Safe and insured
Breaking Covid-19 regulations could mean you’re not covered by your insurance policy in the event of a claim. The Insurance Emporium shares its advice for looking after your horse during lockdown
THE UK IS in another national lockdown, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look after your horse. Taking care of your equine friend can be challenging in these times, especially if, like many of us, you don’t keep your horse at home.
Can I still travel to look after my horse?
Fortunately for you and your equine friend, driving to look after an animal is considered essential travel, so you should be fine to care for your horse. There may be some changes you need to make to their routine, though. Your livery yard might have different rules to allow for social distancing. There may also be increased hygiene measures in place to protect staff and visitors. As far as possible, you should only make the journey to care for your horse once a day.
Can I ride my horse during lockdown?
You are allowed to ride your horse in lockdown, but you might need to change their exercise routine, for example by hacking out alone. Check the latest government advice for your country.
You’ll also need to consider the risk of the exercise you’re doing. Hospitals and healthcare services may be stretched, so it would be irresponsible to take part in any activity which may pose unnecessary risk.
How else can I exercise my horse?
Activities like jumping are inadvisable, as is riding a young horse who might be scared easily, as these come with some inherent risk. If you’re avoiding riding your horse completely, they’ll still need exercise in other forms. Turning out to pasture could be enough exercise for some horses, while walking your horse in-hand or lungeing is sufficient for others, reducing the risk of injury for both you and your horse.
Keep in mind that many insurance policies do not provide cover when policyholders are breaking the law. If you fail to stop riding your horse after being instructed to by the police, you may not be covered if an incident occurs giving rise to a claim.
What about vet/farrier visits?
Again, travel to care for animals is deemed essential. This means visits from your farrier and vet should be able to continue during lockdown. There may be some changes to their normal working routines, and each practice will have their own guidelines and rules. It’s always worth calling ahead to check how vets, farriers or other services you use may be operating before booking an appointment.
Vets might be providing remote telephone or video consultations rather than routine check-ups, and many will only travel to see an animal physically in case of emergency.
Will being in lockdown affect my horse’s insurance cover?
We can’t speak for all insurers, but as long as you adhere to the terms and conditions set out in your policy documents, your horse insurance should remain valid and provide the same level of cover as normal. If you’re unable to see a vet in person to handle a claim form for you, at The Insurance Emporium, we can email one to you or directly to your vet. If you have the Vet’s Fees Optional Benefit, we can also cover consultations with a specialist or referral practice if it’s required.
Remember — stay safe
The most important advice we can give during this time is to follow the guidelines set by the government in your country. Everyone should follow social distancing rules, make only essential journeys, always stay at least two metres away from people from different households, and only go out for one form of exercise per day.