Equine Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

Equine insurance discussions should distinguish ownership of a horse from a business providing services involving horses. Explain whether you own, train, agist, transport, breed or care for horses belonging to others. Include riding lessons, clinics, events and other activities if offered. Describe the facilities used and who handles animals, including employees, contractors and visiting professionals. A horse owner, agistment operator and instructor can have different exposures at the same property. The broker needs to understand the specific role, the people involved and the circumstances in which the horse or another person could be affected.

For horses owned or held in your care, identify their use and any relevant valuation information requested by the insurer. Explain transport, competition and periods away from the home property where applicable. Describe stables, yards, fencing, tack and equipment separately from the animals. Ask how the proposed wording treats horse-related benefits, liability allegations, property in custody and the activities declared. A policy concerning the value or health of a horse should not be assumed to address an injury allegation by a rider, and a business liability policy should not be assumed to pay every cost involving a horse in its care.

Bring agistment, training, transport and lesson agreements relevant to the operation. Identify who can authorise veterinary attention, how owners are contacted and which services are included in the arrangement. Keep individual care instructions current and record material changes rather than relying on informal messages that are difficult to retrieve. If a horse is moved to another property or handled by another provider, document the handover. Obtain suitable legal or professional advice on unclear indemnities and permissions. Insurance should be considered against the actual responsibilities accepted, without treating a signed waiver as a complete answer to liability or coverage questions.

Maintain an appropriate schedule of horses, ownership and relevant supporting records. Where values are important to the proposed cover, discuss the evidence and basis required rather than selecting a figure without explanation. Retain care, veterinary and incident information lawfully and with suitable privacy arrangements. For facilities and equipment, keep maintenance and ownership details, including hired transport or borrowed tack. Explain the actual supervision and handling arrangements to the insurer. Records help identify the horse, activity and circumstances involved in a concern, but the applicable policy terms and established facts determine whether a particular benefit or claim may be considered.

If a horse or person is injured, obtain appropriate veterinary or medical assistance and prioritise safe handling. Record the time, location, activity and people involved without putting anyone at further risk to gather evidence. Preserve relevant instructions, agreements and factual accounts. Contact the appropriate insurance representative about notification and any consent or assessment requirements under the policy. Do not delay urgent welfare action solely to complete insurance paperwork. At the same time, avoid promising reimbursement or accepting liability before suitable guidance. Keep veterinary costs, property damage and third-party allegations identifiable as different aspects of the event.

Before renewal, review changes in horse use, facilities and services. Adding lessons, transport, breeding or events can change the description insurers require. Update horse schedules and equipment values through the appropriate process. Consider who can provide care if a key handler becomes unavailable and how owners would be contacted during a property disruption. Ask the broker to explain relevant activity restrictions, territories, limits and exclusions. A clear account of ownership, care and operational responsibilities supports the review while recognising that equine policies vary and cannot be assumed to respond to every illness, injury, escape or commercial disagreement.