Policy Key Facts

A horse or pony can be a large financial investment and it is important to have insurance cover in place should anything happen.

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Here you will find information and related forms for you to make your claim as smooth as possible.

Horse Hints & Tips

This section deals with various aspects relating to horse care, guidance and important contact information.

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Hints & Tips

Thinking of getting a horse or pony?

In this section:

Purchasing a horse or pony

Buying a horse or pony is a big decision and there are many factors that need to be considered before purchasing your horse or pony. Horses need looking after 365 days of the year so it’s crucial to make sure that you have enough time to dedicate in the day to caring for the horse.

Basic activities such as feeding, mucking out and grooming will need to be done on a daily basis, as well as the more enjoyable part of riding and exercising your horse. It is advisable to have a good look at your existing commitments and realistically if you will have enough hours in the day to look after a horse.

Research how much it will cost you to keep the horse monthly, look at costs of food and bedding. As a rough guide basic monthly basic maintenance costs are likely to be around £300 for an average horse.

Also worth considering would be what you will be using the horse for, the facilities that you have available, your experience with horses and also any unforeseen costs such as veterinary bills and tack and saddlery.

Before purchasing your horse it’s crucial to consider if you have enough time, money and experience to dedicate to looking after the horse.

Pre purchase veterinary examination

A pre purchase veterinary examination would be advisable to arrange prior to the purchase (or a vet’s certificate as it’s also known).

This pre purchase veterinary examination consists of five stages and is carried out following guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

This examination can uncover any existing health problems and may also identify any potential problems that may occur in the future. The vetting is carried out on behalf of the purchaser who will provide a professional opinion on the horse and advise whether it is worthwhile to continue with the purchase.

This examination is a valuable tool to help you in the purchase of your horse; it is not cheap but could save you money in the future. This examination may also have to be conducted for insurance purposes; some insurance companies will not insure a horse unless this examination has been completed.

Own, Loan or Share?

Purchasing a horse is a big decision and there are other options if you are unsure if you can cope with the money obligations that go with the initial purchase.

Loaning a horse can ease the initial cost in purchasing a horse of your own however you can still enjoy caring for and riding the horse. Loaning a horse does require the same commitment in caring and looking after the horse however as you do not own the horse you are not responsible for the sale of the horse and finding a new home for the horse if required. The costs and upkeep of looking after the horse are your responsibilities and can be just the same as if you buy a horse.

The British Horse society suggests that both parties should consider the responsibilities and give strong thought to the arrangement prior to signing the agreement. It should not be entered into lightly.

There is also the option of sharing a horse with its owner; this would involve the sharing of all daily responsibilities and costs. This will give you an indication of the commitment involved in looking after the horse and a chance to gain valuable experience. The daily tasks involved in looking after the horse are shared out equally and an agreement can be drawn up to decide who will look after and ride the horse and when.

Type and ability

Choosing the right horse for you will depend on the requirements that you are looking for; no two horses are the same and finding the perfect horse means finding the one that is best suited to your own personal requirements.

The rider should consider their own ability when choosing a horse, it is essential that you choose a suitable horse for your riding level. If a horse is chosen which are beyond the owners capabilities than this can lead to the owner losing confidence and being unable to ride the horse.

Depending on what you will be using the horse for, such as riding or competition, then it will depend upon the type of horse that you are looking for. If you will mainly be leisure riding and hacking out at weekends then a different type and temperament of horse will be required to one that will compete in competitions which will need to be more disciplined and suited to that activity.

New riders or riders that are looking to improve their riding skills should consider purchasing an older and more experienced horse. The horse is likely to be a safer and more reliable option for the novice rider, as long as it has been properly schooled, and will be more suitable to help a learner rider to improve in all equestrian activities.

Viewing and trying a horse?

Before you go and view any horse prepare a list of questions that you would like to ask the seller regarding your horse, this can help you determine how suitable the horse is and if the horse will meet your needs.

When going to view the horse it is advisable to take along an experienced person with you, they can provide a second opinion and may also spot any problems overlooked by yourself.

Initially view the horse within the stable, this will allow you to assess the horse’s aptitude, temperament and attitude. If you like the look of the horse then observe the handling of the horse firstly by the owner and then ask to handle the horse yourself. It is important for you to handle the horse and to carry out some routine tasks such as grooming and feeding, before undertaking a ridden trial. During the ridden trial don’t be too confident, just get a feel for what the horse is like and ensure that they understand all the basics. If you are feeling comfortable then do a bit more but do not go too far!

Discuss the horse with the seller and determine the history, experience, health issues and any bad habits the horse may have. If you think the horse is suitable then ask to visit again and ride a few more times before making the final decision.

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