Loss of Use Insurance

Loss of Use is assessed by independent veterinary experts who examine the horse and determine whether it can perform its original intended use. You don't have to retire the horse—the assessment is about functional capacity for the original purpose. If a dressage horse can still be ridden but cannot perform dressage at the required level due to permanent damage, this may constitute Loss of Use. You could continue using the horse for casual riding or other purposes. The assessment is discipline-specific.

Mortality cover pays if your horse dies. Loss of Use pays if your horse is permanently unable to perform its intended purpose but is still alive. Together, they provide comprehensive protection—if the horse can't compete but survives, Loss of Use compensates you; if the horse dies, Mortality cover pays. Many owners combine both. For example: mortality pays NZ$50,000 if horse dies; Loss of Use at 50% pays NZ$25,000 if career-ending injury.

The Loss of Use assessment typically takes 4–12 weeks. Your horse is examined by the appointed vet, sometimes multiple times, and in some cases may be referred for specialist opinion (e.g., equine orthopaedic specialist). The assessment must be thorough to ensure the loss of use is genuinely permanent and not temporary. We aim to complete assessments efficiently whilst maintaining high standards. You'll be updated regularly on progress.

Yes. If your competition horse is assessed as unable to compete but can be safely ridden for leisure, you may continue to use it this way. Loss of Use only covers loss of the specific intended use (competition, breeding, racing). You're not required to destroy or retire the horse. You retain ownership and can use the horse appropriately to its remaining capability.

If recovery is genuinely possible, assessment may be delayed to allow time for rehabilitation and recovery. However, if the horse shows no improvement after a reasonable period, we proceed with assessment. We use conservative timeframes—usually allowing several months for recovery before assessing permanence. We want to ensure fairness to you; we won't rush to assess if recovery is realistic.

Mortality and Major Medical are essential for all horses. Loss of Use is additional protection specifically for sport horses and breeding stock where the value is tied to performance or breeding ability. A leisure horse might not need it; a NZ$60,000 eventing horse, thoroughbred, or breeding mare worth NZ$100,000+ certainly should consider it. The cost is reasonable for the protection provided.

Common causes include: permanent lameness from arthritis or soft tissue damage, neurological damage affecting coordination or movement, spinal injuries affecting rideability, blindness or severe vision loss, respiratory damage preventing athletic performance, and reproductive damage preventing breeding. Each case is unique. The key criterion is: can the horse safely and effectively perform its original intended use? If not, it may qualify.

Yes, if you own multiple insured horses and one suffers a career-ending injury whilst another is healthy, you can claim on the injured horse only. Each horse is assessed independently. If you're breeding and own both mares and stallions, you can insure each with appropriate Loss of Use cover. Claims don't affect future premiums for unrelated horses.