Horse Insurance in Australia

If you own a horse, there are insurance options available. Discover horse cover options, what's included and costs.

Updated Jun 21, 2022. What changed?

Fact checked

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Horses are much more expensive to keep than dogs and cats and tend to come with heftier vet bills, too. Horse insurance can help you manage any financial obligations by covering accidental injuries to yourself, your horse or others, including vet bills.

What does horse insurance cover?

Similar to other types of pet insurance, horse insurance can help cover any unexpected costs if your equine friend is injured, falls ill, gets stolen or runs away. It can also help you to recoup costs if any horse-related equipment, such as trailers and saddles, is damaged or stolen.

The level of cover differs between providers, and it's important to check your PDS to understand the specifics of your policy.

Compare horse insurance options in Australia

Petcover

Horse plan	Maximum benefit	Age limit	Waiting period	Key benefits
Basic	Sum insured or market value	30 days – 18 years	No waiting period for injury 21 days for illness	Age limit of 30 days to 17 years Covers the sum insured or market value of the horse when injury or illness results in death $250 excess
Senior plan A	$3,000 or market value	18 years – 29 years	No waiting period for injury 21 days for illness	Age limit of 17 years to 29 years Covers up to $3000 or market value of the horse, whichever is less, when injury results in death $250 excess
Senior plan B	$3,000 or market value	18 years – 29 years	No waiting period for injury 21 days for illness	Age limit of 17 years to 29 years In addition to the $3000 death benefit, there is also an annual benefit of $2000 for vet fees for the treatment of injuries and accidents $250 excess
Horse liability	$5,000,000 or $10,000,000	30 days - 30 years	No	Liability covers up to $5 million or $10 million for any damage or injury you are legally required to compensate for as a result of your horse.

Petplan

Equine insurance plans

Horse plan	Key benefits
Mortality, Theft & Straying	Covers the sum insured or market value of the horse (whichever is less) Optional add-ons: saddlery and tack cover, vet fee cover, permanent loss of use and disposal after death
Horse liability plan	Cover for third party incidents or property damage Optional add-ons: saddlery and tack cover, vet fee cover, permanent loss of use and disposal after death
Veteran plans	Essential cover for horses and ponies aged 17 to 29. $3,000 cover after the death of your horse due to injury or if stolen, lost or strayed. Includes advertising and reward Optional add-ons: saddlery and tack cover, vet fee cover, permanent loss of use and disposal after death

Affinity Equine Protection Insurance

Horse plan	Maximum benefit	Age limit	Waiting period	Key benefits
Horse insurance	Market value or Sum insured	19	Not stated	Mortality Public Liability Veterinary Fees up to $7,500 Harness Saddlery and Tack with limit of $2,500 per item

AIS horse insurance

Horse plan	Maximum benefit	Age limit	Waiting period	Key benefits
Horse insurance	Market value or Sum insured	Covers foals to veteran horses aged 20. For horses under 6 months old or 12+ years, you need to contact the provider.	Not stated	Horse Mortality Insurance Horse Theft or Straying up to $300 each horse Loss of Entry Fees Horse Public Liability Saddlery and Tack

IRT horse insurance

Horse plan	Maximum benefit	Age limit	Waiting period	Key benefits
Horse insurance / Stallion insurance	Market value or Sum insured	15	21 days	Death or destruction on humane grounds of any insured horse Mortality, theft and road transport Optional additional cover: Emergency surgery Colic surgery up to $5,000 or $10,000 dependent upon the premium paid Permanent disability

Horse insurance / Stallion insurance

Market value or Sum insured

21 days

Death or destruction on humane grounds of any insured horse
Mortality, theft and road transport

Optional additional cover:

Emergency surgery
Colic surgery up to $5,000 or $10,000 dependent upon the premium paid
Permanent disability

Aon horse insurance

Horse plan	Maximum benefit	Age limit	Waiting period	Key benefits
Horse insurance	Market value or Sum insured	19	Not stated	Mortality Public Liability Veterinary Fees up to $7,500 Harness Saddlery and Tack with limit of $2,500 per item

Types of horse insurance cover

Not sure what cover is best for you and your horse? Here's the full rundown of each type.
Skip ahead:

Common horse cover
Cover while riding
Show horse and event cover
Thoroughbred, bloodstock, breeding and pregnancy cover

General horse insurance cover

Mortality cover

If your insured horse dies or needs to be euthanised as a result of an injury or illness, your policy might pay out the sum insured. Many policies will also offer an additional payment to help you cover the cost of a post-mortem examination and autopsy report.

