Four species. Four ecosystems. One the insurer product. From the Mumbai racecourse thoroughbred (₹5 Cr+) to the Spiti valley yak (avalanche risk above 3,500m). From the Marwari show horse (₹20L+) to the Army mountain mule (Siachen operations). From the Amarnath pilgrimage pony to the Arunachal Brokpa yak herd. RPBY subsidy: 50%–70% of premium.
Multi-Species Rural Insurance
This is the only the insurer rural insurance product that covers four fundamentally different animal species — spanning a 4,000x range in SI value and covering every geographic zone from the Mumbai racecourse to 5,500m Himalayan pastures. Each species has its own risk profile, community context, and special conditions. Probitas Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. (IRDAI Lic. No. 528) is your licensed broker.
Rashtriya Pashu Bima Yojana (RPBY) provides 50% premium subsidy for general category farmers and 70% for BPL / SC / ST farmers and nomadic pastoral communities — including Changpa yak herders (Ladakh), Brokpa community (Arunachal), Raika community horse owners, and construction workers with donkeys. NABARD provides refinance support through rural banks. All four species are eligible. State-level livestock schemes in Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Rajasthan provide additional subsidies. Call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 to check your current subsidy eligibility.
Species 1 of 4
India has ~340,000 horses (20th Livestock Census 2019). From a ₹5 crore+ RWITC thoroughbred to a ₹50,000 agricultural horse — the SI range within horses alone spans 1,000x. Colic kills high-value horses within hours. Glanders forces mandatory euthanasia. NRCE Hisar is India's national equine research authority.
Colic (intestinal torsion / obstruction / impaction) is the most common cause of sudden horse death in India. A ₹30 lakh Mumbai racehorse or a ₹15 lakh Marwari show horse can die from colic within hours. Emergency colic surgery costs ₹1–₹5 lakh — and the horse may still not survive. Colic deaths certified by a registered vet are fully covered under this policy. This is the primary insurance need for high-value horses.
For registered racehorses (RWITC Mumbai/Pune, BRTC Bengaluru, MRC Chennai, KRSAA Mysore, RCTC Kolkata), race authority vet certification is required. Fatal racing injuries (fractures from falls), exercise-induced fatal events (EIPH), and humane euthanasia due to unrecoverable racing fractures may be covered with a special endorsement. The Jockey Club / racing authority registration number is accepted as the horse's identification in addition to ear tag / brand.
| Horse Type / Use | SI per Horse |
|---|---|
| Ordinary agricultural / pack horse | ₹50,000–₹2,00,000 |
| Polo horse | ₹2,00,000–₹10,00,000 |
| Marwari / Kathiawari show horse | ₹2,00,000–₹20,00,000+ |
| Racing thoroughbred (RWITC/BRTC) | ₹5,00,000–₹5,00,00,000+ |
| Army / ceremonial horse | ₹1,00,000–₹5,00,000 |
| Stud / breeding stallion | ₹2,00,000–₹50,00,000+ |
Species 2, 3 & 4 of 4
The Manipuri pony is the original polo pony — indigenous to Manipur and a state-protected breed. A special valuation certificate from the Manipur State Livestock Development Board is required for Manipuri pony insurance. Manipuri ponies cannot be exported without government permission. SI: ₹50,000–₹2,00,000. This is the only rural insurance product where a state government's breed protection law directly creates an insurance documentation requirement.
Thousands of ponies carry pilgrims and supplies on the Amarnath Yatra route (Pahalgam and Baltal routes, J&K). Trekking insurance for registered Amarnath Yatra ponies is available. Ponies registered with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board are eligible. Mountain trail accident, fall on steep terrain, and landslide are the key covered perils for Amarnath Yatra ponies.
