FAQs

Q: At what ages can I insure my horses?
A: Most horse insurance companies follow these type of guidelines.

Full Equine Mortality Insurance Policy: Horses over 24 hours old through 18-20 years, depending on the insurance company.
Medical/Surgical types of coverages: Horses 30 days through 18-20 years old, depending on the insurance company.
Surgical Expenses Only: Horses 30 days 20 years of age, depending on the insurance company.
Extended Named Perils/Limited Perils: Horses over 24 hours old.

Q: Is my horse insured when we drive to another state?
A: Yes, once coverage is bound, your horse insurance policy should be covered while traveling by land throughout the continental U.S. Coverages may also extend to traveling by air throughout the continental U.S. You would need to contact your equine insurance agent to find out what coverage may be available based on the horse insurance company your policy is placed with..

Q: If I'm buying a horse that is in another country, or I'm traveling with him out of the U.S. for a competition, will he have coverage while we are abroad and in transit?
A: The coverages on the Equine Mortality insurance policy (and its related endorsements as confirmed by underwriting) only cover while the horse is within the continental U.S. and Canada, but can usually be extended while the horse is located in most other countries. IMPORTANT: Prior notice must be given and underwriting approval must be obtained from the equine insurance company before any extension of coverage is in place, therefore you must contact our office at least several business days prior to any travel taking place.

NOTE: If the insurance company is not notified of the horse's international location and/or travels in advance (and therefore has the opportunity to review the extension request and determine if it will be approved), your insurance policy will be considered void. Also, a request for an international extension of coverage is not guaranteed. The locations and specifics of your horse’s circumstances and coverages could affect whether an extension request will be approved.

Q: Must a veterinarian examine my horse before I can start coverage?
A: To insure for Full Equine Mortality, with most horse insurance companies a veterinary exam is not usually required as long as your horse is age 15 or under, sound and healthy, and you are insuring him for a value of $100,000 or less. If you are insuring for a value of more than $100,000, a basic exam is usually required.

If you are interested in Loss of Use coverage, regardless of the horse's value you will be required to submit at least a basic veterinary certificate. Also, depending on the type of Loss of Use coverage you are interested in, you may need a very detailed veterinary exam (similar to a pre-purchase exam) with current radiographs of various joints and areas of the horse’s body.

Q: Will a new veterinary exam be needed each year when I apply to renew my horse's insurance policy?
A: As long as your horse is sound and healthy with no claims during the policy year, under 16 years old, and the insured value is $100,000 or less, usually a vet certificate is not required at renewal. Depending on the equine insurance company you are insured with, a current vet certificate is required if the horse will be insured for a value in excess of $100,000. Also, underwriting may ask for a vet certificate due to the horse’s age (16 or older), if the horse has experienced health issues during the policy period, and/or if the horse is covered by certain endorsements such as Loss of Use, Stallion Accident, Sickness and Disease, or Stallion Infertility.

Q: Can a new horse insurance policy be started immediately?
A: Our office can usually bind coverage upon receipt of the required, completed paperwork as well as underwriting approval. This can usually happen the same business day we receive all the required paperwork, if it is during business hours, Monday through Friday, and providing all paperwork is complete and in order, and we receive underwriting approval. Paperwork can be submitted by fax, email or mail. Providing we receive underwriting approval, we would then email you a binder that would give you time to make payment.

Q: What value can I insure my newly purchased horse for?
A: A recently purchased horse can be insured for its purchase price, but typically not more than that amount.

Q: I have owned my horse for several years and he has increased in value due to training and competition. How much can I insure him for?
A: To insure for a value higher than the purchase price that you paid, you would need to provide substantiation for consideration of a value increase. Your agent can provide you with a Value Substantiation form which will help you list the horse's competition record, professional training fees paid, breeding record, and other relevant information. This information is normally sufficient, providing the underwriter feels the value you are requesting is reasonable.

Q: My four-year-old homebred has no performance record yet. How can his value be established?
A: The basic formula used for young homebred horses to determine value on a horse insurance policy is typically three to five times the horse’s sire's stud fee. If you believe your horse is worth more than that due to training, performance, etc., contact our office and we can discuss this with you in detail and provide you with the required form.

Q: My biggest concern is being able to pay the vet bills if my horse becomes ill or has an injury or accident. What types of affordable types of equine health insurance coverages are available?
A: If your horse is age 30 days to 18-20 years, in most cases you should be able to add some type of equine Medical and Surgical endorsement to the Full Mortality policy. These types of coverages act as a sort of horse health insurance and can help reimburse you for covered veterinary costs in the event your horse has a covered injury, illness, accident or disease during the policy period. The extent of these types of horse health insurance coverages will depend on the type of endorsement that the horse is eligible for.

For more information on Equine Mortality Insurance and related coverages, visit our Equine Insurance Coverages page.

To see about an equine insurance quote, visit our Quote page.

Once you are ready to apply for coverage, visit our Forms page for the Application and other related forms.

If you are interested in finding out more about Individual Horse Owner Liability Insurance, click Here.