Mortality Insurance
Mortality insurance is the cornerstone of equine coverage. Understanding how it works, what it covers, and what it excludes is essential for every horse owner.
What Mortality Insurance Covers
Mortality insurance pays the agreed value of a horse in the event of death from covered causes. Most policies are "all-risk," meaning they cover death from any cause not specifically excluded.
Covered Causes (Typical All-Risk Policy)
- Illness — death resulting from disease or sickness
- Injury — accidental death from trauma
- Accident — barn fire, lightning, natural disaster
- Humane Destruction — euthanasia to prevent unrecoverable suffering, when authorized by insurer
- Theft — included in most all-risk policies
How Agreed Value Works
Unlike homeowners insurance that may pay "actual cash value," equine mortality uses agreed value. The value is established at the time the policy is written and represents the maximum payout. This eliminates depreciation disputes at claim time, but the owner must establish fair market value upfront.
Common Exclusions
CriticalExclusions are the most common source of claims disputes. Understanding what is NOT covered is as important as knowing what is.
- Pre-existing conditions — illness, injury, or clinical signs present before the policy effective date
- Intentional acts — fraud, willful neglect, or deliberate harm by the insured
- Nuclear, war, terrorism — standard insurance exclusions
- Racing (often) — many standard policies exclude horses actively racing; specialized racing mortality is available
- Unauthorized euthanasia — putting a horse down without insurer consent may void the claim
- Failure to provide reasonable care — veterinary neglect, inadequate shelter, lack of nutrition
- Specific named exclusions — the insurer may exclude coverage for a known condition at underwriting (e.g., "navicular disease excluded")
Valuation & Underwriting
How Value Is Determined
- Purchase price — bill of sale is the simplest evidence of value
- Appraisal — formal evaluation by a qualified appraiser, often required for horses valued above $25,000–$50,000
- Comparable sales — similar horses (breed, age, training, competition record) sold recently
- Earnings record — competition earnings, breeding income, lesson revenue
Underwriting Factors
Insurers evaluate risk based on:
- Age — premiums increase with age; many carriers cap coverage at 17–20 years
- Breed — some breeds have higher incidence of specific conditions
- Use/Discipline — high-risk disciplines (eventing, racing, polo) cost more to insure
- Health history — pre-purchase exam, veterinary records, prior claims
- Location — proximity to equine hospitals, climate risks, regional disease prevalence
- Value — higher-value horses may require more documentation and have different premium rates
Age Considerations & Limitations
Age is one of the most significant factors in equine mortality underwriting. Policies become more expensive and more restrictive as horses age.
| Age Range | Typical Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foals (0–1) | Available with restrictions | Often requires 24-hour minimum age; may exclude first 30 days |
| Young (1–4) | Broadly available | Generally lowest premium rates; limited competition history to evaluate |
| Prime (5–14) | Broadly available | Standard underwriting; established health and competition records |
| Senior (15–17) | Available, higher rates | Premiums increase; some carriers decline new policies |
| Aged (18–20) | Limited availability | Fewer carriers; may require veterinary exam; reduced coverage options |
| Over 20 | Very limited | Most carriers decline; those that insure may offer limited perils only |