Sponsoredcontent in collaboration with The Insurance EmporiumAs horse owners, we all want to keep our horses healthy, happy and safeand while we all tend to think that the worst wont happen, factoring in the unexpected is a huge part of owning any animal, especially one thats asbig and unpredictable asahorse.What iftheydevelop a serious health condition, or need surgery? What iftheydamagesomeone elses property, orarestolen?Our animals dont have access to the kind of health care that we do, and vets fees can really add up and while we all know that horse insurance can help protect against unexpected costs, were all very aware of the rising cost of living at the moment, so we want to be sure that were getting the right policy, and only paying for the things we need. To help us understand a bit better, we talked to our friends at The Insurance Emporium; theyve been providing specialist horse insurance for years and have put together this short guide to answer some of the most common questions when it comes to choosing horse insurance. Why should I consider horse insurance? Whetheryourean owner, a breeder, atraineror a rider,youllknow how fulfilling it is to be around horses, butyoullalso know thattheyrenot the cheapest animal to look after.After theinitialcost of buying them, youhave tothink about livery costs, food,forageand bedding, as well as regular visits to the vet, farrier and dentist.This is before you even factor in them being ill, or involved in an accident, or even stolen; it would be good to be able to base theirtreatment on what they need.What does horse insurance cover? At The Insurance Emporium, horse insurancecomes with one standard benefit Death, Theft or Straying,this is for if the horse dies or is put to sleeporis not found within90days of straying or being stolen from the stabling address. You can then tweak your policy to suit you and your horse with a choice of optional benefits, which include:Vets fees The cost of treatment and/or complementary treatment of each injury,illnessor condition.Complimentarytherapy This must be carried out by your vet or a qualified practitioner.Referralvettransportation and livery The cost of transportation to and from a livery whilst the horseremainsat the referral vets.Disposal costs The cost of removal and disposal of the horses body if the horse dies or is put to sleep by a vet.Saddlery and tack Where your saddlery and tack are stolen or accidentally damaged whilst you are taking part in or preparing for an activity specified in your type of use.Loss of use (permanentincapacity) An illness, injury or condition that prevents your horse carrying out the functions for which it was insured.Public liability(standard) Your legal liability to others for compensation and costs arising out of the ownership or use of your horse.Personal accident Death, permanent disablement, loss of hearing, sight, or limbsas a result ofan injury sustained whilst riding, leading, handling or caring for the horse.Dental treatment Dental treatment following an accidental bodily injury to your mouth and/ or teeth whilst riding your horse.What do I need to consider when taking out horse insurance? Their age.Their health.Their breed.Theirintended use.Exclusions certain treatments and pre-existing conditions may not be coveredandyoullneed to inform your insurance company as soon as possible if there are any changes to your circumstances that could affect your policy.What other questions should I ask? Does horse insurance cover injuries from rider accidents?Yes, with the personal accident optional benefit youre covered if you sustain an accidentalbodilyinjury as a result of riding, handling,caring for, or interacting withyour horse and that injury results inyourdeath, loss of hearing, sight or limbs orrenders youtotallypermanentlydisabledfor aconsecutive period of 365 days.DoI need to insure my horse trailer?Yourenot legally obliged to havehorse trailer insurancebut towing a trailer does come with risks so taking out covermight be worth considering,particularly if you attend horse shows/events, buy or sell horses, ownstablesor train horses. You can also getinsurance for if you hire a horse trailer.Can I get horse insurance for pre-existing conditions?No, you wont be covered for pre-existing conditions, meaning injuries or illnesses that existed before your policy started. Are racehorses/competition horses insured by standard horse insurance?We do not insure racehorses but our horse policy allows you to compete just make sure you select the appropriate type of equestrian activities when going through the quotation. What if I have an older horse?Ourveteran horse insurancecovers horses 20 years and over there is no upper age limit.Do horses need insurance on the road?While theres no legal requirement to have insurance when riding on the road, most responsible riders have insurance that includes public liability. Do horse riders need insurance?If youdontown a horse, but ride one, ahorse rider onlypolicy will provide cover for you, and some emergency cover for the horse, for example, emergency vet fees.Whatsthe maximum value that you can insure a horse?This figure may differ between insurance companies. A horse can be insured with us for up to 15,000. What if my horse is ridden by someone else?Your horse or veteran horse policy will usually cover anyone, aged five to 75, who is riding, leading, handling or caring for your horse with your permission. What does excess mean?An excess is the part you pay towards a claim.With our horse insurance policies,theresno excess to pay on our standard benefit, but there are three optional benefits where you need to pay an excess:vets fees, saddlery and tack and public liability(standard)so check your policy schedule.What does loss of use mean?There are two types of loss of use. Complete: this iswhere your horse cannot undertake any functions for which it was vetted and insured, and it is put to sleep. Partial: where your horse cannot undertake any functions for which it was vetted and insured but can undertake other equestrian activities, or you choose to breed or retire them.Are there any conditions for keeping my saddlery and tack safe?Yes, when not in use you need to adhere tosecurity requirements,such as these, otherwise your insurance may be invalid, and your claim may be rejected.Can I insure more than one horse?Yes, you can insure more than one horse, and you may even be eligible for a multi-horse discount. At The Insurance Emporium, if you insure more than one horse, you will be eligible for an extra 10% discount on each of your horse insurance policies. The multi-horse discount is either applied at the start of any new horse policies or at renewal of existing horse policies. Havinghorse insurancein placecouldmean that if you are faced with an unexpected bill for an injury, illness, accident etc then you know you have theright cover for you, yourhorseand your budget.VisitThe Insurance Emporiumwebsite, or give them a calland get a free, no-strings quote today.Lifestyle Policy Limited is an appointed representative of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited. The Insurance Emporium is a trading name of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited (registered in England and Wales no: 294940) which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority no:202748. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time. We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations. Images courtesy of Shutterstock Related content Essential guide to horse health insuranceColic surgery costs exceed insurance payouts, find vetsWhat does Death of Horse insurance actually cover? *Sponsored*Expert guide to public liability cover *Sponsored*The post Tails of the unexpected: top tips for choosing the most appropriate insurance policy for you and your horse *Sponsored* appeared first on Your Horse.