When deciding to insure your horse it is important to consider all the costs involved. Something we are often asked is whether or not horses need to be vetted in order to be able to take out cover. The short answer to this is, it actually depends!
Do I need a vetting to insure my horse?
It depends on the type of cover you're looking to purchase, your horse’s value, and how long you've owned the horse. If you're insuring for Mortality Only and/or Vet Fees and the horse’s market value is £9,999 or under, no vetting is required. However, if the horse’s value is £10,000 or more, a minimum two-stage vetting will be needed. Regardless of value, if a vetting is carried out for your own purposes, a copy must be provided. If you've owned the horse for over 6 months, we’ll also need a copy of the veterinary history from any vet who has treated the horse. For Vet Fees, vetting is not required if you choose limited cover like Accidental External. Injuries only (which covers open wounds) or our Catastrophe Cover. If you're including Permanent Loss of Use, a 'passed' five-stage vetting dated within 14 days of the cover start date is mandatory, regardless of value. For horses valued at £10,000 or more, specific x-rays will also be required.
Do these requirements change if I am moving to KBIS at renewal of my insurance policy with another company?
Yes, if you are moving at renewal and you wish to purchase the same or a lower level of cover, you will not be required to have a vetting as long as you can give us a copy of your renewal invitation and your horse’s clinical history held by your vets. If you are looking to increase the level of cover, then a vetting may be required and an accidental external injury period may be applied before full cover is in place.
What are the benefits of having my horse vetted before insuring?
If your horse has a recent vetting (which has been passed and carried out no more than 14 days before the start of cover) then he can be put on full cover straight away without any limitation period, such as cover being limited to accidental external wounds only for the first 45 days. Therefore, if you have had your horse vetted within 14 days it would make sense to insure the horse as soon as it has been purchased to avoid a limitation period.
If your horse has been recently vetted before being put on cover then you can also access the vetting discount which will automatically be applied to your premium. This discount is offered because horses that have been recently vetted are seen to be at a lower risk of making a claim than un-vetted horses and therefore you can benefit from the lower premium they attract.
So when should I insure my horse?
As mentioned above, if you have a recent vetting then it is worth insuring your horse as soon as possible to access full cover from day one of ownership. Even if you have not had a vetting at purchase, it makes sense to insure your horse as soon as possible so that you can access full cover as quickly as possible.
Why do I need to provide a vetting or veterinary history?
As well as benefiting from the vet certificate discount, having a horse vetted gives you as the owner peace of mind allowing you to have confidence that the horse you are buying is fit for purpose. The vetting or vet history also allows us to give you a clear understanding of anything that may be deemed to be a pre-existing injury and therefore not covered. The last thing anyone wants is to have to deny a claim because of a pre-existing injury, so providing us with all the information at the start of the policy means that we can apply clear exclusions allowing you to make an informed decision about what cover is right for you. This should also speed up the claims process as we will require less information from you at point of claim.
KBIS are one of the largest independent horse insurance providers, offering all types of insurance for the equestrian. Make sure you are ready to hit the road again with our horsebox, trailer and breakdown insurance. KBIS also offer personal accident cover, insurance for equestrian businesses, such as yards, instructors, competition centres, and horse insurance including a wide variety of veterinary fee options. To discuss your insurance needs call us today on 0345 230 2323.