When deciding to take out Horse Insurance, it is important to consider all the costs involved. Something we are often asked is ‘can I insure my horse without a vetting?’ The short answer to this is… it actually depends!
It depends on the cover you are looking to purchase, the value of your horse and how long you have owned your horse for.
Where X-rays are needed, the exact requirements can be found here:
Here are the specifics…
If you are looking to insure your horse for Mortality only and their current market value is £9,999 or under then, at KBIS, we would not require a vetting. If, however, their market value is £10,000 or above then a minimum of a two-stage vetting will be needed to insure your horse. Regardless of the horse’s value, if a vetting is carried out for your own purposes, such as a pre-purchase examination, a copy will need to be submitted to your insurance company.
When it comes to Vet Fees, if your horse is valued up to £6,000 then you don’t need to have a vetting carried out to be able to insure your horse, regardless of how long you have owned him for. If he is valued above £6,000, but below £9,999 and he is a recent purchase, then a minimum of a two-stage vetting is required. If you have owned your horse for longer than 6 months, a vetting is not needed, however the insurers will instead require a copy of his veterinary history. If your horse is valued at £10,000 or above then a minimum of a two-stage vetting is required. When it comes to vets fee insurance, a vetting is never needed is if you are taking out standalone limited cover such as Accidental External Injuries only (which just covers open wounds) or our Catastrophe Cover.
If you are looking to include Permanent Loss of Use then you will require a ‘passed’ five-stage vetting within 14 days of the start date of cover, whatever the value of your horse. If your horse is £10,000 or over then you will also require specific x-rays as well.
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 about if I am insuring a horse that I’m getting on loan?
The terms are slightly different for horses that are being insured by the person loaning them. If the horse’s market value is £10,000 or above, a minimum of a 2 stage vetting is required for mortality and/or veterinary fee cover.
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) and you have owned him for no more than 7 days, 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 your horse is a recent purchase and you have had your horse vetted within the last 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, if you have a recent vetting then it is worth insuring your horse as soon as possible to access full cover from day 1 of ownership. Even if you have not had a vetting at purchase, it is best to insure your horse as soon as possible so that you any limitation period is over as quickly as possible and you can have complete peace of mind any new conditions will then be covered by your policy.
*Competition Horse policy only.