Equestrian life insurance

Life insurance is important for horse riders who want to financially protect their loved ones should the unexpected happen.

However, due to the potential risks involved with horse riding and other equestrian activities, some life insurance providers may consider applicants who horse ride as high-risk.

Here at Reassured, we work with a range of leading UK insurers to help you find suitable life insurance as a horse rider, whether you take part leisurely or professionally.

Our award-winning comparison service helps you to find the right policy at an affordable price, free of charge.

In this guide:

Compare Our Cheapest Life Insurance for Horse Riders »

Does life insurance cover horse riding?

Yes, if you participate in equestrian sports and you have a life insurance policy in place, you’ll be covered if you pass away due to a horse-riding accident.

Standard life insurance doesn’t exclude high-risk activities like horse riding. Alternatively, insurers may increase the cost of your premium to account for the increased risk of a claim.

However, despite the potential risk, horse riders who live a healthy lifestyle and have no medical conditions can often secure cover at the standard rate.

It’s important to tell the insurer about your equestrian activities when applying for life insurance, as this will ensure that you’re offered the right quote for your circumstances.

How does horse riding affect life insurance?

While horse riding is considered an excellent form of exercise with many potential health benefits, it’s also considered to be a dangerous sport that can result in many types of injuries.

As a result, life insurance providers must weigh up the risks of horse riding with your experience and other factors to determine your eligibility for life insurance and the cost of your premiums.

This means, during the application, you’ll be asked additional questions regarding your horse riding activities.

These may include:

  • What type of horse do you ride?
  • What type of horse riding do you do (show jumping, eventing, dressage, hunting, racing etc)?
  • How often do you ride?
  • What is your level of experience (professional, amateur etc)?

Some horse riders may be deemed as higher risk than others, due to the increased risk of some equestrian sports.

For example, if you regularly take part in eventing, such as show jumping or cross-country, you may experience inflated premiums compared to someone who leisurely rides horses.

Comparing multiple quotes is essential when looking for equestrian life insurance, as different insurers will have different assessment criteria for horse riders.

Even if you’ve been declined in the past due to horse riding, it could still be possible to find some form of cover through Reassured.

Do I need horse rider life insurance?

You might need life insurance if you have a partner or children who rely on your income.

It helps to safeguard your family’s financial future by providing a lump sum pay out if you pass away suddenly.

Common reasons to take out life insurance include:

  • To help protect a mortgage
  • To help cover funeral costs
  • To help pay for childcare or education costs
  • To help cover bills, debts and utilities
  • To help towards day-to-day family living expenses
  • To provide an inheritance for loved ones

If you take part in extreme sports like horse riding, it could be sensible to ensure that you have financial protection in place in the event you pass away or suffer an injury.

Have you also considered income protection or critical illness cover? Reassured can help you compare quotes for various policy options to help you find the right cover.

How much is life insurance for a horse rider?

If you’re considered low risk by insurers, then life insurance premiums for horse riders could start from as little as £5 a month † .

However, the exact cost of life insurance will depend on many factors, including:

  • Your age
  • Smoking status
  • Occupation & hobbies
  • Health
  • Family medical history
  • Policy type, cover amount (sum assured) & term length

You’ll need to provide this information during the application process so the insurer can calculate how much you’ll pay.

It’s always important to compare multiple quotes to help you find the right cover at the right price.

At Reassured, we work with a panel of top UK insurers and offer a fee-free broker service to help you find a suitable match based on your circumstances.

Simply get in touch for our best life insurance deals.

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Life insurance policy options

Horse riders have access to the same life insurance options as anyone else. The option that’s best for you will depend on your personal circumstances and which costs you’d like to help cover should anything happen to you.

Types of life insurance you can choose from include:

Level term life insurance

This is the most popular policy type. It provides a fixed cover amount over a set term, paying out if you pass away during the term.

It can be suitable for helping to cover a mortgage, family living costs and other financial commitments.

Decreasing term life insurance

This is another popular policy type, and typically the cheapest available.