India's donkey population fell from 3.2 million (2012) to 1.2 million (2019) — a 61% decline in just 7 years — the steepest livestock population collapse in Indian census history. Working donkeys support the livelihoods of India's most vulnerable communities — construction site workers, salt pan labourers, brick kiln workers, and rural agricultural households. Donkey Insurance provides critical financial security for these communities: losing a working donkey at a construction site means losing the family's primary income source.
Indian Army mountain artillery and supply regiments use mules for operations in terrain impassable for vehicles — Siachen glacier, Kargil sector, Arunachal Pradesh front, and Rohtang supply routes. Mules carry artillery shells, ammunition, and equipment in extreme high-altitude conditions. Army mules may be insured with Ministry of Defence endorsement. SI reflects training value in addition to market value: ₹50,000–₹2,00,000.
| Donkey / Mule Type | SI per Animal |
|---|---|
| Working donkey (general) | ₹5,000–₹20,000 |
| Halari donkey (Gujarat — large breed) | ₹15,000–₹40,000 |
| Working mule (construction / agriculture) | ₹20,000–₹60,000 |
| Army mountain artillery mule (trained) | ₹50,000–₹2,00,000 |
Avalanche, blizzard, and dzud (extreme snowfall causing pasture loss and starvation — a disaster specific to high-altitude Himalayan pastoral zones) are SPECIFIC COVERED PERILS for yaks insured in zones above 3,500m — Spiti valley, Lahaul, Zanskar, Changthang (Ladakh), and Arunachal Himalayas. These perils must be declared at inception. Revenue Dept. / Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) avalanche / snow disaster certificate required for claims. This is the only rural insurance product in the series where altitude-specific weather events are named covered perils.
NRC on Yak (NRCY), Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh is the only institution in the world dedicated exclusively to yak research — under ICAR. NRCY provides breed conservation, disease management, and yak health certification. For high-value yak disease claims and disease diagnosis, NRCY-supported certification may be required. Parallel to NRCC (camel) and NRCE (equines) in the rural insurance ecosystem.
Changpa pastoral community (Changthang plateau, Ladakh — living at 4,200m–5,500m; also herd Pashmina goats) and Brokpa community (Arunachal Pradesh) are India's primary yak herding communities. Yak herding is under existential threat from climate change (melting high-altitude pastures) and community migration. These nomadic pastoral communities qualify for RPBY 70% premium subsidy. Yak insurance is critical for their livelihood security.
| Yak Type | SI per Yak |
|---|---|
| Young yak (under 3 years) | ₹20,000–₹50,000 |
| Adult working yak (pack / transport) | ₹50,000–₹1,50,000 |
| High-yielding dairy yak (productive female) | ₹80,000–₹2,00,000 |
| Prime breeding bull yak | ₹1,00,000–₹3,00,000+ |
| Tourism yak (Manali / Darjeeling) | ₹60,000–₹1,50,000 |
Coverage — All 4 Species
All four species are covered against disease, accident, and natural calamity. Yak and hill pony policies additionally cover avalanche / blizzard — the only altitude-specific covered peril in India's rural insurance range. 24-hour notification is critical for all species.
Death of any insured horse / pony / donkey / mule / yak must be notified to Probitas on 022 4302 0000 within 24 HOURS. Do NOT dispose of the carcass before the veterinarian examines and certifies cause of death. Photograph the animal and its ear tag / brand number clearly. For road accidents: lodge a Police FIR immediately. For Glanders (horse): also notify state AH Dept. and NRCE Hisar. For yak avalanche: notify Revenue Dept. / SDM for avalanche certificate.
The carcass must NOT be disposed of, buried, or removed before a government / registered vet examines it and issues a cause-of-death certificate. Photograph the animal and its ear tag / brand number clearly. For high-altitude yak deaths — call Probitas first for guidance if the carcass is at altitude with limited vet access.
For road accident death claims — Police FIR or police incident report from the nearest police station is required for horse, pony, donkey, and mule road accident deaths. Working donkeys on construction site access roads, horses in semi-urban traffic, and ponies crossing roads during seasonal migration are all at significant road accident risk.