How much am I covered for? The benefit you'll receive generally won't exceed the lower estimate of the horse's market value or the sum insured.

Good to know: If you euthanise your horse without seeking professional advice, you could invalidate your claim. You also won't receive a benefit payment if your horse is put down by the order of governing bodies, including the local authority.

Veterinary fee cover

This is usually an optional extra that you can add to your policy. It will cover the cost of veterinarian fees if your horse sustains an injury through accident or illness.

How much am I covered for? Typically, you will need to pay the first portion of the vet fees, often up to $500. Each policy is different and most providers implement an annual limit for veterinary fee cover.

Good to know: You cannot claim on your insurance for routine care such as vaccinations, dentistry or congenital issues. Veterinary costs relating to foaling risks are generally not covered by this policy inclusion either but may be covered under others.

Cover for loss of use

Providers will pay out a benefit if your horse suffers an accidental injury, illness or disease that means it is unable to fulfill its main purpose, as specified in your policy.

How much am I covered for? You could be reimbursed a partial amount, such as 75% of the total value of the sum insured or the market value of your horse.

Good to know: This policy option can also include the euthanising of a horse for economic reasons instead of purely humanitarian ones. This is on the condition that both your veterinarian and the insurer believe that the horse is totally and permanently disabled and can no longer be used for the purpose specified in your policy.

Cover for theft or straying

If your insured horse is stolen or strays within the insured period and is not recovered within 90 days, your policy will pay a benefit. Many policies will also cover the cost of any advertising used to try and track down a strayed or lost horse, plus the payment of a reward that leads to recovery.

How much am I covered for? Every policy is different, but most will pay up to the sum insured if your horse is not found within 90 days of its disappearance.

Good to know: In the event of a theft or attempted theft, you must contact your local police station immediately and follow any instructions that they give.

Public liability cover

If your horse is the cause of accidental death, injury or illness of another person or damage to someone else's property, public liability insurance will financially cover you for this. Insurers will usually cover the cost of any damage along with legal costs.

How much am I covered for? Depending on the company, you may have a cover limit of between $1 million and $10 million. Remember to check your own PDS for the exact amount.

Good to know: Depending on the policy, the liability may need to occur within Australia. Also, your insurance might not cover the legal liability of your employees or any injury or damage incurred while the horse is being ridden, driven or led.

Saddlery and tack cover

If any of your riding equipment is damaged or stolen, your insurer may pay out a benefit amount to cover the replacement of each item.

How much am I covered for? Providers will either put a value on each item or provide a cover limit for all of your equipment. This can sit anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000.

Good to know:You'll need to support any claim by providing proof of purchase or a valuation. To cover items stolen overnight, they must have been kept in a locked private house or building, and you will need to inform the police of the theft as soon as reasonably possible.

Horse float insurance

If your horse trailer (or horse-drawn vehicle) is lost or damaged as the result of a fire, theft or accident, your insurer will pay a benefit. With horse float insurance, you can generally choose the level of cover that you're after, whether it be full damage cover, legal liability cover or emergency repair cover.

How much am I covered for? This will depend on your insurer and the sum insured when you purchased your policy. Generally, you'll want to have enough cover to make sure you can replace the float in the event of a total loss.

Good to know: The benefit payment will often represent the lesser of the market value, the sum insured or the cost of repairs. In the event of theft, you must notify the local police as soon as possible.

Cover while riding

Personal accident and dental cover

If you or someone with your permission sustains an injury while riding your horse that leads to death or disablement, insurers may pay out a benefit amount.

How much am I covered for? The benefit amount differs depending on the insurer and type of injury incurred. Most providers will have different cover limits in case of the event of death, permanent disability or need for dental treatment.

Good to know: Benefits are typically available for accidental death, the loss of sight in one or both eyes, loss of the use of one or more limbs, permanent total disablement and dental treatment.

Cover for loss of use while riding

If your horse suffers an accidental injury or illness that means it cannot be ridden again, your insurer may be able to reimburse you for your loss.

How much am I covered for? Depending on the reason for loss of use, insurers will pay between 75% and 100% of the sum insured.

Good to know: Not all policies will cover you for the loss of use due to infertility or cosmetic conditions. To cover these specific events, you may need to take out separate policies or add optional extras to your existing policy.

