We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But we may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
Compare horse insurance
Protect your horse for riding, racing and showing for as little as $25/month
Is horse insurance worth it?
Horses need special medical care and attention that can take a toll on your bank account, especially if they get injured or cause injuries to someone else. Reasons to consider horse insurance:
- Horses get injured easily. Horses can get injured from everyday actions like playing rough in the pasture, loading up in a trailer or eating too much grain. And these simple incidents can lead to costly vet bills.
- Horses are an expensive investment. Everything from buying a horse to boarding and feeding can cost you hundreds or thousands a year. Insurance helps you protect that investment.
- Horses face many risks. Accidents, illness or theft can strike at any time. Plus, show or race horses may see more than their fair share of accidents, while purebreds like Arabians hold exceptionally high value.
- Horses could injure other people. Horses can cause serious property damage, injuries or even death. Those risks may warrant extra protection for liability.
- Vet bills add up quickly. Large animals cost more for treatment and prescription drugs, and they may require a home visit if they’re too sick or injured to travel.
- You stand to lose business dollars. If you own a horse-related business, you could lose income when your horse needs recovery time or if your horse dies.
Do I need horse insurance?
Most horse owners can benefit from insurance because the cost of vet bills and risk of injuries are high in the horse world. If you don’t buy a horse policy, you might face expensive out-of-pocket costs or worse, the decision to put your beloved horse down.
But horse owners who rely on their horses for their business stand to lose the most from an unexpected vet bill, such as lost revenue for a farm or horseback riding business.
What types of horses can horse insurance cover?
You can find general or specialty policies for a variety of horses, including:
- Purebreds
- Show horses
- Racehorses
- Stallions and pregnant mares
- Prospective foals
- Farm workhorses
- Trail-ridden horses
- Horses used for riding lessons
What does horse insurance cover?
Protection for horses involves a few main coverage options for both individuals and horse businesses:
Liability coverage
Covers expenses if you’re held liable for accidental death, personal injuries or damage to another person’s owned property.
Medical or surgical coverage
Shares the cost of medical fees for accidents, injuries or illness during the insurance period. This coverage typically comes with a deductible, coinsurance and an annual limit. First, you should pay your deductible, such as the first $500 of vet bills. Then, you’ll cover your share of coinsurance, which is a percentage of the medical bills paid after meeting your deductible. Your policy may also call for an annual limit on the amount your insurer will pay.
Loss of use coverage
Pays a benefit if your horse suffers temporary or permanent disability and can no longer fulfill their main purpose. Your policy may reimburse a partial amount of your horse’s market value or agreed value, such as 75%.
Mortality coverage
Protects you from financial loss if your horse dies, gets stolen or is put down on humane grounds for an accident, injury or illness. Your benefits might not pay more than your horse’s market value or the maximum amount covered by your policy.
Equine business coverage
Shelters your horse business with liability coverage specialized to your business type and includes building and equipment coverage. You can get coverage for:
- Horse training or instructor liability
- Horse leasing liability
- Horse sales or show
- Breeding
- Boarding
- Barns or sheds
- Tack, such as your saddle and bridle
- Trailers
- Farm equipment
What’s not covered?
Horse insurance comes with a range of exclusions to watch out for. These cases may not get coverage:
- A pre-existing condition
- Failing to notify your insurer of a minor medical issue that worsened
- Certain medical treatments or surgery not approved by your insurer
- Surgery not carried out by a qualified veterinary surgeon
- Administering drugs or medication not required for recovery
- Euthanasia without your insurer’s consent or without consulting a qualified vet
- Using your horse outside of the purpose stated in your policy, like horse racing
- Malicious injury that you caused to your horse or insured property
- Damage to personal belongings
- Property damage resulting from mildew or wear and tear
What policy conditions should I watch out for?
Smooth out your ride through the claims process by staying within these guidelines:
- Health exam first. Your insurer may need documentation from a vet about your horse’s health before approving coverage.
- Filing claims quickly. Most insurers specify a time limit for filing claims or sending medical bills, such as 90 days.
- Keeping veterinary advice. Seek a vet’s advice as soon as your horse falls ill or has an accident and follow any recommendations to a T.
- Equipment security. Ensure that your tack and farm equipment are locked up, if your insurer requires extra security.
How much does horse insurance cost?
Many insurers charge based on a percentage of your horse’s value, such as 3% or 4.5%. For example, you might pay between $150 to $225 per year for mortality coverage on a horse worth $5,000. However, a number of factors influence your premium, including:
- Age
- Gender
- Breed
- Type of coverage
- Number of horses
- Value of equipment or property
How do I file a horse insurance claim?
You should take action as soon as possible after an injury or illness for a smooth ride through the claims process. File your claim in a few steps:
- Report any horse theft, vandalism or malicious injuries to your local police.
- Notify your insurer about major treatments or surgeries for your horse before starting them.
- Fill out your claim form, including thorough details about the accident or illness.
- Provide supporting documentation for your claim, such as vet bills, post mortem exam or autopsy report.
- Follow your insurer’s instructions to receive your policy benefits.
Keep in mind that your insurer won’t pay an amount that exceeds your horse’s market or agreed value or your policy limit, whichever applies to your situation.
