Last reviewed: June 2026 | Source: Financial Conduct Authority and the Association of British Insurers
TL;DR- Horse insurance can cover vet fees, the death of the horse, loss of use, personal accident and public liability.
- Vet fee cover is commonly offered with annual limits in the region of 5,000 to 15,000 pounds.
- Public liability cover is important and is required for some equestrian activities and venues.
- Premiums vary widely, often around 400 to 1,500 pounds a year depending on the horse and cover.
- Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions and, on some policies, certain competition risks.
Key Facts
●Main cover types: Vet fees, death, loss of use, personal accident, public liability
●Typical vet fee limit: Around 5,000 to 15,000 pounds per year
●Death cover basis: Usually the market value of the horse
●Typical premium range: Around 400 to 1,500 pounds a year
●Common exclusion: Pre-existing conditions
●Liability via membership: BHS membership includes some public liability cover
Owning a horse carries significant financial risk, from large veterinary bills to liability if the animal causes injury or damage. Horse insurance is designed to manage these risks, but policies vary widely in what they cover and exclude. This guide explains the main types of horse insurance, how vet fees, death, loss of use, personal accident and public liability work, typical premiums, the exclusions to watch for, and how membership of a body such as the British Horse Society can provide some liability cover.
Types of horse insurance cover
Horse insurance is usually built from several types of cover that can be combined. The main elements are veterinary fee cover for treatment, death cover that pays out if the horse dies, loss of use cover for when a horse can no longer do its intended job, personal accident cover for the rider, and public liability cover for harm the horse causes to others.
Policies are often modular, so an owner can select the combination that suits their horse and how it is used. A leisure horse, a competition horse and a young horse in training have different risk profiles, which is reflected in the cover chosen and the premium charged.
Because horse insurance is not standardised, two policies described in similar terms can differ significantly in limits, exclusions and conditions. Reading the policy wording carefully is essential to understand what is actually covered before relying on it.
Veterinary fee cover
Veterinary fee cover meets the cost of treating illness and injury, which can be substantial for horses given the size of the animal and the specialist treatment sometimes required. Cover is commonly offered with annual limits in the region of 5,000 to 15,000 pounds, though limits and the terms attached vary between policies.
Vet fee cover typically operates per condition or per year, and policies often stop covering a particular condition after a period or once a limit is reached, after which it may be treated as pre-existing on renewal. Understanding how the limit is structured is important, because a long-running condition can exhaust cover.
Excesses apply to claims, and some policies include a percentage excess on top of a fixed amount for older horses or certain conditions. Owners should check the excess structure as well as the headline limit, because it affects how much of a vet bill the policy actually pays.
Death, loss of use and personal accident
Death cover pays out if the horse dies or has to be put down on veterinary advice, usually based on the market value of the horse up to an agreed sum. The basis of valuation and the circumstances in which a claim is paid, such as humane destruction, are set out in the policy.
Loss of use cover applies when a horse survives but can no longer perform the activity it was insured for, such as competing or being ridden, often paying a proportion of the insured value. This cover has specific conditions and is not included in every policy, so it must usually be selected and may attract a higher premium.
Personal accident cover protects the rider rather than the horse, paying out for specified injuries sustained while riding or handling the horse. Riding carries a genuine risk of injury, and this cover provides a financial cushion, though the amounts and the injuries covered vary between policies.
Public liability cover
Public liability cover protects the owner if the horse causes injury to another person or damage to their property, for example if it escapes or kicks someone. Because horses are large and unpredictable, the potential liability can be significant, which makes this one of the most important elements of cover for many owners.
Some equestrian activities, venues and events require participants to hold public liability cover, so an owner may need it to take part. The level of cover provided varies, and owners should check the limit is adequate for the situations in which they use the horse.
Public liability can be provided as part of a horse insurance policy or, in some cases, through membership of an equestrian organisation. Owners should ensure they have appropriate liability cover in place, as the consequences of an uninsured liability claim can be severe.
Premiums and what affects them
Premiums for horse insurance vary widely, often in the region of 400 to 1,500 pounds a year, and depend on factors such as the value of the horse, its age and breed, the activities it is used for, the cover selected and the excess. A high-value competition horse with comprehensive cover costs far more to insure than a leisure horse with basic cover.
Older horses typically attract higher premiums and more restricted vet fee cover, and some insurers limit the cover available beyond a certain age. The horse's use also matters, since competition and jumping generally carry higher risk than light hacking.
Choosing a higher excess can reduce the premium, as can selecting only the cover that is genuinely needed. Owners should weigh the cost of the premium against the financial risk they would otherwise carry, particularly the risk of large vet bills and liability claims.
Exclusions and BHS membership
Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions, which are illnesses or injuries the horse had before the policy started or that arose during a previous policy, and these are a frequent source of declined claims. Some policies also exclude or restrict certain high-risk activities, such as particular types of competition, unless specifically added.
Other typical exclusions can include routine and preventive care, wear and tear, and conditions that develop within an initial waiting period at the start of cover. Reading the exclusions carefully is essential, because they define the gaps the owner must manage themselves.
Membership of the British Horse Society, or BHS, includes some public liability cover for members, which can provide a baseline of protection, though it is not a substitute for a full horse insurance policy. Owners should check exactly what any membership cover includes and ensure it meets the requirements of the activities and venues they use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does horse insurance cover?
Horse insurance is usually built from several types of cover that can be combined: veterinary fees for treating illness and injury, death cover that pays out if the horse dies or is put down on veterinary advice, loss of use cover for when a horse can no longer do its intended job, personal accident cover for the rider, and public liability cover for harm the horse causes to others. Policies are often modular, so owners select the combination that suits their horse.
How much does horse insurance cost?
Premiums vary widely, often in the region of 400 to 1,500 pounds a year, depending on the value of the horse, its age and breed, the activities it is used for, the cover selected and the excess. A high-value competition horse with comprehensive cover costs far more than a leisure horse with basic cover, and older horses typically attract higher premiums and more restricted vet fee cover. Choosing a higher excess can reduce the premium.
Do I need public liability cover for my horse?
Public liability cover protects you if your horse injures someone or damages their property, which can lead to significant claims because horses are large and unpredictable. Some equestrian activities, venues and events require participants to hold public liability cover, so you may need it to take part. It can be provided through a horse insurance policy or, at a baseline level, through membership of an organisation such as the British Horse Society.
What is commonly excluded from horse insurance?
Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions, which are illnesses or injuries the horse had before the policy started, and these are a frequent reason claims are declined. Policies may also exclude routine and preventive care, wear and tear, conditions arising in an initial waiting period, and certain high-risk activities unless specifically added. Reading the exclusions carefully is essential, because they define the gaps you would need to manage yourself.
