Equine News, Uncategorized

Welcome to our new Buck & Affiliates Insurance West Equine blog! The purpose of this blog is to provide our customers and readers with important information, stories and experiences involving insurance and how it relates the horse industry. We will also share stories about the people, businesses and incredible horses that we meet along the way.

My name is Dusty Druffel and I am an Equine Insurance specialist at Buck & Affiliates Insurance West. I am privileged to work in an industry where I have the opportunity to meet amazing people, who no matter their level of involvement share a love for these incredible animals. Each person I meet has their own unique experiences, stories and memories of horses that have forged this lifetime bond. I look forward to sharing these stories with you along the way.

Horses are unique animals that truly have a mind of their own. When it comes to insuring horses and the properties they are on, it takes a person who knows horses to understand all the risks that horse owners and businesses involved with horses face. This is why, as a horse owner, it is important to work with a specialist for your equine insurance needs. Most normal agencies that are not familiar with horses will not have access to the best and most affordable markets. They will not know the correct questions to ask, and in most circumstances will not know the correct coverages to account for all of the risk associated with horses. An equine insurance specialist will be able to provide you with all the necessary coverages while minimizing your expense.

Let me take this opportunity to give you my background, as it revolves around horses. I grew up on a farm in a small Eastern Washington town, where my family owns and operates a 28 horse boarding stable. As a child, I rode and participated in local shows. While my childhood riding career was short lived, I continued to watch and help my older sister as she advanced through Pony Club and competed in regional dressage competitions. She successfully competed her Hanoverian gelding, Dominik at the Prix St Georges level as recent as 2005.

It was through my sister’s involvement in dressage and our boarding stable that I met my wife, Dr. Jacquelyn Anderson – Druffel. She boarded her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Killiarc, at our stable for 8 years while she attended Washington State University and WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. We still have Killiarc who is 19, and have acquired a now 5 year old Dutch Warmblood mare, Baronessa who we have nicknamed Nessa.

Most recently Jackie and Killiarc won the 2009 FEI Region 6 Adult Amateur Championship at the Intermediare I level. After a year of lameness, Jackie is competing Killiarc this year at the Intermediare II level and the Grand Prix level.

Baronessa was started over the winter of 2009 & 2010 and proceeded to have an incredible first show season. Jackie and Nessa took 3rd Place at the USDF 2010 Region 6 Adult Amateur Training Level Championship. This year Jackie is competing Nessa at 1st and 2nd level.

Jackie and I currently live in Spokane, WA. Jackie is an equine veterinarian at Valley Equine Sports Medicine. In evenings and on weekends, I often assist with the variety of emergencies my wife has to see. It is on these emergencies that I see firsthand the benefit of carrying mortality and medical insurance. Too often we hear people saying how much a horse means to them, but then say that surgery is not an option due to finances, even though surgery would be the only option to save the animal.

It is sad to see this situation but it happens all the time. A mortality policy with medical coverage can be as cheap as a few hundred dollars a year. If you are interested in learning more about your horse’s eligibility and getting a quote, please call me today.

Keep an eye out for our next post on a local Northwest Horse Stable that we recently visited.