Equine insurance can be a difficult thing to shop for, especially if you’re a first-time customer. How do you know which insurance companies have your best interests at heart? How can you be sure that your policy will cover everything that you need covered? Before you stress, you should know that there are certain steps you can take to increase your odds of choosing a good policy. Here are just five of the fundamentals.

1. Determine Your Insurance Needs Do you own your horses, or are you tending or training them while they’re owned by someone else? This can make a big difference in the best kind of policy for you. Liability issues are completely different for owners versus non-owners, so make sure that you’re researching the right coverage type for your individual needs.

2. Ask for Recommendations Talk to the staff at the stables. Ask your friends in the local riding club. There are others in your community who have gone through the same struggle to find equine insurance, and their firsthand knowledge can help you hit the ground running when it comes to choosing a provider. Even if their advice is to avoid certain companies, you can cross their names off your shortlist.

3. Check Your Coverage Different policies will cover different issues. For example, some might be medical-based policies that will pay for veterinarian visits if your horse gets sick or injured. Others might be more focused on things like property damage or liability coverage if someone breaks into your stables. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to what you want your policy to cover; it all depends on your personal needs and preferences.

4. Ask About Rates How much does the policy cost? How much will you have to pay each month? Can this be adjusted if your financial situation changes in the future? Don’t be afraid to speak frankly about money matters when you’re talking to an insurance agent. You’ll want to have all of the facts before you make your decision.

5. Read Reviews A good insurance company will have an established presence on the web. This will allow you to look at customer reviews and see what other people have to say about the brand. Do they seem satisfied with the insurance company overall, or are they full of complaints about bad policies, rude agents and unexpected charges? Are there any commonalities to the negative reviews? If everyone is griping about the same thing, there’s probably some truth to it. These are just a few tips for choosing high-quality horse insurance. The animals in your care are depending on you, so don’t make this decision lightly. Evaluate all of your options and go with an insurance company that you can trust.