EQUINE veterinary surgeon Hugh Dillon believes that a new horse insurance service available in the Irish market will have an equine welfare benefit.

Dillon, a senior partner in Troytown Hospital, was speaking at a briefing hosted by Agria Ireland at the Irish National Stud on Wednesday.

The highly respected vet is acting as a consultant for Agria, a Swedish company which entered the Irish equine market last October.

Agria offers horse owners lifetime cover and most of its clients take out policies to cover veterinary fees only.

Dillon said: “When you have your veterinary fees covered you are more likely to call your vet at an earlier stage, rather than waiting and running the risk of the horse’s condition worsening. This will make a massive difference to equine welfare. I really believe it is beholden on stakeholders to take heed of this service, which we have never had in Ireland before. It is a unique product.”

The Agria offering has proved to be very popular in Britain since it was launched three years ago. It is primarily aimed at the leisure horse owner. Thoroughbreds can be included but it is not aimed at commercial breeders, or horses in training.

Horses of any age can be covered once they are over 30 days old. When a claim is submitted for an illness or injury, the horse will still be given cover for the same condition in the future – there are no exclusions.

Web: agriapetinsure.ie/horse-insurance