Frequently Asked Questions

A Full Mortality policy is life insurance in the event the horse dies due to a covered illness, injury, accident, or disease. It typically also includes some coverage for theft, and a free Emergency Colic Surgery endorsement (for horses without a colic history) to help reimburse for colic surgery expenses up to a dollar limit determined by the insurance company and based on the horse’s insured value (typically as much as $2,500 – $5,000 depending on the insurance company).

About 90% of our clients add some type of Medical and/or Surgical Endorsement to their Mortality policy. These endorsements help reimburse for covered veterinary expenses, including various diagnostics and treatments. These endorsements vary based on insurer, depending on the horse’s age, breed, use, and insured value.

Rates for Full Mortality (equine life insurance) coverage for the typical performance or pleasure horse aged 2-14 generally run from 2.9% to 4% of the insured value, depending on the horse’s use, breed, competition level, and the insurance company offering coverage. Full Mortality coverage is available for most horses ages 24 hours to 20 years.

For example, the Full Mortality premium for a 10-year-old Dressage, Cutting, or Reining horse insured at $10,000 could be as low as $290-$300 a year. For a Hunter/Jumper or Roping horse it could be as low as $325-$370 a year. And for Pleasure horses not used for a specific discipline, it could be as low as $300-$325 a year. To get a free horse insurance quote, go to our quote page.

For a recently purchased horse, the price you paid sets the current market value and is the maximum amount the insurance company will allow. If you have owned the horse for more than 6 months to a year, underwriters will begin to consider a higher insured value based on how much you have spent on the horse’s training as well as his show record if in competition. If you would like to see about changing your horse’s insured value mid policy or at renewal, please contact your insurance agent who can help you work out a fair market value.

If you cannot afford to replace your horse if he passes away, and/or if you cannot afford thousands of dollars in vet expenses resulting from an illness, accident, or disease, then horse insurance can be a very cost-effective way to protect your financial investment and give your horse veterinary care when they need it. In addition, the peace of mind can be invaluable.

Different equine insurance policies have different age limits.

Full Mortality Coverage: Horses from 24 hours old through 18-20 years can be insured, depending on the insurance company.

Major Medical, Veterinary Services or Medical Assistance: Horses 30 days through 18-20 years old can be insured, depending on the insurance company.

Surgical Expenses Only: Horses over 30 days 20 years of age can be insured, depending on the insurance company.

Extended Named Perils/Limited Perils: Horses over 24 hours old can be insured; age limits are dependent on the insurance company.

Racehorses, horses in race training, or horses intended to race, typically do not qualify for Medical/Surgical types of coverages.

Your horse’s use and level, and any intended uses during the policy period, must be stated on the coverage application. If the horse’s use or level changes mid-policy, you must notify us so we can advise the insurance company for their review and determine if they will approve the change and if an additional premium (or refund) may be due.

Yes, once coverage is bound, your horse should be covered while traveling by land throughout the continental U.S. and Canada.

Coverage is only in effect when the horse is in the continental U.S. and Canada but can usually be extended while the horse is located in most other countries. The insurance company will require prior notice, an additional premium, as well as details on the flight (dates, locations, transport company, flight numbers, etc. might be required). Underwriting approval must be obtained before any coverage can be extended. This means it is important that you contact us several business days prior to travel.

NOTE: If your insurance company is not notified of a horse’s international travel in advance and does not have the opportunity to review the extension, your insurance policy will be considered void. Also, depending on the locations and specifics of your circumstances and coverages, a request for an international extension of coverage may not be approved.

Full Mortality is a life insurance policy. It does not cover for veterinary expenses. That being said, most Full Mortality policies include a free Emergency Colic Surgery endorsement (for horses without a colic history) that will help reimburse for colic surgery expenses up to a certain limit, typically as much as $2,500 – $5,000 depending on the horse’s insured value and the company that writes the policy.

Medical and/or Surgical types of endorsements can usually be added to the policy to help reimburse for veterinary expenses due to various illnesses, injuries, accidents, and diseases that occur during the policy period. The types of Medical and/or Surgical endorsements available will depend on the horse’s age, breed, use, insured value, and the insurance company offering coverage.