Show horse and event cover

Cover for loss of use while riding

If you make a claim under the Mortality section of your policy following the death of your horse, you may also find that you are left with entry passes to shows or races that you have already paid for but that cannot be recovered.
Your horse insurance policy will provide cover for the cost of any fees that you cannot recover – up to a certain limit.

Cover for loss of use (cosmetic)

If an injury, illness or cosmetic condition leaves your horse permanently disfigured and it is no longer suitable for its main purpose as mentioned in your policy schedule, you'll receive a benefit payment.

Thoroughbred, bloodstock, breeding and pregnancy cover

Stallion infertility cover

Depending on your policy and chosen options, you can get insured for:

A stallion proving to be naturally infertile during its first season as a stud
A stallion becoming permanently infertile as a result of sickness, accident or disease

Mare and foal cover

You can get horse insurance to cover mares during pregnancy and foaling. Premiums are determined by the mare's value, foaling record and age.

Do I really need horse insurance?

If you're a horse lover, you'll want to give your animal the best veterinary care possible. Similarly, if your horses are crucial to your occupation or your ability to earn an income, you'll want to make sure you can look after them in times of need.

Pet insurance is designed to help you cover eligible vet bills when your pet suffers an illness or accidental injury. Particularly for large animals like horses, vet bills for things like broken bones or severe illnesses can quickly add up to leave you with a whole lot of debt.

Horses are quite accident-prone. Studies have shown that the chances of making a horse insurance claim are 28 times greater than the chances of making a house insurance claim.
Horses are an expensive investment. Insurance is designed to protect you from the risks you may not be able to afford to cover yourself. Whether you're a recreational rider or an equine professional, horse insurance can deliver a valuable range of cover.
There are a wide range of hazards. You need to watch out for a lot of potential risks with horses. Accidents and illnesses can strike at any time, as can thieves. Meanwhile, sports horses are very likely to be injured, and the value of a thoroughbred or bloodstock horse can be exceptionally high.
Public liability is a serious concern. Horses are capable of causing a lot of property damage, and they can cause a person serious injury or even death. As a horse owner, your public liability is worth considering.

What does horse insurance generally not cover?

Horse insurance comes with a range of exclusions that are important to be aware of. Your insurance claim will not be paid out if:

Your horse is put down without the insurer's consent or opinion of a qualified veterinarian.
Your horse is euthanised under the order of any government or local authority.
Your claim is for an operation that is not approved by the insurer or carried out by a qualified vet.
You have given your horse drugs or medication that are not prescribed for an injury, illness or disease.
You, your family or your employees have deliberately injured your horse.
You have used your horse for a purpose that is not specified in your policy schedule.
Your claim is for a disfigurement that has made your horse unfit for showing unless your policy includes a "loss of use (cosmetic)" cover.
Your claim is related to a pre-existing condition that you haven't told your insurer about.

Your claim is for abnormalities of the reproductive organs in a horse kept for breeding unless your policy includes the appropriate "stallion infertility" cover.
Your claim is for the loss of or damage to any clothing, personal effects, clippers or harnesses used with any horse-drawn vehicle.
Your claim is for loss of or damage to property resulting from mildew, wear and tear and depreciation.
Your claim is for a vehicle or trailer that is stolen from unlocked premises overnight unless it is wheel clamped.
Your claim is for the death or disablement of a person aged over 70.
Your claim is for death or disablement while the insured person is engaging in racing of any kind unless you have a highly specialised policy.

How much does horse insurance cost a year?

According to Equus Magazine, most horse owners pay between 2.5% and 4% of their horse's value a year in insurance premiums for mortality cover. On top of this, you'll need to factor in the cost of any additional cover that you might want.

To help you understand what you could be paying each month for horse insurance, our research team gathered a few quotes from Affinity Equine Insurance as of August 2021. Quotes do not include add-ons such as Harness, Tack & Saddlery or Removal of remains.

Horse Age	Horse Use	Location	Mortality Sum Insured	Veterinary Fee Cover	Public Liability	Monthly Cost
2	Pleasure Riding	New South Wales	$10,000	Not insured	Not insured	$42.30
Foal over 30 days old	Foal at grass	South Australia	$20,000	$7,500 per year ($500 excess each and every loss)	$10,000,000	$131.75
8	Show Jumping	Western Australia	$200,000	$7,500 per year ($500 excess each and every loss)	$20,000,000	$863.45
5	Low/Medium Level Eventing	Queensland	$100,000	$7,500 per year ($500 excess each and every loss)	$10,000,000	$460.17
13	Groundwork	Tasmania	$50,000	Not insured	Not insured	$187.54

A number of factors can influence the cost of your horse insurance premiums, including:

Age. Older animals are generally more likely to suffer from health problems and may take longer to recover from those problems. Expect this to be reflected in your premiums.

