Thinking of scrapping horse/ cat insurance & saving - advice needed

Lgas

meritaten wrote: »

No, I am trying to help you keep your horse. and it was YOU who said she is a 'pasture ornament'. I really don't understand why you want to keep a horse who you don't ride and is just 'at pasture'. but that is your prerogative.
as you don't seem to understand where I am coming from. or that I am trying to help you. I am leaving the thread.

What a terrible attitude, i'm glad most people don't want to give up their horses when they're past their best, i've had my horse for 19 years (he's 20) and he'll be with me until the day he dies. He's still perfectly fit and rideable at the moment but that won't change when he retires. It is nearly impossible to rehome horses that aren't ridden or as companions only.

I've insured him for the first time ever this year, with animal friends, for £11 a month, as I don't think my luck can last forever! My 3 cats are not insured. With cats I would put money aside, with horses it's a big gamble.

CreditCrunchie

I've never heard of Animal Friends, are they underwritten by someone else? How have you found them so far?

Mine is actually still fighting fit. She just had to have almost a year off to recover as the injury almost sliced right though her tendon (deep digital I think it's called?), and with so much going on in my life this last few months I haven't had time to start bringing her back in to work. Not that it would make a difference because she (and all my animals) have a home with me for life whether they are 'useful' or not! x

lostinrates

meritaten wrote: »

No, I am trying to help you keep your horse. and it was YOU who said she is a 'pasture ornament'. I really don't understand why you want to keep a horse who you don't ride and is just 'at pasture'. but that is your prerogative.
as you don't seem to understand where I am coming from. or that I am trying to help you. I am leaving the thread.

Its probably worth considering most horses don't mind NOT being in work, . Perhaps 'paddock ornament' was misunderstood?

rising_from_the_ashes

meritaten wrote: »

I really don't understand why you want to keep a horse who you don't ride and is just 'at pasture'. but that is your prerogative.

Why on earth not?

What do you think people do with them once they get to an age (or have an injury / illness) that they can't be ridden?

What about all those people who aren't able to ride anymore?

I personally get just as much satisfaction from the care side of looking after equines as from actually riding



CreditCrunchie I'd be very reluctant to get rid of the horse insurance as everything for them costs soooo much

I'm having a similar dilemma with my cats / dog just now as my insurer (also Axa) has pulled out of the market & I can't find an insurer who will cover them without paying over double what I pay now AND with a % of total costs for Archie (cat) now and Maisie (dog) in about 6 months

I am seriously considering moving them to Accident / Injury policies - which would be about £6.25 / month for Maisie and £4 for the cats and putting their premiums away each month to cover other things

Tesco do one - http://www.tescobank.com/insurance/petins/accident-and-injury.html - others do as well so do shop around if you go down this route

I realise this won't cover long term conditions but, for example, my old dog had Arthritis and his meds from the vet were £68 - which I would've just got there had he been insured.

He wasn't so I got a prescription (£10 for 6 months) and bought them online for £18:eek:

That's a huge saving - and I'm sure partly why pet insurance is so expensive

Not having 'proper' insurance does fill me with dread which is the reason I've not yet taken the plunge BUT I can't afford to pay double + % of costs so ....

I have recently started a savings account for them but without actually cancelling their policies, I can't afford to put much into it so I do really need to take that final jump off the cliff ..... at least this way, they would be covered if they were hurt while out & about

Good luck with whatever you decide

gettingready

No idea about horses but see Animal Freinds mentioned here - please have a good look at reviews from people who tried to claim with them.

You will find a lot of excellent reviews from people who took out their policies (cheap, friendly staff etc etc) but neer tried to claim.

And terrible reviews from people who had to make a claim.

Just check this all out as there is a few horror stories flying around about this particular company and no vet I know accepts direct claims when one is insured with Animal Friends as they are notorius for not paying out.

2nd_Time_Lucky

CreditCrunchie wrote: »

I've never heard of Animal Friends, are they underwritten by someone else? How have you found them so far?

Mine is actually still fighting fit. She just had to have almost a year off to recover as the injury almost sliced right though her tendon (deep digital I think it's called?), and with so much going on in my life this last few months I haven't had time to start bringing her back in to work. Not that it would make a difference because she (and all my animals) have a home with me for life whether they are 'useful' or not! x

Animal friends are just as bad as e&l :eek: check out the forums inc h&h for feedback

My budget insurance with AIMS part of SEIB has been exceptional over last10years. Had KS op on one, liver biopsies on another and always had a friendly horsey person handling claim . Not easily found on internet but check out the back of H&H.
For £3k of death value & vets cover of £5k I pay £31 a month. You can also cut costs by picking the parts of the policy you really need. Tack is kept at home as covered by home insurance and saved £100s by dropping 3rd party and buying BHS gold membership instead ( covers all your horses 3rd party plus excellent legal helpline for £60)

I self insure the veteran by starting off an isa account with £1000 6 yes ago and I put the equivalent ins premium of £30 a month in.

I think that the poster who you took offence at was actually trying to suggest you get a sharer.. I have one and its a help with jobs and covers shoe costs

FWIW I will do the same with the other 2 when they reach 16.

bugslet

I don't have horses myself but several friends do and from second hand experience, I think I'd keep the insurance for the horse going, unless you can save up a reasonable chunk of money before giving the insurance up.

i have never had insurance for the dogs ( I have 5 ) and in 40+ years have only had one big op to deal with. Overall, I am sure I'm better off financially without insurance in their case. I have savings anyway and once a dog gets to age 10+, I do weigh up the value of putting a dog through extensive treatment. fortunately that hasn't happened yet, but I can be pragmatic.

Lgas

My friend on my old yard claimed around £3000 from them for a hock injury in the field with no trouble at all?

gettingready

Lgas - you may have been lucky. Pls google and make up your own mind for renewal/continuing with them.

I know of several people who's claims were not paid and exclusions put in place at renewals making insurance worth absolutely nothing.

Problem with one eye excluded BOTH eyes from renewal date, problem with one knee cap excluded all 4 legs at renewal etc etc. Linking unrelated conditions and making things "pre-existing" - pls do google well and look for people's stories.

CreditCrunchie

Thanks all. That's exactly what I'm worrying out with NFU. If they were to exclude something every time she has a problem I'd end up paying for literally nothing in return so may well be better off keeping the money in an account!

I did know about e&l actually, that's why I didn't touch any if the 'cheap' insurers when I first got her. I'd love to save money if I could of course, but would rather go with an expensive policy that is trustworthy x