Equine Mortality & Major Medical Insurance
Sturgis, Summerset

If your horse competes in shows, travels frequently, or is a significant financial and emotional investment, major medical insurance can be a lifeline. While mortality coverage helps protect against loss of life or theft, major medical helps cover unexpected veterinary bills that can quickly add up. Many horse owners find that combining major medical and equine mortality coverage offers the most complete protection. 

As you read, keep in mind that this page focuses on equine mortality and major medical coverage. Often, horses need broader protection as well. You can explore additional insurance options through our Equestrian Insurance Program.

Equine Mortality vs. Major Medical Insurance

Though these two coverages are often purchased together, they serve very different purposes. Here’s a simple breakdown to compare equine mortality with major medical insurance.

Coverage Type	Purpose	Typical Premium Range	Key Highlights
Mortality Insurance	Protects against death (injury, illness, accident) or theft	About 2.5% – 4% of the horse’s value	Often required to add medical coverage; many policies include a small colic surgery benefit
Major Medical Insurance	Covers diagnostics, hospitalization, surgery, and treatment to preserve your horse’s life	~$150–$1,500 annually, depending on limits and deductibles	Designed to reduce out-of-pocket vet expenses; not available for older horses

What’s the Best Equine Mortality Insurance for Show Horses? 

Show horses represent multiple types of investment: time, energy, and money. The “best” equine mortality policy depends on your horse’s value, discipline, and the level of financial protection you want for your horse and your investments. Working with an experienced advisor like Alison Beasley ensures that you receive guidance tailored to your situation, not just a one-size-fits-all policy.

How Much Does Horse Medical Insurance Cost? 

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to how much horse medical insurance costs. The short answer is, it depends. Just like people, every horse is unique, and so are each horse’s insurance premiums. However, we can examine some recent ranges and trends (2024–2025) to provide a clearer picture.

Here's a quick breakdown of equine medical insurance costs:

• Mortality insurance premiums typically fall around 5%–4% of your horse’s insured value.
• Major medical coverage premiums, depending on the deductibles and limits you choose, can range from $150 to $1,500 per year.

Please note that these numbers represent recent trends and benchmarks and may not apply to your horse. Many factors help determine how much horse medical insurance can cost, including:

• Horse’s breed and age
• Horse’s specialty (dressage, trail-riding, show)
• Horse’s location
• Horse’s total valuation

The best way to know your actual cost for equine medical insurance is to get a personalized quote based on your horse and your needs.

Chat With Alison

Equine insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. To discuss your specific needs or to learn more about equine mortality and major medical coverage, contact Alison Beasley today!