| A number of terrible things have happened to | | | | but other policies are available. |
| horses I have known or worked with. Blaze | | | | Possible policies can cover major veterinary bills in |
| escaped from her paddock and wandered onto | | | | the case of serious injury, as happened to Sultan; |
| the road, where she was hit by a truck coming | | | | loss of use, where a percentage is paid if a horse |
| over the hill suddenly and was killed. Sultan caught | | | | is permanently prevented from working the way |
| himself on a piece of barbed wire that cut him | | | | you intended it to (e.g. a showjumper or |
| from fetlock to withers. April suddenly dropped | | | | racehorse); surgery (e.g. for colic), or breeding |
| dead. | | | | infertility to cover broodmares and/or stud |
| All of these situations led to heartache and a lot | | | | stallions for reproductive failure. Other policies can |
| of expense. While no amount of money can really | | | | give you cover in the case of lightning, fire, theft, |
| ease the pain if a beloved horse dies or suffers | | | | etc. |
| injury, horse insurance can do something to ease | | | | It is very important to talk through all aspects of |
| your financial loss. Of course, prevention is better | | | | horse insurance with your insurance broker before |
| than compensation. Good attention to fencing | | | | signing a policy. You will want to know what the |
| would have saved Sultan from a painful injury and | | | | fine print covers before the stress of an |
| saved Blaze's life. | | | | emergency situation. Make sure you make a list |
| Checking a field used for grazing to ensure that | | | | of any questions you want to ask your agent and |
| no poisonous plants are growing there is also very | | | | be prepared to define your needs exactly. |
| important. While horse insurance can offer you a | | | | Ask your agent to explain any parts of the policy |
| lot of peace of mind, it is no substitute for taking | | | | that you do not understand, and any difficult |
| commonsense precautions. That being said, | | | | words. Insurance agencies may often require |
| horses are natural jumpers and we all know that | | | | certification or other action from a veterinary |
| accidents happen in life. Illness and injury are | | | | surgeon for a claim to be validated. You will also |
| common tragedies. | | | | need to know what action is required from you in |
| Horse insurance, as the name suggests, is a form | | | | order to make and/or validate your claim. It is |
| of insurance policy that makes sure that you will | | | | also important to find out how to ensure your |
| receive some compensation should a tragedy - or | | | | claim is valid if your horse, for some unfortunate |
| other unwanted occurrence - happen to your | | | | reason, needs to be "put down" or euthanased. |
| horse, whether the horse was bought for | | | | As with all forms of insurance, it is important to |
| business or pleasure. But not all horse insurance | | | | shop around and find the horse insurance policy |
| policies are the same. Cover in the case of death | | | | that works best for you and gives you the cover |
| is the most common form of horse insurance, | | | | that you need. |