What does horse mortality insurance pay in Germany?
In short
Horse mortality insurance (Pferdelebensversicherung) pays the agreed sum insured if your horse dies or has to be put down on a vet's advice. Depending on the policy, theft and permanent loss of use can be added. In Germany, premiums start at about 1.7 percent of the sum insured, so roughly 170 euros a year for a horse worth 10,000 euros.
Guide figures from published German tariff information, annual premiums without loss of use unless stated.
Example
Typical range
Basic tariff, premium rate
from about 1.7 percent of the sum insured per year
Horse with a sum insured of 10,000 euros
from about 170 euros a year
Simple tariff for a horse of low value
from about 2.39 euros a month
Extra for permanent loss of use
can cost more than 1,000 euros a year
Guide figures, October 2026.
The rate depends on age, use and tariff;
rates above 1.7 percent are a guide value from quoting practice (Richtwert aus der Angebotspraxis).
Norman Nammert can obtain an exact quote as an insurance broker.
Worked example
Competition horse, purchase price 25,000 euros
How horse mortality insurance works out for a valuable sport horse with a sales contract and vet check.
Sum insured
25,000 euros
Premium rate, comprehensive tariff
about 1.7 to 3 percent
Annual premium
about 425 to 750 euros
Payout on death from colic
up to 25,000 euros
After ten years you have paid about 4,250 to 7,500 euros. If the horse dies earlier, the insurer replaces its value. For a horse worth 3,000 euros this calculation would not add up.
What horse mortality insurance covers
At its core, horse mortality insurance pays when the horse dies from illness, accident, surgery, transport or, for mares, pregnancy and foaling. Euthanasia (Nottötung) also counts when a vet considers it unavoidable, for example after a broken leg or severe colic.
Better policies also pay if a horse has to be put down after a wolf attack, or is stolen and never recovered. Check which causes of death the German policy lists: basic tariffs often cover only accidents and fire.
Event
Basic tariff
Comprehensive tariff
Death by accident
usually yes
yes
Death by illness or colic
often no
yes
Euthanasia on vet's advice
often only after an accident
yes
Theft
rarely
often yes
Permanent loss of use
no
only as an extra
What it does not pay
Horse mortality insurance only replaces the value of the animal, not vet bills. For operations and clinic stays you need separate horse surgery or health insurance. Damage your horse causes to others is not covered either; that is what horse liability insurance (Pferdehaftpflicht) is for.
Conditions that existed when you took out the policy are usually excluded. If the horse is put down without a veterinary reason, for example simply because of old age, nothing is paid.
Choosing the sum insured
The sum insured is the maximum the horse mortality insurance pays out. It should match the real value of your horse, usually the purchase price or a valuation. For higher sums, insurers ask for the sales contract, a valuation or a pre purchase vet check.
A horse's value changes: a young sport horse gains with training and results, an older one loses. Review the sum every few years. Over insuring only costs premium, because the most you get is the agreed amount.
When it is not worth it
For a leisure horse worth a few thousand euros, horse mortality insurance rarely pays off. Over ten or fifteen years the premiums can exceed the value of the horse. The money is often better spent on surgery cover or your own savings.
It makes sense when a horse cost a lot or its loss would hurt you financially: competition and sport horses, breeding mares, stallions and foals with valuable bloodlines.
Step by step
Document the horse's value with a sales contract or valuation.
Decide which causes of death must be covered: at least illness, accident and euthanasia.
Decide whether theft or loss of use is worth the extra premium.
Answer the health questions fully and declare earlier conditions.
Adjust the sum insured to the current value every few years.
Checklist
Death from illness, colic and accident included
Euthanasia on veterinary advice named explicitly
Proof of value for the sum insured on file
Maximum entry age and end of cover checked
Territory fits competitions abroad
Common mistakes
Insuring a low value leisure horse against death and skipping surgery cover
Having the horse put down without telling the insurer when there is time to do so
Never adjusting the sum insured after successes or as the horse ages
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does it pay if my horse is put down?
Yes, if a vet considers euthanasia necessary and the cause is covered.
Tell the insurer beforehand whenever possible.
Up to what age can I insure a horse?
It depends on the tariff.
Some have no upper entry age, comprehensive tariffs often stop at 8 or 13 years.
Does it cover vet bills?
No.
You need horse surgery or health insurance for that.
What does loss of use mean?
The horse is alive but permanently unable to be ridden or driven after an accident or illness.
This extra is expensive and only worth it for a horse of high value.
Is horse mortality insurance compulsory in Germany?