It’s often called mortgage life insurance as it’s designed to help cover a repayment mortgage.

The sum assured decreases throughout the policy term until it reaches zero, alongside your mortgage balance.

Whole of life insurance

This policy type provides protection for the whole of your life, paying out when you pass away.

It’s typically more expensive than term life insurance policies due to the guaranteed pay out.

It’s often used to help cover funeral costs, family living costs and an inheritance.

Over 50s life insurance

Also known as guaranteed life insurance, if you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85 then you may consider this policy type.

Acceptance is guaranteed and a pay out is made when you pass away (after a 12 or 24 month qualifying period).

The pay out is lower than other types of cover, usually up to £20,000 (depending on your age) but it could be ideal for helping to cover funeral expenses or to leave a small inheritance.

Other types of insurance for horse riders

As a horse rider, it’s important that if you fall seriously ill or suffer an injury, you’re able to take adequate time off work to recover.

This also means having the right financial protection in place to help you cover essential costs during this period.

Therefore, you may consider these other types of personal insurance policies:

Critical illness insurance for horse riders

Critical illness cover provides a lump sum pay out if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness (such as cancer, stroke or heart attack) during the policy term.

It can be added to a life insurance policy for an additional cost. Some critical illness policies may exclude total permanent disability (TPD) if you’re a regular horse rider.

Available through Reassured.

Income protection insurance for horse riders

Income protection pays out in tax-free monthly payments if you’re unable to work due to an illness or injury. It can help protect up to 70% of your usual income.

Equestrian income protection is often available and affordable for horse riders, depending on your personal circumstances.

Available through Reassured’s Advised team.

Personal accident insurance for horse riders

Also known as horse rider insurance, this type of policy is designed for people who take part in equestrian sports.

It pays out a lump sum if you pass away or suffer a serious injury or disability resulting from a horse riding accident.

It’s not possible to purchase personal accident insurance for horse riders through Reassured.

What are the risks of horse riding?

Horse riding is an exhilarating sport enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, but it’s also known as being one of the most dangerous sports, with the highest rate of hospital admissions compared to other activities[1].

When horse riding, there’s a potential risk of falling, which can lead to severe injuries such as head trauma, fractures and even life-threatening conditions.

Common causes of accidents whilst horse riding include:

  • Road incidents - In 2023, 3,383 road incidents involving horses were reported to the British Horse Society (BHS). These included 94 equestrians being injured and three being killed[2]
  • Defective or unsuitable equipment, an unsuitable horse or poor riding surface[3]
  • Eventing - Taking part in events and competitions increases the chance of accidents due to the types of activities involved

The British Horse Society has this guide on responsible riding, if you’re an equestrian looking to increase your safety whilst on a horse.

How to find the best life insurance for horse riders

At Reassured, our dedicated team of life insurance experts work hard every day to find affordable life insurance for UK families.

We can compare quotes from a panel of standard insurers, as well as specialist insurers (available through our advised team), to help horse riders get the right cover at the right price.

As mentioned, in many cases, it’s possible to secure life insurance at the standard rate if you’re a horse rider with no other risk factors (such as a pre-existing medical condition).

For horse riders who are considered particularly high-risk for any reason, Reassured also offer an impaired risk service which specialises in finding cover for high-risk applicants.

Our award-winning service is fee-free and there’s no obligation, so why not click through to our form today for your quotes?

Get Your FREE Life Insurance Quotes »

Sources:

[1] https://www.justhorseriders.co.uk/blogs/news/how-dangerous-is-horse-riding-unveiling-the-risks-and-safety-tips?srsltid=AfmBOoqyktsajwiFLo1g0-5FtPj39DEEz4Go5ae_r6dT9Viz9RpFZIVZ

[2] https://www.rospa.com/policy/road-safety/advice/drivers/horse-riders

[3] https://www.equesure.co.uk/contact-us/news-events/5-common-causes-of-horse-riding-accidents-and-how-to-protect-yourself/

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