How Claims Are Calculated
Claim = Sum Insured (agreed market value at inception) − Compulsory Excess
Each insured animal is claimed individually by its ear tag / brand number (or racing authority registration number for registered racehorses). SI = market value certified by a govt.-licensed vet at inception.
A racing thoroughbred can be worth ₹5,00,00,000+ (₹5 crore+) — the highest per-animal SI in India's entire rural insurance product range. Value is determined by race record, breeding lineage (stud fees of dam/sire), age (racing peak: 3–6 years), and physical conformation as assessed by a racecourse veterinarian. RWITC / racing authority registration number + racecourse vet certificate required.
Every insured animal must be identified by ear tag or brand number (all species) or Jockey Club / racing authority registration number (registered racehorses). The identification must be visible in claim photographs. For Manipuri ponies: Manipur State Livestock Development Board certificate number also required. For Army mules: MoD brand / identification number.
This policy pays the SI on death — it does NOT cover: race prize money, agricultural income, milk revenue (yak/dairy), wool / khullu income, stud fees, tourism fees, transport income, or any income after the animal's death. Only the agreed SI (minus excess) is payable.
| Parameter | Colic Death — Racing Thoroughbred (Mumbai) | Avalanche Death — Spiti Yaks (Himachal) | Road Accident — Working Donkey (UP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal | Thoroughbred racing horse (4 years, RWITC registered) | Adult pack yak (7 years, Spiti valley, HP) | Working donkey (male, 6 years, UP construction site) |
| Animals Affected | 1 horse | 3 yaks | 1 donkey |
| SI per Animal | ₹ 30,00,000 | ₹ 1,00,000 | ₹ 12,000 |
| Total SI | ₹ 30,00,000 | ₹ 3,00,000 | ₹ 12,000 |
| Event / Cause | Colic (gastric torsion) — emergency surgery attempted; horse does not survive; racecourse vet certifies colic | Avalanche in Pin valley (Spiti) during pasture return — 3 yaks buried; SDM / Revenue Dept. avalanche certificate; vet confirms avalanche death; ear tags verified | Road accident on construction access road — struck by truck; Police FIR filed; vet certifies accidental death |
| Gross Claim | ₹ 30,00,000 | ₹ 3,00,000 | ₹ 12,000 |
| Compulsory Excess | ₹ 25,000 | ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 500 |
| Claim Payable | ₹ 29,75,000 | ₹ 2,97,000 | ₹ 11,500 |
| Special Documents | RWITC race vet colic cert. + Jockey Club reg. no. | SDM / Revenue Dept. avalanche certificate + vet death cert. (3 ear tags verified); avalanche declared at inception | Police FIR (construction road) + vet accidental death cert. |
| Identification | RWITC registration no. + racecourse brand | 3 ear tag numbers from policy schedule | Ear tag verified |
* Illustrative only. Actual settlement depends on vet certification, ear tag / registration verification, and policy excess. Glanders: natural deaths before euthanasia order only. Yak avalanche: SDM certificate + declared at inception mandatory. Racing horse: special endorsement required for racing injuries. Road accident: Police FIR mandatory.
Policy Conditions
The following 12 conditions apply across all species under this multi-species insurance product. Conditions marked in red are the most critical and species-specific.
Ear Tag / Brand / Reg. No. Mandatory (all species): Each insured animal must be identified by ear tag or brand number at inception. For registered racehorses: Jockey Club / racing authority registration number also accepted. For Manipuri ponies: MSLDБ certificate number. No identification = no claim.
Veterinary Health Certificate Mandatory (all species): A govt.-licensed / registered vet certificate confirming breed, age, health condition, and market value is mandatory at inception for every insured animal.
Glanders — Notifiable Disease (horse): NRCE Hisar is the national authority. Glanders-positive horses MUST be euthanised by law. Government-ordered euthanised horses may be excluded from insurance. Natural Glanders deaths before euthanasia order: COVERED.
