‘The claims process was really easy’
MY MARE, WISH, hadn’t felt quite right for a while, but she wasn’t obviously lame — her dressage scores had dropped and she wasn’t so willing to work,” explains acting editor Allison Lowther. “I discussed my concerns with my vet who suggested giving her time off to see if she improved with rest. I’d also noticed the shape of her right hind hoof had changed, becoming more upright.
“Wish was rested for a few weeks, but with no improvement I took her to the vet hospital for a lameness work up. Flexion tests established that the issue was in her right hind, but with no heat or swelling it was still hard to pinpoint the problem. Scans and X-rays didn’t reveal anything, so then it was on to nerve blocks to narrow down where the pain was coming from.
“There was no improvement until she was nerve-blocked at the back of her fetlock and my vet decided the problem may be in the tendon sheath. This was medicated and she was rested for another 14 days before going back to the vet.
“Thankfully, Wish was sound, but there was still concern about the shape of her hoof, so she was referred to the vet’s remedial farrier. He explained that because she hadn’t been loading her right hind fully, due to the discomfort, this had caused her hoof to change shape. Over six months, and with correct trimming and shoeing, her right hind improved and her hind feet are now a pair again.
“I was able to claim on my insurance for the diagnosis and treatment, plus they paid for the additional farriery costs too. Once I’d filled in the forms and heard from my insurer that they’d settle the claim, my vet invoiced my insurance provider direct. My vets sent me regular statements so that I knew what had been paid, and I just had to pay the usual cost of my farrier.
“The claims process was really easy and I can’t fault the service I received.”