If you thought breaking down with your kids in the car was a nightmare, imagine what it's like with a tonne of horse in tow.
Tribe has been working with specialist insurance broker Adrian Flux to launch a unique policy which provides breakdown cover, including stabling and a replacement lorry.
Gerry Bucke, of Adrian Flux, said it was vital that owners had the right type of cover to prevent already stressful situations becoming expensive nightmares.
Uniquely, the Flux breakdown cover, which costs £120, provides a replacement horsebox to take you, and up to six horses, to either your destination or back home if your vehicle is not repairable.
“More and more people are enjoying keeping and working with horses and, as a result, more people are taking their horses to events around the UK," he added.
“Many people buy horse lorries that aren’t in the first flush of youth and which sometimes let them down – and that can be very traumatic for all concerned, as well as expensive. Good cover is great peace of mind and doesn’t have to be expensive.”
Tish Peal, a mother of two teenage eventers, recently found out the hard way.
“We’d bought a newly converted horsebox with only 150,000 km on the clock,” she said.
“The first time we took it out, we were 50 miles from home when the clutch blew. We were stranded on a dual carriageway for four hours with fretting children and overheating horses, and I was on the verge of hysteria.
“It cost us more than £600 just to get the lorry to a workshop – fortunately, our precious cargo of horse got rescued by a passing friend with an empty box, otherwise I don’t know what might have happened.”
Mr Bucke said it was advisable to use a specialist insurance provider to find the most appropriate breakdown cover.
"When you’re dealing with an impatient horse on a busy road the last thing you want is any more hold ups,” he added.
If you break down – top tips:
- Stay calm
- Have a charged mobile phone so you can telephone for help
- If you don’t have breakdown cover, make sure the recovery firm knows you have a horse on board
- Keep your horse calm with food and water – always carry extra in case of a breakdown
- Do not let the horse out of the vehicle
- Stay with your horse if you can
Key policy features:
- Cover for any motorised horse box with up to six stalls.
- Private Car NCB acceptable
- Protected No Claims Bonus available
- Discounts for limited mileage
- Discounts for security / immobilisers
- Horsebox breakdown insurance available for £120, including homestart and roadside assistance
For details contact Adrian Flux on 0800 081 8989 or see the Flux homepage on
www.adrianflux.co.uk
Posted: 03/03/2010