Horse insurance comparison winner Stiftung Warentest: How to find the best cover
12/09/2025
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Are you looking for the horse insurance comparison winner from Stiftung Warentest and want to make an informed decision? Although there is no current overall test winner, we’ll show you how to find the best cover for your horse using the official assessment criteria. That way, you protect yourself against cost risks of over €10,000.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Liability for horse owners under Section 833 of the German Civil Code (BGB) is unlimited, which is why liability insurance with a sum insured of at least EUR 10 million is essential.
Horse surgical insurance is crucial, as emergency operations such as those for colic can cost over €10,000.
When choosing a plan, make sure it reimburses according to the German Fee Schedule for Veterinarians (GOT) – at least twice the standard rate should be covered to avoid high out-of-pocket costs.
Horse liability insurance: legal protection against financial ruin
Horse owners’ liability is clearly regulated in the German Civil Code (§ 833 BGB) and requires you, as the owner, to have unlimited liability for damages. This means you are liable with your entire personal assets, even if you are not at fault. A horse running out onto the road can cause a traffic accident resulting in personal injury claims running into six figures. Comprehensive horse liability insurance is therefore the most important insurance of all. An older test by Stiftung Warentest already showed that good policies do not have to be expensive, but the price differences are enormous – some policies cost four times as much as others.
Make sure you have cover of at least ten million euros for personal injury and property damage. Top-tier policies, based on consumer protection criteria, also include important additional benefits. These include damage to rented property such as the horse box or transport vehicle up to 100,000 euros. Equally important is cover for third-party riders and guest riders, so that your riding partnership is also protected. In an emergency, these details determine the actual level of protection and pave the way for worry-free time with your animal.
Surgery insurance: An investment that saves lives
Veterinary emergencies are the biggest financial unknown for horse owners. A colic operation can quickly cost between €7,500 and €15,000. A horse surgery insurance policy covers exactly these high four- to five-figure bills for surgical procedures. It is one of the most sensible additions to liability insurance, as it ensures the best possible medical care in an emergency without financial compromises. The German fee schedule for veterinarians (GOT) allows clinics to charge up to four times the standard fee, depending on the effort involved.
A good policy should reimburse at least twice the GOT rate to avoid co-payments. When choosing one, pay attention to the details in the small print. Here are a few points that distinguish a good policy:
Free choice of veterinary clinic and veterinarian.
Covers the cost of inpatient stay after surgery for at least ten days.
Includes diagnostics such as MRI or CT before the procedure.
Short waiting periods of no more than three months for illness and just a few days for accidents.
These criteria ensure that, in an emergency, you are not only covered, but also receive the treatment you need.
Horse health insurance: Comprehensive health cover
While surgical cover is intended for emergencies, the horse health insurance also covers everyday veterinary costs. Annual routine costs for vaccinations, deworming and minor treatments quickly add up to €400 to €1,000. A comprehensive health insurance policy covers these costs and already includes surgery cover. It is the most comprehensive, but also the most expensive form of cover. Finanztest emphasised in an earlier comparison that tariffs without an annual maximum limit for reimbursement are particularly valuable.
Some modern plans offer annual health budgets of up to €1,000 for preventive measures. This can include dental treatment, vaccinations or alternative therapies such as osteopathy. The difference between surgical and health insurance lies in the details of the scope of benefits. Therefore, weigh up carefully which level of cover suits your horse and your budget. The right choice depends on your individual risk appetite and financial means.
Your personal comparison winner: What you need to look out for
To find the best horse insurance for your needs, you should proceed systematically. A direct horse liability insurance comparison or analysing health insurance policies requires a look at several key figures. The criteria also used by Stiftung Warentest help you assess the quality of a policy. Price alone is not an indicator of good cover – the cheapest offers are often full of pitfalls.
Use the following checklist to compare tariffs objectively:
Benefit limits: Is there an annual cap on reimbursement? For health insurance, this should be at least 20,000 euros or unlimited.
GOT rate: Up to what rate of the fee schedule are veterinary bills reimbursed? Twice the rate is the minimum, three times the rate is ideal.
Excess: How much is your own contribution per claim? A fixed excess of, for example, 250 euros is often better than a percentage contribution of twenty per cent.
Waiting periods: How long after the policy is taken out does full cover apply? Three months is usual, but for colic it is often only a few days.
Exclusions: Are certain pre-existing conditions, breeds or age groups excluded from cover?
Careful review of these points protects you from nasty surprises and ensures the best possible care for your horse.
Expert tip: How to optimise your insurance cover
Expert tip: Combine your insurance policies with one provider to benefit from discounts of up to fifteen per cent. Many insurers offer package solutions combining liability and surgical cover, which are not only cheaper but also simplify administration. Ask specifically about such combined tariffs. Also document your horse’s health status carefully when concluding the contract to avoid later discussions about pre-existing conditions. A recent pre-purchase examination can be worth its weight in gold here. Ultimately, the best insurance is the one that suits your horse’s individual needs and your financial situation. A well-informed decision is the key to long-lasting, fair insurance cover.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific suggestions for optimisation.
More useful links
Stiftung Warentest covers horse health insurance and argues that only surgical insurance provides comprehensive cover.
Stiftung Warentest covers horse liability insurance and highlights that good cover is available at a low cost.
Verbraucherzentrale provides information on liability insurance for pets.
Statista offers a survey in Germany on personal horse ownership.
Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN) provides facts and figures on horses.
Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) presents an article about a research project on horse keeping.
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) offers information on animals and animal production in agriculture.
Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) provides data on livestock numbers in agriculture.
FAQ
What is the difference between equine surgery insurance and equine health insurance?
The horse surgery insurance covers only the costs of surgical procedures under anaesthetic, as well as the associated diagnostics and aftercare. The horse health insurance is a comprehensive package that also reimburses outpatient treatment, medication and preventive measures such as vaccinations.
What does the GOT rate mean in horse insurance?
GOT stands for „the Schedule of Fees for Veterinarians“. It sets out the costs of veterinary services. Depending on the complexity and circumstances, veterinarians can charge the basic rate, double, triple or even quadruple the rate. A good insurance policy should reimburse at least the double rate.
Are riding partnerships covered under horse liability insurance?
Yes, in most modern and comprehensive horse liability insurance policies, both riding sharers (third-party riders) and short-term guest riders are also covered. This is an important criterion when selecting a policy and should be checked explicitly in the insurance terms and conditions.
Is there an age limit for taking out horse insurance?
Yes, many insurers have entry restrictions. Often, horses can only be newly accepted into equine health or surgical insurance up to the age of 15 or 16. For equine third-party liability insurance, there is generally no age limit.
What are typical exclusions in horse insurance?
Typical exclusions are congenital malformations, illnesses already known at the time the contract is concluded or chronic conditions, as well as purely cosmetic procedures. Damage resulting from horse racing or commercial use is also often not covered.
What should the deductible be?
The amount of the excess affects the monthly premium. A moderate excess of 250 to 500 euros per claim can noticeably reduce the premium. Percentage excesses (e.g. 20 per cent) are riskier, as the personal contribution is also very high for very expensive operations.
