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Tell us about your horse
A few questions covering what you want insured, how the horse is used, its value or the type of horse business.
What kind of horse insurance are you looking for?
The horse itself
Death, theft, straying and vet costs for your horse.
Owner liability
Cover if your horse injures someone or damages property.
Horse float or trailer
Cover for the float. This is a separate product from cover on the horse.
Horse businesses
Riding schools, agistment, livery and stud operations.
Racing and breeding
Thoroughbreds in work, broodmares, stallions and foals.
Club and association members
Understand what your membership already covers before you buy more.
Why horse insurance is different
Horse insurance can cover several different risks.
You may want cover for the horse itself, including death, theft or veterinary treatment. You may instead need liability cover, insurance for a horse business or cover for a horse float.
What is available can depend on the horse's age, value, health and use. Racing, breeding, competition and commercial activities may need specialist cover.
What you'll need to get a quote
Providers may ask for:
- the horse's age
- what the horse is used for
- its purchase price or current value
- details of any competition, racing or breeding
- previous illness, injury or lameness
- a veterinary certificate or valuation in some circumstances
- Requirements vary, particularly for older, younger or higher-value horses.
How Specialist Compare works
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Review your results
We'll show you providers that may suit your answers and explain why each one has been included.
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Choose who to contact
You go to the provider directly. We don't pass your answers or your contact details to anyone.
What affects the cost of horse insurance
We don't show prices. Any quote comes directly from the provider.
What the horse does
A pleasure hack, a Grand Prix dressage horse and a racehorse in work carry different levels of risk and are priced differently.
The horse's age
Very young and older horses attract more conditions, and some products stop accepting new mortality cover past a set age.
The sum insured
Mortality cover is usually based on the horse's value, so a higher value means a higher premium.
Whether you add vet cover
Veterinary fee cover may be included or offered as an optional extra. Limits, excesses and exclusions vary between policies.
What else you include
Loss of use, tack, transit, personal accident and public liability are usually separate sections rather than automatic inclusions.
Your claims and health history
Past illness, injury or lameness can lead to an exclusion being applied to the policy rather than a decline.
What is horse insurance?
Horse insurance is a group of covers rather than one policy. Depending on what you buy, it can pay out if your horse dies, is stolen or needs expensive veterinary treatment, and it can pay a third party if your horse injures them or damages their property. You choose the sections you need, and the provider sets the sum insured and any conditions.
What horse insurance can cover
Mortality
Can provide a payment if the horse dies or has to be humanely destroyed following an insured event.
Veterinary and major medical
Contributes to treatment costs up to a set limit, usually as an optional section.
Theft and straying
Covers the loss if the horse is stolen or cannot be recovered.
Public liability
Can cover certain legal liabilities if your horse injures another person or damages their property. Business use may need different cover.
Loss of use
Pays out if the horse can no longer perform the job it was insured for, even though it is still alive.
Saddlery, tack and transit
Covers equipment and, on some policies, the horse while being transported.
Sections, limits and exclusions differ between providers. The PDS or policy wording sets out what applies.
Helpful guides
How much does horse insurance cost in Australia?There isn't one standard price for horse insurance in Australia.Does horse insurance cover racehorses, breeding and studs?Racehorses and breeding horses can be insured, but they do not always fit ordinary horse insurance.Horse owner liability and riding school insurance explainedPersonal horse ownership and running an equestrian business are different insurance risks.Does your club membership already cover you? Pony Club, EA and ATHRAYour equestrian membership may already include useful insurance, but it does not necessarily insure your horse.
Horse insurance FAQs
Can I insure a racehorse?
Yes, but not every horse insurance policy covers racing. Racehorses may need specialist bloodstock insurance.
Does my Pony Club or Equestrian Australia membership already cover me?
Member schemes generally provide personal accident and public liability cover linked to your riding activities. They don't insure the horse itself for death, theft or vet costs. Pony Club Australia's summary also states that business activities require separate insurance.
Is there an age limit on horse insurance?
Age limits vary between providers and types of cover. Older horses may have different cover, limits or health requirements.
Does horse float insurance cover the horse?
Usually not. Horse float insurance generally covers the float rather than the horse being transported. Check the policy for any separate transit cover.
Do I need a vet certificate?
Often, once the horse is older, very young or higher value. Each provider sets its own trigger point, so the requirement can appear at different values with different insurers.