Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Your Horse Riding Holiday

A horse riding trip in South America will, without doubt, be an adventure. However, it doesn’t have to be a risky leap of faith into the unknown. Good travel insurance gives you peace of mind that, should something unexpected happen, you have the right support and financial protection in place.

We aim to ease all concerns before you embark on your horse riding holiday-of-a-lifetime. Our personal experience, detailed knowledge and understanding of safety concerns, means you will be able to book an African horse riding safari with complete confidence and peace of mind.

Because you will be riding, often in remote locations, comprehensive travel insurance is essential and is a requirement for all South American Horse Safaris trips.

Your policy must specifically cover horse riding, emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation for the full duration of your trip.

When to buy your travel insurance

As soon as you book your trip! This is one of the most important things to tick off your list once your trip is confirmed. We strongly recommend arranging your travel insurance straight away, rather than waiting until closer to departure.

Why? Because your insurance isn’t just there to cover you while you’re travelling. Cancellation cover can protect your trip from the moment you book.

Horse riding is an inherently adventurous sport, and unfortunately, we have had riders injure themselves before their trip and find that they are no longer able to travel. Life can also throw other unexpected curveballs your way, from illness to family emergencies or other circumstances covered by your policy. If you don’t have cancellation cover in place when something happens, you could be left with significant non refundable costs.

Make sure your cancellation cover is enough to cover the full value of your riding holiday, flights and any other prepaid travel arrangements.

What should your travel insurance cover?

Not all travel insurance policies are designed for horse riding holidays. Before purchasing your policy, check the wording carefully and make sure it covers all aspects of your particular trip.

Your policy should include:

Horse riding as the main purpose of your trip
Some standard travel insurance policies include horse riding as a recreational activity but exclude it when horse riding is the main purpose of the holiday. This is particularly important for riding expedition style horse safaris.

The type of riding you will be doing
Check that your policy covers the specific type of riding included in your itinerary. This may include trail riding, expedition riding, riding with wildlife or trail rides where the horse is your main mode of transport. If you’re going to be playing polo or jumping, you may need to specify these activities as well.

Emergency medical expenses
Your policy should provide comprehensive cover for medical treatment resulting from illness or injury while travelling.

Emergency evacuation 
Many of our rides take place in remote areas where medical assistance may not be immediately accessible, which means that you may need to be airlifted to the nearest hospital.

Medical repatriation
Your policy should cover the cost of returning you to your home country if you are unable to continue your trip following a serious illness or injury.

Cancellation and curtailment
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation cover as soon as you book your holiday. Make sure the cancellation limit is high enough to cover the full non refundable cost of your riding holiday, as well as flights and other prepaid travel arrangements.

Your destination and transit countries
Check that your policy covers every country you will visit, including countries you may travel through on your way to South America.

Other activities on your itinerary
Some trips include activities in addition to horse riding, such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting or other adventure activities. Check that these are covered if you plan to take part.

Pre existing medical conditions
If you have a pre existing medical condition, make sure you declare it to your insurer and that your policy provides appropriate cover.

Personal belongings and luggage
We recommend having appropriate cover for lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal belongings.

If you are unsure whether your policy covers a particular activity or part of your itinerary, ask your insurer to confirm this in writing before you travel.

Before you travel, make sure you understand how to use your insurance.

Contact your insurer and find out:
* What number should you call in an emergency?
* Do they require you to contact them before receiving treatment?
* Do they provide a 24 hour emergency assistance service?
* How are emergency medical expenses paid?
* What documentation will you need to make a claim?

Keep your insurer’s emergency contact number and policy details somewhere easily accessible while travelling.

Have a credit card for emergencies

In some destinations, medical facilities or emergency evacuation providers may require payment or confirmation of cover before treatment or evacuation can take place.

We  recommend travelling with a credit card or other suitable means of covering unexpected emergency expenses. These can generally be claimed back from your insurance at a later stage.

Check your policy before you ride

Please don’t rely on a policy simply because it says that horse riding is covered. Look at the actual policy wording and check that it covers your specific riding holiday, destination and activities.

For example, your insurer may have restrictions relating to:
* Horse riding as the main purpose of the trip
* Trail or expedition riding
* Riding with wildlife
* Riding at altitude
* Medical evacuation
* Riding without a helmet
* Other adventure activities
* Pre existing medical conditions

Riding helmets and insurance

We strongly recommend wearing a riding helmet whenever you ride. Your safety comes first, and many of the operators you will be riding with require helmets as part of their own safety policies and insurance conditions.

If you choose not to wear a riding helmet where it is permitted, it is your responsibility to check that your travel insurance still provides cover. Some insurance policies require riders to wear appropriate protective equipment in order for horse riding cover to apply. If you choose to ride without a helmet, you do so at your own risk and should understand that you may not be covered by your insurance if an accident occurs. Always check your individual policy and, if necessary, obtain confirmation from your insurer before you travel.

What information do we need from you?

As travel insurance is a requirement of your booking, we ask you to provide your insurance details before travelling. You can fill out all this information in your booking form.

Please make sure we have:
* Your insurance company
* Your policy number
* Your emergency assistance telephone number
* The dates your policy is valid
* Confirmation that horse riding is covered
* Confirmation that your destination is covered

We may need these details in an emergency, so please make sure they are accurate and up to date.

Our advice

South American Horse Safaris provides the information above in good faith and based on our experience of organising horse riding holidays and safaris. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that your travel insurance is appropriate for your individual circumstances and the specific trip you have booked.

We cannot assess or guarantee the suitability of an insurance policy. If you are unsure whether your policy provides adequate cover for your trip, speak directly to your insurer and ask them to confirm this before you travel, ideally in writing.

Make sure your insurance is sorted, your policy details are saved somewhere easy to find, and then you can focus on the fun part: choosing your kit, getting your bags packed and counting down to the moment you’re in the saddle, riding through South America.