Answer

By Your Horse

Personal recommendation is always a good bet. The first-hand experiences of an instructor or a horse-owning friend may steer you towards – or away from – a certain company. Your vet may be unwilling to give a specific recommendation, but he might comment on the success of previous dealings with different insurers.
There are bigger players such as E&L, Kbis or NFU Mutual, or personalised businesses staffed by horse owners such as Carriagehouse, Shearwater Insurance or Equestrian Direct. With Stoneways you’ll get straight through to a member of staff rather than an automated telephone response system, while NFU Mutual has 300 local offices if you prefer the face-to-face approach.
Petplan Equine is just one company offering a free legal helpline, while South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) offers a veterinary helpline. Most boast a comprehensive website. Also make sure that both the person selling you the insurance and the underwriters are regulated and authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). That way, you have access to an Ombudsman scheme if you have a dispute over a claim, and access to compensation should the company fail financially.
For extra guidance, an independent broker may be the answer. They will compare new policy details and requirements.
Finally, find out up front what you need to produce to apply for insurance, such as vetting certificates or competition records, and take time to fill in the application forms as accurately as possible.