Gender. Some health conditions are more likely to affect male horses than female horses and vice versa.

Breed. Certain breeds cost more to buy and are also more prone to suffering from certain health conditions. You can expect to pay higher premiums as a result.

Policy. The higher the level of cover, the more you can expect to pay for premiums.

Number of horses you insure. You may receive a discount for insuring multiple horses under the same policy, but it will naturally cost you more overall than insuring a single horse.

Item value. The more expensive your saddles, harnesses, horse trailers and horse-drawn vehicles are, the more you can expect to pay for cover.

What you need to know

Your horse needs to be in good health. When you take out cover, your horse must be in sound health and not be suffering from any illness, disease, injury or physical disability. Most horse insurance policies do not cover existing abnormalities.
You must stay compliant with veterinary advice. You must immediately seek advice from a veterinarian if your horse falls ill or has an accident and notify your insurer. It's important to then follow the vet's advice and recommendations in regards to treatment and rehabilitation. If your horse dies, you'll need to arrange for a veterinarian to determine the cause of death via post-mortem examination.
Keep insured items locked away and secure. Insuring saddles, bridles, harnesses and other important pieces of riding equipment offers peace of mind to horse owners. However, you must ensure that these items are kept locked in a private house or building overnight. If they are not, you will not be covered for the loss or theft of those items.
Only use your horse for reasons you've disclosed. Take note that your horse must only be used for the purposes outlined in your insurance policy schedule. You will be unable to claim for anything that results from your horse being used for purposes other than those specified.

Best horse insurance in Australia

Horse insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, so you'll need to do some hunting to find the best horse insurance policy for you. While we can't tell you exactly which provider is the best, here are some important things to consider before you settle on a policy:

What's the excess? This is how much you'll need to pay before you get reimbursed. Policies with higher excesses are generally cheaper but will be more expensive if you need to make a claim.
Are there any exclusions? Insurance exclusions are situations in which your insurer will not payoutfor a claim.
How long is the cooling-off period? Typically 14 days long, your cooling-off period is the amount of time in which you can receive a full refund if you wish to cancel your policy.
What's the cover limit? Every policy specifies its own cover limits, so make sure yours fits your unique situation. Consider your cover requirements and make sure the policy only covers what you actually need.
How much are your premiums? In other words, how expensive is the insurance? It's always worth collecting a few quotes before you settle on one insurer. Remember, paying an annual premium instead of monthly instalments is usually cheaper.
Are there any discounts or vouchers? In a competitive market like this, providers tend to offer pet insurance deals and discounts to encourage new customers to sign up. In some cases, this could land you with some savings.
What are you already insured for? Double-check any other insurance policies you have that may include cover for some horse-related items such as vehicles and equipment.

How do I make a horse insurance claim?

You'll need to take action as soon as possible after an insurable event takes place.

If your horse dies, you'll need to:

Notify your insurer immediately.
Organise a post-mortem examination and get an autopsy report from your vet (at your expense).
Give your insurer a copy of the post-mortem examination and autopsy report, as well as signed and sworn proof of loss.

If your horse is missing, or you suspect theft or malicious damage:

Make a report at your local police station straight away.
Notify your insurer who will inform you which claim forms to fill out and any supporting documents that you need.

What's next? You will need to pay an excess when you make a claim in both cases – the exact amount will usually be outlined in your PDS.

When is a good time to take out horse insurance cover?

If you're considering taking out horse insurance cover, it's a good idea to get a veterinarian to examine your horse for any health problems before purchasing. However, even if your horse passes a vet's examination, insurance companies may still specify a number of exclusions based on your animal's health.
For your peace of mind, match your horse insurance to your needs and take out cover as soon as you possibly can.

Compare horse insurance policies

Questions you might still have about horse insurance

Thank you for your feedback!

Richard Laycock

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Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. When he’s not doing deep dives on data, he is testing the quality of cocktails in his newfound home of New York. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.

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32 Responses

GinaJanuary 14, 2019

Will public liability insurance cover a quiet horse that is securely tethered on vacant land? I worry about the idiot factor of a person approaching him while tethered.

Reply
- finder Customer Care
  
  JohnJanuary 16, 2019Staff
  
  Hi Gina,
  
  Thank you for reaching out to finder.
  
