It depends on the cover you are looking to purchase, the value of your horse and how long you have owned your horse for. If you are looking to insure your horse for Mortality Only and his current market value is £9,999 or under then no vetting is required. If, however, your horse’s market value is £10,000 or above then a minimum of a two-stage vetting will be required. Regardless of the horse’s value, if a vetting is carried out for your own purposes, a copy will be required.
When it comes to Vets Fees, if your horse is valued up to £6,000 then you don’t require a vetting. If he is valued above £6,000, but below £9,999 then a minimum of a two-stage vetting is required unless you have owned your horse for more than 6 months, in which case a copy of his veterinary history would be required instead of a vetting. If your horse is valued at £10,000 or above then a minimum of a two-stage vetting is required. When it comes to vets fees, the only area where a vetting is never needed is if you are taking out standalone limited cover such as Accidental External Injuries only (which just covers open wounds) or our Catastrophe Cover.
If you are looking to include Permanent Loss of Use then you will require a ‘passed’ five-stage vetting within 14 days of the start date of cover, whatever the value of your horse. If your horse is £10,000 or over then you will also require specific x-rays as well.
Do these requirements change if I am moving to KBIS at renewal of my insurance policy with another company?
Yes, if you are moving at renewal and you wish to purchase the same or a lower level of cover you will not be required to have a vetting as long as you can give us a copy of your renewal invitation and your horse’s clinical history held by your vets. If you are looking to increase the level of cover then a vetting may be required and an accidental external injury period may be applied before full cover is in place.
What are the benefits of having my horse vetted before insuring?
If your horse has a recent vetting (which has been passed and carried out no more than 14 days before the start of cover) then he can be put on full cover straight away without any limitation period such as cover being limited to accidental external wounds only for the first 45 days. Therefore, if you have had your horse vetted within 14 days it would make sense to insure the horse as soon as it has been purchased to avoid a limitation period.
If your horse has been recently vetted before being put on cover then you can also access the vetting discount which will automatically be applied to your premium*. This discount is offered because horses that have been recently vetted are seen to be at a lower risk of making a claim than un-vetted horses and therefore you can benefit from the lower premium they attract.
So when should I insure my horse?
As mentioned above, if you have a recent vetting then it is worth insuring your horse as soon as possible to access full cover from day 1 of ownership. Even if you have not had a vetting at purchase, it makes sense to insure your horse as soon as possible so that you can access full cover as quickly as possible.
*Competition Horse policy only.
KBIS are one of the largest independent horse insurance providers, offering all types of insurance for the equestrian. Make sure you are ready to hit the road again with our horsebox, trailer and breakdown insurance. KBIS also offer personal accident cover, insurance for equestrian businesses, such as yards, instructors, competition centres, and horse insurance including a wide variety of veterinary fee options. To discuss your insurance needs call us today on 0345 230 2323.