How to decide what is a good value horse insurance policy.

OK let's be clear about the main sticking point - no-one wants to have to fork out for a horse insurance policy.

Until, that is something goes wrong, then horse insurance is a Godsend.

Before we go any further I have to come clean about one point. I do not believe that it makes sense to insure old horses.

Call me hard-hearted if you like, but old horses can run up a fortune in vets bills when they would really be better of going to the great horse resting home in the sky. That is nature's way.

If you agree with me, all you have to then decide is; when is a horse "old". In my book it is when you no longer wish or are able to ride him or her. Once their working life is over, for whatever reason, that is when I would classifly them as "old".

Sorry, I seem to have got a bit diverted there.

How to choose a good policy? Well I read the articles in my Horse and Hound to see if they have anything useful to say.

In this day and age you must have public liability insurance, your horse box must be covered both in your yard and on the road and you need a sensible amount of cover against vets bills.

I would stress the importance of public liability insurance. If anything were to happen in a public place it’s quite likely that someone will sue you nowadays and that could be a very painful experience.

From this "research" I have compiled a list of things I want my insurance to cover and then I simply go to EandL Insurance because they seem to take a special interest in horse insurance and offer a 10% discount if you buy online.

I still make sure that their policy covers me for all the points on my list.