Can I ask your opinion? Loaning problem :-(

[Jorrick]

We were lucky enough to be lent a beautiful horse last year. We knew he'd had some lameness issues in the past but were assured that was all dealt with. After 6 months he became lame. We called our vet who thought he might have a foot problem, we put pads on and he seemed so much better. After a few weeks he became lame again and was stumbling. I called our vet again who xrayed him and diagnosed djd or arthritis of both fetlocks. Awful news very sad. After speaking to the owner we treated him with steroids injected, lots of rest then gradual work. This took approx three months but after that he still didn't look great. The owner was more and more anxious that we weren't treating him properly and asked us to buy more and more supplements and get second opinions. Eventually she decided she wanted him back which was a relief if I'm honest.

Now she is refusing to make an insurance claim for the vets fees. I paid insurance for him directly to her every month and she told me that we could claim for the xrays etc. My vet is furious as he hadn't been paid. She is now saying she wants us to pay the vet directly and she will reimburse us when the claim goes through. She is being very unfriendly, not telling us how the horse is so I don't have any confidence she will pay us back.

We really did our best for him, we spent months trying to make him better. AIBU to expect her to make a claim and pay our vet? She now has another vet treating the horse.

[bluetongue]

No advice sorry, but I know how easily these loan situations can go wrong even when you think you've covered every eventuality. It can be very stressful.

[DraughtyWindow]

Yes, do that, or the claims team in York.
I don't think the horse is covered for DJD which is why she's now backtracking. Keep any texts you have from her. What exactly were the lameness issues in the past?

[Jorrick]

Thanks draughty. I was going to call my own branch of the nfu for advice on Monday as they are fab and really helpful

[DraughtyWindow]

There is an equine legal helpline you can call - have a look in your NFUM Horse & Rider Policy Wording. Or look up an equine legal specialist - ask them where you stand legally.

[Jorrick]

I pay 102 for two horses with nfu.

I am going to pay the excess on Monday. She won't answer either me or the vet when we ask what is happening with the claim.

We also bought the horse some really nice tack which she said she would buy from us. No sign of that money either

[Polkadotties]

I pay £50 a month for my 5 year old Irish draught. Two months after I got him he injured himself in the field and ran up a £700 vet bill, NFU have been brilliant. I paid my £145 excess directly to the vet and NFU have sorted the rest

[DraughtyWindow]

If the horse in insured through NFUM then they pay the vet directly. Their claim limit is £5000 per claim but they exclude pre-existing conditions. If they think the DJD is related to any other previous condition or claim they will not pay out. The owner should have checked this before telling you it was OK to claim. She should have notified insurers at the outset, not at the end of the treatment regardless of whether or not a claim was to be made. This will be in all equine policy wordings. If you don't tell them it can be classed as non-disclosure which invalidates any insurance policy. £70 a month is very expensive.

[Jorrick]

Flora it is very likely she will never pay us back.

[Jorrick]

I can't afford to pay it! I only had everything done and the best most expensive steroid as I knew he was insured and the owner said there'd be no problem claiming.

[Floralnomad]

If that was the agreement then I think you need to pay and then see if she will pay you back , I wouldn't hold my breath . If the £70 was for insurance I would send her a registered letter saying that you want the £700 minus the excess by X date or you want the insurance costs that you paid repaid to you .

[Pinkponiesrock]

It was NFU that we used too, and they just asked how far the pony was going to be kept from my home.
Did the NFU send out a claim form to the vets?
I really hope she did actually have the horse insured! That's a pricey policy too should have a big limit I'd have thought.

[Jorrick]

I loaned a pony - rang nfu and said I've put him on loan does that matter - they said no but thanks for letting us know! Nfu are brilliant. Apparently this horse was insured with them.

[Jorrick]

Agreement said we'd be responsible for vets bills. So we are happy to pay it But we want to claim for it! But we will pay excess. I had been paying her 70 a month for 18 months. No we didn't see insurance docs.

[Pinkponiesrock]

Did you see the insurance documents when you took him on? We had an awful situation to deal with when I put a pony out on loan, no fault on anyone's part just one of those awful things, and the insurance paid out in full to me. However it was an simple case as pony was PTS and no vets fees of any significance incurred.
The owner should have informed the insurers that the horse had moved to a different location and was on loan or it could invalidate the case.
Also the vets should be liasing with the insurers and paying direct to them.
Who is the horse insured with if you don't mind me asking? Some equine insurers are notoriously bad at paying out!

[Floralnomad]

What did your loan agreement say about vets bills and who was responsible as that's where the answer lies .

[Jorrick]

She won't communicate with him.

He's emailed me in desperation!

She has told us to pay him and she will refund us. I really don't want to do this but in the meantime I have an embarrassing relationship with my poor vet

[Floralnomad]

If the invoices are made out to her the it's her problem just tell the vet to deal directly with her .

[Jorrick]

Yes she said only his back leg was excluded. It's about 700. She asked for all the vets invoices to be made out to her which we did.

[Floralnomad]

If he's had issues in the past its probably that the insurance has excluded the claim , did you ask about exclusions when you took him on ? How much money do you owe the vet ?