Horses’ death cover: the conditions that must be met

Owners may be unaware that insurance will only pay out the value of a horse who is put down if there are no other options available for its treatment

OWNERS have been reminded by an insurer that they will only receive compensation for a horse’s death if no alternative treatment plan is available.

The matter was highlighted after Leesa Merritt’s horse Lyric was put to sleep earlier this year.

The 20-year-old gelding had enjoyed a varied life competing successfully in showjumping and cross-country.

Lyric showed signs of lameness at the end of last year, but his condition improved and he went back into work. But in February he became unlevel again and nerve blocks and an MRI scan revealed a collateral ligament tear in one foreleg and ligament damage to the other.

“The outcome was that three to six months’ box rest followed by three to six months’ field rest may lead to him being able to hack,” said Ms Merritt, who doubted that Lyric would cope. “He was an out-and-out competition horse. He hated hacking and was a renowned box walker if shut in a stable for too long.

“He once had to do two weeks of box rest and became extremely grumpy, dropping condition and generally being so depressed.

“He was no better if he was turned out for long periods, where he would just walk the fence and again drop condition.”

With this in mind, Ms Merritt decided the kindest thing she could do was to put him down.

“Lyric had given us so much pleasure and fun all through his life — I owed it to him to do the right thing, hard though it was.”

Ms Merritt discussed the matter with her vet, who agreed with her decision.

But even though her vet talked to insurer Petplan about the diagnosis and potential outcome, the company would not pay out for the horse’s death, as other treatment was available.

“I can understand they will have practices in place to stop unscrupulous owners deciding not to bother with the treatment and just cashing in — but if I had undertaken the treatment plan it would have cost Petplan £5,000 in vets’ fees, as I would soon have got to Lyric’s maximum, rather than the £1,000 death cover,” said Ms Merritt, who decided to put Lyric to sleep regardless.

“I am a responsible horse owner who knows to act in the best interest of my horse,” she added. “We have fabulous memories of 20 great years with Lyric and know he did not suffer at the end of his great life.”

BEVA GUIDELINES

A SPOKESMAN for Petplan told H&H that in order to make a valid death claim, it is normal that insurers require the horse’s condition to meet British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) guidelines for the destruction of horses.

“This is to ensure that all parties involved are protected and, most importantly, that insurance providers reflect the best interests of horses in the UK,” the spokesman said.

“Put simply, the guidelines say for an insurer to consider a claim for death there must be no treatment options available.

“This is irrespective of other considerations such as the horse’s age, temperament or ability to perform in a particular discipline.

“Although it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure the conditions of their insurance policy are met, we understand that owners may decide to euthanise a horse knowing that the BEVA criteria are not met — and therefore would not be suitable for an insurance claim — because they know it is the best decision for their horse.”

The BEVA guidelines state the following requirement must be met to satisfy a claim under a mortality insurance policy: “That the insured horse sustains an injury or manifests an illness or disease that is so severe as to warrant immediate destruction to relieve incurable and excessive pain and that no other options of treatment are available to that horse at that time.”