I used to insure my horses until the premiums became silly so I stopped (except for third party liability). I'd also had some bad experiences where insurers wouldn't pay out etc. Since then I've had some very big bills, but I'm still saving money overall. I'm quite sanguine when the bills come in, and accept them as part of horse ownership. I'm lucky to be in the position where I have enough in the bank to pay a huge vet fee without bankrupting myself. If this isn't the case with you, then you may be better off with insurance. On the other hand, I know plently of people without insurance who are very pragmatic and would simply opt to euthanise the horse rather than, say, go for colic surgery. To some people this may seem heartless, but I completely understand. Colic surgery is such an ordeal for the horse that I think it is sometimes kinder to let them go rather than put them through so much suffering.

If nothing else, as you hack out it would be worth looking at third party cover in case your horse sat on someone's car or damaged someone elses property.

I would say deffinately insure your horse. I know costs are rising for everything horse-wise but you need to have a hard think about the vet costs if your horse gets injured. Petplan have some very competitive deals.  I have my horse insured with petplan and a few months ago my horse had a horrific accident in the field skinning her leg by electric wire. She needed 5 injections of sedation and antibiotics and 3 staples, £375, petplan paid £300. We were delighted and she wasn't an expensive pony she cost £1900. So i would say its very important to insure your horse no matter the price tthey are brought for.