UNDERSTANDING EXCLUSIONS

Exclusions are one of the most misunderstood parts of horse insurance. Here, Petplan Equine, the specialist horse and rider insurer, explain why they’re added to a policy and how to have them removed or narrowed down. First things first, it’s important to tell your insurance company everything you know about your horses’ medical history when you first take out cover and throughout the duration of your policy. The more your insurer knows about his history, the more accurate exclusions will be. Leaving as much covered as possible. People often think that if they don’t make a claim or tell their insurer that their horse has been injured or unwell, then an exclusion will not be placed. This isn’t true. Insurance is for the unexpected so if a horse has a previous condition, that condition will not be covered. It’s the length of time the condition will not be covered for and exactly what is excluded that’s determined by the information you and your vet share with the insurer.

Reducing the impact

Most horse insurance companies will review exclusions regularly and often they can be removed following a period of the horse being well again Even when an exclusion cannot be removed, it can often be narrowed down to something very specific The review criteria can differ depending on the condition and its severity, so it’s important to speak with your insurer before asking the vet to provide any information

The best advice is to be honest and open with your insurance company, at Petplan Equine all aspects of your policy are set out in simple language and there’s always a friendly voice on the phone if you have any questions.

For more information, head online to www.petplanequine.co.uk