provide an insurance quote on horses valued at less than $3,500.
General Liability Insurance
General Liability designs its equine and horse farm insurance policies to provide comprehensive coverage for your horses, establishments, and instructors with monthly premiums starting at $67/month.
They offer fully-fledged policies that protect your investment; not only the animals but also the land and equipment that is necessary to take care of them properly. In turn, providing you with peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy your work, without worrying about every step along the way.
Besides protecting your horses, farm, land, and equipment, The Equine And Horse Farm Insurance plan extends to cover your and the staff quarter residences, your outbuildings, machinery, and personal possessions as well.
Furthermore, add-ons such as commercial and personal liability plans offer coverage in cases when a third party sustains damage or injury. Think of it as having medical insurance for illnesses, colic, and the medical bills for your horse.
Averages for monthly premiums go from $67 to $99 for small farms. Of course, the prices vary depending on the type and size of operation, the number of horses, location, payroll, and more.
You can extend this policy with the Vehicles And Machinery add-on that covers your farm equipment. This includes everything from tractors used for farming, to transporting vehicles for your animals.
If you or your company deals in boarding, clinics, and training, having a Horse Farm Insurance policy is also something that you should consider.
Major Medical And Surgical Insurance
These policies provide coverage that includes diagnostics, surgery, and medications. Take note that vaccines, elective, and dental treatments aren’t included.
Mortality Insurance
Putting your horse on a life insurance policy is almost always a good idea because it offers coverage in cases of accidents, sicknesses, or theft.
General Liability Insurance
- Limited Mortality – for incidents such as transportation accidents, lightning, fire, and more, that result in the death of a horse;
- Full Mortality – for incidents such as humane destruction, illnesses, accidents, and theft, that result in the death of a horse;
- Major Medical – provides coverage for most veterinary expenses, after meeting a deductible;
- Loss of Use – reimbursement for a percentage of your horse’s mortality value in case it becomes permanently unable to be of use;
- Stallion Infertility – for stallions used for breeding purposes that lose to ability to breed due to an illness or accident;
- Surgical Expenses Only – provides coverage for surgeries that are a direct result of an accident or disease that’s already been covered;
- Care, Custody, & Control Liability – provides coverage for liability for the horses that are in your care in cases of injury, theft, or death;
- Horse Show & Short Term Event Liability – covers you as an organizer of horse seminars, clinics, shows, and similar events;
- Horse Club Liability – if you happen to own a horse club, this plan provides liability coverage for its activities;
- Commercial Equine Liability – takes care of property damage and bodily injuries connected to your horse business;
- Therapeutic Riding Program Liability – coverage for programs offering therapeutic horse riding;
- Personal Horse Owners Liability – personal coverage for those owners who don’t make horse-related profits.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a horse insurance provider, you want to be sure that you’ve chosen the best possible option. Turn to people who already have experience with equity insurance, contact the companies that seem like a good fit, ask them anything that might come to mind regarding their policies, and do your research by checking out some reviews online.
Your horse is a significant investment, one that’s worth protecting. Always remember to thoroughly read and go through every quote and plan before reaching a final verdict and signing on the dotted line.
F.A.Q.
Do I need horse insurance?
If your horse is being used for anything more than simply being a pet, then we strongly suggest that you find a policy that will provide you with adequate coverage within your domain. That being said, even if you’re not engaging in particularly risky activities, things can still go wrong and accidents can happen.
Do I need insurance for horse riders?
If you lend your horse to others for some horse riding as a non-commercial activity, you should arm yourself with a personal liability horse insurance policy to ensure your horse and the riders are both covered.
Does the AAA provide roadside assistance for horses?
They might go out of their way to help you out but you shouldn’t be expecting that. We suggest that you research other horse roadside assistance policy providers. One such company is USRider, which, besides vehicle assistance, provides other equestrian services such as emergency veterinary services and emergency boarding arrangements.
What do I need to provide an equine insurance company with to get a policy?
Generally, horse insurance providers will ask for a history of your horse’s health background, veterinary certificates and x-rays, your horse’s age, breed, gender, the horse’s use and purpose, and the overall value of your horse.
Will my horse be covered by a regular pet insurance policy?
No, pet insurance policies only cover cats and dogs. Nationwide is the only company in the US that offers coverage for pet horses.
What is the best horse insurance provider?
Unfortunately, there is no straight answer. That depends entirely on your needs and priorities. You can even utilize multiple companies for different facets. You can have equine liability insurance and equine mortality insurance from one provider, and a separate emergency colic surgery coverage policy from another horse insurance company.