  In every scenario, there is always the potential for something to go wrong – dogs chew, cats scratch, basically accidents happen and when they do, you can be held liable.
  
  Public Liability claims can be incredibly costly, and even if you are not at fault, you may still incur considerable legal costs while defending yourself. Public Liability insurance is recommended to protect you and your property from any potential costs. Hope this helps!
  
  Cheers,
  Reggie
  
  Reply
KayleenAugust 30, 2018

I have a 14 month old Horse, I would like how much it would be for insurance just for Vet bills

Reply
- finder Customer Care
  
  JoshuaAugust 30, 2018Staff
  
  Hi Kayleen,
  
  Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
  
  At the time of this writing, we don’t have a list of horse insurance policy that you can compare. Since your horse is relatively young, your policy shouldn’t be too expensive. It would also be a good idea to review the details written on this page under the subheading “How much does horse insurance cost?” This will give you an idea of the factors that will affect your premium.
  
  I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
  
  Have a wonderful day!
  
  Cheers,
  Joshua
  
  Reply
NatalieAugust 24, 2018

How can i get horse insurance please? Ive looked at this page but now need to know how to get the insurance please

Reply
- JoelAugust 24, 2018
  
  Hi Natalie,
  
  Thanks for leaving a question on Finder and for your feedback.
  
  While we do not have a comparison for horse insurance, you can check out our guide on the different types of pet insurance to know what type of cover you’ll need and to compare providers who might provide cover for your horse. The brands featured on the page will most likely provide horse insurance but I still recommend that you talk to them first to get a personalized quote. Hope you find what you need.
  
  Cheers,
  Joel
  
  Reply
AnnaAugust 11, 2018

What is the cost of insurance for 4 dogs and 4 horses accident cover

Reply
- finder Customer Care
  
  JohnAugust 11, 2018Staff
  
  Hi Anna,
  
  Thank you for leaving a question
  
  It’s good to know your getting accident cover insurance for your 4 dogs and 4 horses.
  
  Please know that we don’t represent any company featured on our pages. We provide general advise/information on the products/services you inquire and we can’t give any further recommendation for you or provide quotes and prices beyond our limitation.
  
  You may contact the insurance company to apply for this.
  
  Hope this clarifies.
  
  Cheers,
  Reggie
  
  Reply
PetaJune 13, 2018

I would like travel insurance for a stock horse filly aged 20 months from QLD to Tas valued at $3500.00. The trip will take 1 week but she will have the following 2 weeks recovering where there may be the potential for sickness.

Reply
- NikkiJune 14, 2018
  
  Hi Peta,
  
  Thanks for getting in touch!
  
  It’s nice to know your getting travel insurance for your house.
  
  Please know that we don’t stand as a representation to any company featured on our pages. We provide general advise/information on the products/services you inquire and we can’t give any further recommendation for you or provide quotes and prices beyond our limitation.
  
  You may contact the insurance company to apply for this.
  
  Hope this clarifies.
  
  Cheers,
  Nikki
  
  Reply

Horse Insurance in Australia

If you own a horse, there are insurance options available. Discover horse cover options, what's included and costs.

In this guide

Types

Guides

Read our comprehensive brand reviews

What does horse insurance cover?

Compare horse insurance options in Australia

Petcover

Petplan

Affinity Equine Protection Insurance

AIS horse insurance

IRT horse insurance

Aon horse insurance

Types of horse insurance cover

General horse insurance cover

Mortality cover

Veterinary fee cover

Cover for loss of use

Cover for theft or straying

Public liability cover

Saddlery and tack cover

Horse float insurance

Cover while riding

Personal accident and dental cover

Cover for loss of use while riding

Show horse and event cover

Cover for loss of use while riding

Cover for loss of use (cosmetic)

Thoroughbred, bloodstock, breeding and pregnancy cover

Stallion infertility cover

Mare and foal cover

Do I really need horse insurance?

What does horse insurance generally not cover?

How much does horse insurance cost a year?

What you need to know

Best horse insurance in Australia

How do I make a horse insurance claim?

If your horse dies, you'll need to:

If your horse is missing, or you suspect theft or malicious damage:

When is a good time to take out horse insurance cover?

Questions you might still have about horse insurance

Do I need insurance for someone else to ride my horse?

Is my horse too old to insure?

At what age can I insure my horse?

Do I need horse-in-transit insurance?

Can you insure a horse without vetting?

Richard Laycock

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32 Responses

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