Yak — Avalanche / Blizzard / Dzud Condition: These perils MUST be declared at inception for yaks insured above 3,500m altitude. Revenue Dept. / SDM avalanche certificate required for claims. Undeclared altitude zones: not covered for avalanche.
Racing Horse — Special Endorsement: Fatal racing injuries, training falls, and humane euthanasia for unrecoverable racing fractures require a special endorsement. Race authority vet certification (RWITC / BRTC / MRC) required.
Manipuri Pony — Protected Status: Manipur State Livestock Development Board special valuation certificate required. Manipuri ponies cannot be exported without government permission — any unauthorized export voids the insurance.
Army / Military Animals — MoD Endorsement: Indian Army mules and horses used in mountain operations must be insured with specific Ministry of Defence endorsement. SI reflects training value in addition to market value.
Notify Within 24 HOURS (all species): Death must be notified to Probitas (022 4302 0000) within 24 HOURS. Do NOT dispose of carcass before vet examination. Photograph ear tag / brand / registration number clearly before any disposal.
Police FIR (road accident — all equine species): For road accident death claims — Police FIR from the nearest police station required for horse, pony, donkey, and mule road accident deaths.
HS + FMD Vaccination Mandatory (yak): Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) and FMD vaccination mandatory for all insured yaks. Records submitted at inception. NRCY-supported yak disease certification may be required for HS death claims.
Migration / Grazing Area Declaration (yak / pony): For yaks and hill ponies undergoing seasonal transhumance, the migration route and grazing areas must be declared at inception. Deaths during undeclared routes may not be covered.
Annual Renewal — Fresh Valuation (all species): At each renewal, a fresh vet certificate confirming current health and market value is required. For racehorses: SI is reassessed based on race performance. For yaks: SI assessed by NRCY-certified vet where available.
How to File a Claim
All claims require veterinary cause-of-death certification. Species-specific requirements: Glanders (horse) — NRCE Hisar. Yak avalanche — SDM / Revenue Dept. certificate. Racing horse — race authority vet. Road accident — Police FIR. Call 022 4302 0000.
Horse — Glanders: Notify Probitas + NRCE Hisar + state AH Dept. within 24 hours. NRCE Hisar disease investigation report confirming Glanders required. Natural death before government euthanasia order: covered. Horse — Racing injury: Race authority (RWITC/BRTC/MRC) vet certification required; special endorsement must be in policy. Yak — Avalanche: Notify Probitas + Revenue Dept. / SDM within 24 hours; SDM / Revenue Dept. snow disaster / avalanche certificate required; altitude zone must have been declared at inception. All — Road accident: Police FIR mandatory before or immediately after vet examination.
Call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 within 24 HOURS. Do NOT dispose of carcass. Photograph animal and ear tag / brand / racing reg. number clearly. For road accident: Police FIR immediately. For Glanders: notify NRCE Hisar. For yak avalanche: notify SDM / Revenue Dept.
A govt. / registered vet examines the carcass and issues a Cause of Death Certificate — certifying species, breed, identification number, and cause of death. For Glanders: NRCE Hisar / state AH Dept. report. For yak disease: NRCY-supported cert. For racing: race authority vet cert. For yak avalanche: Revenue Dept. / SDM cert.
Claim Form, Policy doc, Ear tag / brand / racing reg. no., Vet Health Certificate (inception), Vet Cause of Death Certificate, Vaccination records (yak: HS+FMD), Photographs (ID visible), Police FIR (road accident), NRCE Hisar report (Glanders), SDM / Revenue avalanche cert. (yak), Bank details for NEFT.
Claim = SI (agreed market value at inception) − Compulsory Excess. Each animal claimed individually by identification number. Racing horse: race authority registration + special endorsement confirmed. Payment by NEFT within 30 days of complete documents per IRDAI TAT norms.
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