No. A Full Equine Mortality insurance policy must be in place to add a Medical/Surgical endorsement.

If your horse is from the age of 30 days and 18-20 years, you should seriously consider adding a Medical and/or Surgical endorsement to your Full Mortality policy. These coverages help reimburse you for covered veterinary costs (both medical and surgical) in the event your horse suffers a covered injury, illness, accident, or disease during the policy period.

While the Full or General Mortality horse insurance policies include coverage for humane destruction, the situation must meet the requirements of the policy. The policy does not cover for euthanasia due to non-health related, economic, or philosophical reasons. If your horse develops a serious condition that requires costly medical or surgical care, and the veterinarians recommend a treatment to save the horse’s life, you are expected under the terms of the Horse Mortality insurance policy to provide for that care, regardless of whether those expenses are covered by your policy. If you don’t have the funds to pay the expected veterinary fees, and the horse dies because you do not pursue treatment, or if you choose to put your horse down instead of pursuing treatment, regardless of your personal reasons for doing so, the Mortality policy would likely not respond.

We work with companies that offer comprehensive Medical/Surgical endorsements with coverage limits ranging from $5,000 – $15,000 on horses with insured values as low as $1,000 (providing the horse otherwise meets the company’s underwriting criteria). For those horses not eligible for these coverages, most insurance companies offer more restrictive coverages.

To insure for Full Mortality with most companies, a veterinary exam is not usually required if your horse is age 15 or under, sound and healthy, and you are insuring 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 all four feet and fetlocks, hocks, and stifles.

Upon receipt of the required paperwork and underwriting approval, we can usually bind coverage, possibly the same business day. Paperwork can be submitted by fax, email, or mail. Providing we receive underwriting approval you would then be provided an invoice that would give you approximately two to four weeks to make at least a down payment (payment plans are available with most insurance companies).

Payment to our offices can pay by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover (debit or credit) or American Express. Payment options directly to the insurance companies vary. Click here to make a payment.

As long as your horse is sound and healthy with no claims during the policy year, under 16 years old, and insured for $100,000 or less, you should generally not need to provide a vet certificate at renewal. You will usually need (depending on the company you are insured with) a current vet certificate if the horse will be insured for more than $100,000. Also, underwriters may ask for a veterinary certificate due to advanced age of the horse (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 Stallion Infertility.

A recently purchased horse can be insured only up to the amount of its purchase price.

If you are looking to insure a horse for more than the original purchase price, you are required to provide substantiation for consideration of a value increase. You can use the Justification of Value form (click here). This form 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. We can assist you in this process and submit your request to underwriting for their review.

Every situation is unique. Most often, your policy will be renewed but the insurer may deem it necessary to apply an exclusion for that issue, and/or may apply a debited rate for coverage, and/or restrict access to certain coverages. In rare cases, renewal may not be offered. IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure to immediately report any changes in your horse’s health status to the insurance company’s claims department. Visit the Claims Emergencies page for more information.

Probably not. Coverage might apply if the boarding business has Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) coverage, but only in the event the horse is somehow damaged while being boarded and you legally pursue the boarding facility for damages. Their boarding facility’s CCC policy does not protect you as the horse’s owner. Explore Full Horse Mortality insurance policies with Medical/Surgical coverage.

Yes. Stallion Accident, Sickness and Disease or Stallion Infertility coverage can be added to your stallion’s Equine Mortality insurance policy. Some insurance companies may require the stallion to be considered “proven”, meaning they have successfully bred mares in the past. Other factors that may affect qualification include the stallion’s age and value. This coverage will reimburse you for a percentage of insured value in the event your stallion can no longer get mares in foal as the result of a covered accident, sickness, or disease that occurs during the policy period.

