i have bought 3 horses in the past 2 years and didtt have them vetted, they are all insured value wise up to £4,000 and I use NFU and they didnt ask for a vetting certificate.

I think if you want to insure your horse the best thing to do is have the horse vetted, as if you need to claim insurance companys will use anything to get out of paying. Plus if there is something wrong with the horse that makes him unsuitable for what you want its better to know before you build a relationship with him.

I think really expensive horses probably have to be vetted but I didn't have to get Finn vetted for insurance, half the time insurers just seem to use the vetting to exclude things anyway.  If you have a horse vetted you have to tell the insurer the results though.