Horse mortality insurance

Markel Specialty’s horse mortality insurance provides the coverage you need

Horses are your passion. Protecting them is ours.

Whether a champion, competitor, or companion, our horse mortality insurance can provide the insurance protection you need for your horses.

Why do I need horse mortality insurance?

If your horse dies, needs to be euthanized, or is stolen, Markel Specialty’s horse mortality insurance can help cover those costs as specified in the policy.

Here are just a few highlights of our horse mortality coverage:

• 24 hours/7 days a week claims service
• No vet certificate required for horses valued under $50,000 and with no pre-existing health conditions
• Optional medical/surgical and surgical-only plans available
• Emergency colic surgery expense added at no additional charge, with optional buy up limits
• Private horse owner liability coverage can be added for an additional charge
• 90-day extension clause for certain qualified policies
• Automatic renewal coverage added at no additional charge

Don't wait until you file a claim to find out if you have the proper insurance protection. Get a free quote today.

What can horse mortality insurance cover?

When purchasing horse mortality insurance, you know what you need . . . and Markel Specialty gives you choices. Our policies are agreed value, which means, at the time of a loss, we will pay the value of the horse that is stated on the policy.

All risk mortality and theft
This policy provides coverage for the death, theft, or humane destruction of your covered horse, including illness or disease.

Specified perils coverage
Also known as "Named Perils" or "Restricted Perils", specified perils coverage covers your horse for death, theft or humane destruction caused by specified perils listed in the policy, including but not limited to fire, lightning, earthquakes, electrocution, drowning, transit risks and attack by wild animals. Death due to illness or disease is not covered. This coverage is offered on all horses from 24 hours to 25 years of age (inclusive) and no health documents are required to purchase this endorsement.

Optional coverages
Optional coverages are not available in all states. Check with a Markel representative for availability in your state.

Air transit
Mortality coverage is extended for up to 30 days and available for horses awaiting transit/air transit when traveling to and from the U.S. Coverage territory is limited to specific countries based on eligibility. Please contact your Markel representative to discuss this coverage. Full details of the facility and information on who has care, custody, and control are required.

Emergency colic surgery expense
Emergency colic surgery covers the cost for emergency colic surgery and may be available for horses age 30 days through 18 years, and no prior history of colic/gastrointestinal disturbances.

• $2,500 limit | $0 deductible | $0 premium (included for horses with an insured value of $2,500 to $4,999)
• $5,000 limit | $0 deductible | $0 premium (included for horses with an insured value of $5,000 or greater)

Optional buy up limits:

• $7,500 limit | $0 deductible | $75 premium (available for horses with an insured value of $7,500 or greater)
• $10,000 limit | $0 deductible | $150 premium (available for horses with an insured value of $10,000 or greater)

Equine essentials enhancement **NEW**
Markel is excited to offer a new affordable coverage for horse owners to add to their horse mortality insurance policy. Our Equine Essentials Enhancement is designed to assist with the extra expenses that may occur when owning a horse. When added to your policy, coverage may be provided for:

Horse equipment
Coverage for the loss or damage to any covered horse equipment used to ride or drive a horse. This includes, but is not limited to, saddles, bits, cinches or girths, harnesses, headgear, martingales, horse blankets, and saddle blankets.

Emergency evacuation
In the event of an emergency evacuation of your owned or leased horses that you currently insure on a Markel horse mortality policy, we may cover the following reasonable expenses that you might incur:

• Cost of boarding the horse(s)
• Cost of equine feed
• Cost of transportation to evacuate the horse(s)

The emergency evacuation has to be due to a mandatory order of a governmental authority or civil authority, and is due to an event caused by a covered cause of loss as set forth in the policy.

Necropsy and burial expense
Coverage for the necessary and customary veterinary fees for necropsy, as well as reasonable expenses for the burial, cremation, or disposal incurred by you for your covered horse(s); provided, the death of the horse is caused by a covered cause of loss as set forth in the policy.

