Dispute with NFU Mutual over getting horse put down

Sep 25 2011 by Mr Justice, Sunday Sun

AN animal insurer has been accused of a lack of sympathy after refusing to pay for a horse to be put down.

A vet recommended the horse, Ruby, should be destroyed on humane grounds.

But NFU Mutual took advice from two other vets and refused to sanction euthanasia when the mount developed severe arthritis.

Owner Jemma Carr decided to pay for Ruby to be destroyed rather than prolong its suffering.

She said: “I only had Ruby for eight months but she got severe arthritis.

“I had a full lameness assessment carried out and was advised she was fit for light hacking but not for day-to-day riding.

“She continued to deteriorate very rapidly and I sought a second opinion from the vet who had carried out the pre-purchase examination.

“He felt it was time to put her down on humane grounds. My vet wanted to put the horse down straight away but the NFU said ‘no’. The NFU have been awful to deal with, unsympathetic to an awful situation, and I am unable to speak to the same person twice.

“They said “other options” were available but Ruby was already on the maximum amount of painkillers.”

Jemma, of County Durham, took the decision to have Ruby put down at her own expense. Ruby was the horse’s pet name while her show name was Majestic Meg.

Jemma said: “She was a bit of a wild horse. Meg is an old name and she didn’t really suit it.

“I’m not sure if I can face buying another horse so I am going to leave it a bit and see how I feel later.”

Tim Price, of the NFU, said: “We can’t comment in detail on individual incidents but I can tell you how NFU Mutual deals with cases where putting a horse to sleep is being considered.

“We use BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association) guidelines for claims involving a decision on horses being put to sleep.

“These have been produced incorporating a wealth of veterinary experience to help horse owners and vets make difficult decisions on whether horses should be treated for illnesses and accidental injuries – or put to sleep to prevent unnecessary suffering.

“As the insurer of many horses over 100 years we know that making a decision about ending a horse’s life is a very difficult and emotional time for their owners.

“For this reason, we have a dedicated horse claims unit whose staff have a lot of knowledge about horse illnesses and treatment and deal with claims sympathetically.

“When Ruby became ill we consulted two independent vets to see if further treatment was possible. Both concluded that Ruby’s condition did not mean that she should be put to sleep under the BEVA guidelines and suggested ways to treat her illness.”

BEVA guidelines say that the decision to end a horse’s life is the responsibility of the attending vet. The decision, however, might not lead to a successful insurance claim.