As far as pets go, horses can be some of the most expensive to own. You’ll need shelter in the form of a stable or barn, in addition to grooming tools, feed, and preventative care for specific illnesses or injuries. For example, using a fly spray in the hotter months can help prevent flies from laying eggs on horses or biting them.

One of the most significant expenses in a horse owner’s life is the cost of healthcare for their horse. Emergency situations suddenly arise that will need immediate or extensive care, such as a stumble in the paddock or bite by a wild animal. To help with the costs, many horse owners will invest in health insurance for their horses.

There are several different types of coverage you can choose from, including equine liability insurance, surgical insurance, and, of course, medical insurance.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance protects you if your horse injures another person or damages another person’s property.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance for horses covers standard medical care. Although this insurance may not cover annual checkups, it will cover care associated with an illness or surgical procedure, among other things.

Surgical Insurance

Surgical coverage will help cover the costs if your horse needs surgery. More specifically, it will cover the costs directly related to the procedure, such as the anesthesia and any fees associated with the surgery. This coverage generally doesn’t cover the cost of hospital stays before or after the procedure, though.

Limited Mortality Insurance

Limited Mortality Insurance will reimburse you the value of your horse if your horse dies as the result of an accident.

Full Mortality Insurance

Unlike limited mortality insurance, full mortality insurance will reimburse you for the value of the horse if your horse dies for any reason, has to be euthanized, or is stolen.

Loss of Use

If you purchased your horse for a specific purpose, such as for equine therapy, loss of use insurance would help offset the loss of income when your horse can no longer serve its original purpose.

In order to decide which coverage option will work best for you, the best thing to do is look at what you plan to use the horse for. For example, if you plan to give riding lessons, you may want to add liability and loss of use coverage to your plan. Ultimately, which insurance options you choose should be based on your individual needs, as well as your budget.