What last spring’s horse claims told us

Spring can bring a welcome change for horse owners. Longer days, warmer weather and increased pasture growth can mean more opportunities for riding, training and spending time with your horse.

But with changes in routine, activity and grazing conditions, health issues and injuries can also come. Looking at Petcover’s Spring 2025 horse claims data, several conditions stood out — with lameness featuring prominently among the most common claims.

Here’s what we saw last spring and some of the reasons these conditions can affect horses.

1. Undiagnosed lameness

12.0% of claims | Average claim: $4,134 | Highest claim: $33,659

Undiagnosed lameness was the leading condition in Petcover’s horse claims during Spring 2025, accounting for 12.0% of claims.

Lameness is a change in a horse’s normal movement that can be associated with pain or a mechanical problem. Pinpointing the cause isn’t always straightforward, and veterinary investigation may involve physical and gait examinations, nerve or joint blocks and diagnostic imaging.

Changes in exercise, harder or uneven ground and a return to more regular riding may make underlying issues more noticeable.

The financial impact can also be significant. The average claim for undiagnosed lameness was $4,134, while the highest reached $33,659 — the largest horse claim among these top conditions.

2. Forelimb lameness

10.4% of claims | Average claim: $2,269 | Highest claim: $8,547

Forelimb lameness represented 10.4% of Spring 2025 horse claims, making it the second most common condition in the data.

A horse’s front limbs carry a substantial proportion of its weight and are exposed to considerable forces during movement. Problems affecting the hoof, joints, tendons, ligaments and other structures can all contribute to forelimb lameness.

With some horses becoming more active as the weather improves, gradually building fitness and monitoring for changes in gait, heat, swelling or reluctance to move can be important.

3. Gastric ulceration

9.3% of claims | Average claim: $1,663 | Highest claim: $5,309

Gastric ulceration accounted for 9.3% of horse claims in Spring 2025.

Equine gastric ulcers can be associated with several management factors, including feeding practices, periods without forage, intensive exercise, transport and other sources of stress.

Signs can sometimes be subtle and may include changes in appetite, behaviour or performance. Because these signs can overlap with other conditions, veterinary assessment is important when something doesn’t seem right.

The average claim for gastric ulceration last spring was $1,663, with the highest reaching $5,309.

4. Colic – obstruction or blockage

6.6% of claims | Average claim: $4,754 | Highest claim: $12,964

Colic refers broadly to abdominal pain in horses and can have many different causes. In Petcover’s Spring 2025 data, colic associated with an obstruction or blockage accounted for 6.6% of claims.

Changes to pasture, feed intake, hydration and routine can all be relevant to digestive health. Spring pasture growth can also mean horse owners need to pay close attention to how grazing and dietary changes are managed.

These claims were among the more expensive in the top five. The average claim was $4,754, while the highest reached $12,964.

Colic can require urgent veterinary attention, so horse owners should contact their vet promptly if they notice signs such as repeated rolling, pawing, looking at the flank, reduced appetite or other unusual behaviour.

5. Lacerations

4.9% of claims | Average claim: $4,146 | Highest claim: $12,756

Rounding out the top five were lacerations, accounting for 4.9% of claims.

Cuts and wounds can happen unexpectedly, whether around fencing, paddocks, stables, floats or during exercise. Some wounds may be relatively straightforward, while others can involve deeper structures or require more extensive veterinary treatment.

Last spring, the average laceration claim was $4,146, while the highest reached $12,756.

Regularly checking paddocks, fencing and facilities for potential hazards can help reduce risk, although accidents can still happen even with careful management.

Lameness stood out last spring

One of the clearest patterns in the Spring 2025 data was lameness. Undiagnosed lameness and forelimb lameness occupied the top two positions, accounting for 12.0% and 10.4% of claims respectively.

The figures also show that it isn’t necessarily only an unusual or dramatic accident that can lead to a substantial veterinary bill. Conditions involving mobility, digestive health and everyday injuries all featured among the leading claims.

Prepare for the unexpected this spring

Every horse is different, and last year’s claims don’t predict what will happen to an individual horse this spring. They do, however, highlight the range of health problems and injuries that can arise — and how costly veterinary investigation and treatment can sometimes become.

Keeping an eye on changes in movement, appetite and behaviour, making gradual changes to exercise and feeding routines, and maintaining a safe environment are all sensible parts of spring horse care.

Petcover horse insurance can provide cover for eligible veterinary fees associated with accidents and illnesses, depending on the cover selected.

Want to protect your horse against the unexpected?
Explore Petcover Horse Insurance and find the level of cover that suits you and your horse.

*Claims data is based on Petcover Australia’s internal horse insurance claims data from Spring 2025 (September–November 2025)