In an emergency or if your horse suffers an injury, accident, illness, or disease, always call your veterinarian first, then contact the claims department for the company your policy is placed with. Visit the Claims Emergencies page for more information. If you are unsure what company your coverage is placed with, contact your insurance agent. You will pay your veterinarian directly and then submit the paid invoices to the insurance adjuster who will apply your deductible and reimburse you set amounts as determined by the coverage wording for treatments, medications, diagnostics, and other covered expenses.

Each type of service (i.e., diagnostics, treatments, and other fees) may have different levels of coverage and limits. Read your policy thoroughly and contact your insurance agent if you have further questions.

In the event of the death of your horse, promptly call the claims department (the phone number will be on your insurance policy). Do not move or dispose of your horse’s body until your agent or the insurance adjuster provides permission, as a necropsy may be required.

Deductibles for human medical insurance and equine medical insurance are different. Unlike human insurance, there is no annual deductible you must reach to receive reimbursement. Each equine medical claim is treated individually, and a deductible applies to each. The amount of the deductible varies depending on the insurance company that writes the policy.

Even though you are not actually performing the teaching or training, you should consider determining with your agent if your general equestrian liability policy covers these exposures since they are taking place on your property. If you do not have any general liability coverage in place at all, you should consider it for the equine activities that take place on your property.

You must insist that any independent riding instructors and horse trainers or other professional horse people utilizing your facility have their own general liability coverage with limits equal to or greater than your policy’s limits. In addition, you must require that you/your business be named as Additional Insureds on their policy. You should make sure to request a copy of a current certificate of insurance that shows that this is the case and submit it to your agent.

You can purchase a Commercial Equine General Liability policy and should consider adding Care, Custody and Control coverage. This coverage should follow you wherever you teach or train within the continental U.S.–make sure to discuss this with your agent.

You must have clients read and sign a release of liability/wavier/hold harmless agreement (one that you have hopefully had reviewed by an attorney), as the insurance company requires it and it is in your best interests from a business standpoint. Unfortunately, even if the release has been signed, that does not prevent you from being pursued legally by the person who signed it (or their family), but it could be instrumental in your defense. Also, if your state has an equine liability statute that requires wording in your liability release/waiver/hold harmless agreement, you must make sure that wording is included. If you operate in multiple states, you should make sure you have a release that includes each state’s equine liability statue wording. Consult an attorney for specific advice regarding releases, and equine liability state statutes. Also, make sure to keep the signed releases on file.

This is a common request made to equestrian professionals who teach lessons and train horses. It often goes hand-in-hand when the facility owner requests a Certificate of Insurance.

When you add the facility as an additional insured, your liability policy will then protect that entity with the same coverages you are afforded. It is important to understand that when you endorse an additional insured on your policy, whether an individual or facility, you are taking on that liability, and any legal defense or judgments against them could potentially transfer to you and your insurance company.

Also remember that any additional insured added will share your policy limits, so be sure to understand how the per occurrence limit and aggregate limit of coverage would be affected.

Before adding an additional insured to your liability insurance policy, speak with your insurance agent to be sure you understand the nuances of adding an additional insured and to determine if you should adjust your policy limits.

Our agents would be happy to work on an insurance quote for your commercial equestrian activities and/or farm.

You have done everything right so far by including the wording in your releases and posting signs on your property. Unfortunately, equine limited liability laws do not protect anyone from being sued. A frivolous lawsuit still requires a defense, and a general liability policy should help cover your defense fees in the event you are pursued legally by a third-party for bodily injury or property damage that occurred while you were performing your covered equestrian operations.

Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) helps cover you in the event a horse that is in your care that you do not own is damaged, and the owners pursue you legally because they believe you were at fault. The standard Commercial Equine General Liability policy does not cover these situations, but you can add CCC coverage to your policy to help protect you, providing the cause of loss meets the policy terms and conditions.

Yes. You should consider CCC coverage. If any horse not owned by you that you board is damaged and the owner’s insurance policy pays the claim, and their insurance company believes you were negligent in causing the loss, you could be sued by the insurance company. That action is called subrogation. If this happens, the CCC policy should help protect you, providing you have otherwise met the policy terms and conditions.