Coverage options to choose from:

Option 1: $89 premium
Coverages included:

• Owned horse equipment: $2,500 limit per item; $5,000 per occurrence
• Non-owned horse equipment: $500 limit per item; $1,500 per occurrence
• Emergency evacuation: $30 per day; up to 15 days
• Necropsy and burial: $500 per horse

Option 2: $164 premium
Coverages included:

• Owned horse equipment: $5,000 limit per item; $10,000 per occurrence
• Non-owned horse equipment: $500 limit per item; $1,500 per occurrence
• Emergency evacuation: $30 per day; up to 15 days
• Necropsy and burial: $500 per horse

Option 3: $239 premium
Coverages included:

• Owned horse equipment: $7,500 limit per item; $15,000 per occurrence
• Non-owned horse equipment: $500 limit per item; $1,500 per occurrence
• Emergency evacuation: $30 per day; up to 15 days
• Necropsy and burial: $500 per horse

Limited permanent disability
Provides coverage in an amount of 60% of the sum insured if the horse becomes totally and permanently disabled as the result of a sudden, accidental and external injury and can no longer be used for the use indicated in the policy. Available for Dressage, Hunters, Jumpers, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, and Reining horses. Horses must have an insured value of $10,000 or greater. Not available for leased horses.

Medical/surgical and surgical only
Medical/surgical limit cannot exceed amount of mortality insurance.

Medical/surgical coverage will cover the cost for medical/surgical treatments due to accidents, illness or injury. Available for horses between the ages of 30 days to 18 years old. To qualify for medical/surgical coverage, the Mortality insured value must be at least 75% of the agreed value of the horse. For example, you must purchase at least $7,500 of mortality coverage on a horse purchased for $10,000.

All states (except CA, DC, FL, LA, PA, WA)

• Option 1-Surgical only: $5,000 limit | $50 deductible | $261 premium
• Option 2-Surgical only: $10,000 limit | $50 deductible | $351 premium
• Option 3-Medical/Surgical: $5,000 limit | $375 deductible | 20% co-pay | $471 premium
• Option 4-Medical/Surgical: $10,000 limit | $500 deductible | 20% co-pay | $599 premium
• Option 5-Medical/Surgical: $15,000 limit | $1,000 deductible | 20% co-pay | $668 premium

For the states DC, LA, PA, WA only

• Option 1-Surgical only: $5,000 limit | $50 deductible | $237 premium
• Option 2-Surgical only: $10,000 limit | $50 deductible | $317 premium
• Option 3-Medical/Surgical: $5,000 limit | $375 deductible | 20% co-pay | $427 premium
• Option 4-Medical/Surgical: $10,000 limit | $500 deductible | 20% co-pay | $543 premium
• Option 5-Medical/Surgical: $15,000 limit | $1,000 deductible | 20% co-pay | $605 premium

For the state CA only

• Option 1-Surgical only: $5,000 limit | $50 deductible | $186 premium
• Option 2-Surgical only: $10,000 limit | $50 deductible | $241 premium
• Option 3-Medical/Surgical: $5,000 limit | $375 deductible | 20% co-pay | $335 premium
• Option 4-Medical/Surgical: $10,000 limit | $500 deductible | 20% co-pay | $426 premium
• Option 5-Medical/Surgical: $15,000 limit | $1,000 deductible | 20% co-pay | $475 premium

For the state FL only

• Option 1-Surgical only: $5,000 limit | $50 deductible | $186 premium
• Option 2-Medical/Surgical: $5,000 limit | $375 deductible | 20% co-pay | $298 premium
• Option 3-Medical/Surgical: $10,000 limit | $500 deductible | 20% co-pay | $338 premium
• Option 4-Medical/Surgical: $15,000 limit | $1,000 deductible | 20% co-pay | $342 premium

Personal horse liability (not applicable for commercial equine operations)
Coverage for bodily injury or property damage to a third party on or off premises caused by covered horse, even when horse is kept at an independently owned stable. Available for additional premium per horse per year.

• Option 1-$300,000 limit | $58 premium per horse
• Option 2-$1,000,000 limit | $85 premium per horse

Prospective foal
This endorsement covers failure of the prospective foal to be born alive or death of the prospective foal after its birth but prior to the expiration date of coverage. This coverage can only attach at a minimum of 42 days after last service by the stallion; a manual veterinary examination is required on the mare to confirm in foal status and sound health of mare, and ultrasound results must be provided (taken between 30-60 days after last service) providing no evidence of twins.

Stallion infertility due to accident, sickness or disease
Provides coverage should your stallion become totally and permanently impotent, infertile or incapable of serving mares due to an illness or injury. Markel Specialty allows you to retain your horse should we pay a claim. Written documentation confirming the horse has been castrated/gelded, and/or breed registration papers/certification and related documents, are required. This coverage will give you the right to not only retain ownership but return your horse to competition if you wish. A current satisfactory veterinary certificate is always required when purchasing this coverage with reference to the stallions genitalia being satisfactory for breeding, and an additional premium will be payable.