Competing with no vaccinations?

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Penniless

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How many of you take your horses out to compete without them having up to date vaccinations? We are really surprised to find out just how many horses don't seem to be jabbed for either tet or flu. We've had to turn so many people away from entering our show at the AHT as they've insisted that all vaccination certificates/passports will be checked before entering their premises, and we've been inundated with phone calls pleading with us to allow horses through without them having the jabs. We've explained that it's not our rule and we've got to abide by this, but have been shocked when people have then tried to bribe us to allow their horses in. I can understand why people wouldn't do jabs if their horses were old or never leave the yard, but surely, if you are out and amount competiting at any level, the risk to others must be there. Apart from that, what happens if the unvaccinated horse gets a cut or something at home, surely you would want your tet. up to date? This really surprised us when people told us that they will come to the August show (because passports aren't being checked) but cannot come to the July show because of this ruling. So, do you not vaccinate yours and compete and if not, why?
 
Mine are always up to date with their jabs (but being a vet it would be very odd if I said otherwise!) All horses should have tetanus cover and I have to say I even veccinated my old pony for flu even though she never went anywhere because I couldn't rule out someone else bring viruses back to the yard and then she would have been susceptible.
 
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Mine are always up to date with their jabs (but being a vet it would be very odd if I said otherwise!) All horses should have tetanus cover and I have to say I even veccinated my old pony for flu even though she never went anywhere because I couldn't rule out someone else bring viruses back to the yard and then she would have been susceptible.

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Hence why we won't have the show on our own property.
 
you dont have to but it is in safety of your horse for one if he cuts him self and less chance of them getting in fected with flu it aint worth the risk in my eyes!
 
you have a duty of care to your horse and others by keeping the vaccs up to date!!! anyone who doesnt do this SHOULD NOT be able to compete!! IMO
 
So how can this be regulated? Responsible owners like yourselves and us, make sure all of ours are covered and insist that all visiting mares or any holiday liveries etc. are also covered, or they're not allowed into our yard. But what happens at a show? As I said, we've actually got a qualified official (employed by Racing Authority) to check the passports to match the horse and the jabs before they will be allowed through the gates but we've never been to any show where we've been asked to show this - apart from one - the Royal a few years ago, when we turned up to compete and then realised we'd left the passport at home. Much pleading etc. was done, even asking if they would talk to our vets who could back it up, or fax it through to them, but no joy - they turned us away with a 2 year old on board - having already travelled 4 hours to get there. It's not the tet which puts others at risk - it's the flu. People should remember that Australia was near enough closed down to horses last year because equine flu got through - surely we don't want it happening to this country - then no-one will be going anywhere. If people say they can't afford to get it done - then in our opinion, they obviously can't afford to keep their horse or care for it properly. How about more shows insisting that up to date vaccinations are shown before entry - that way we could all compete knowing our horses are less at risk from someone else's. Come on Show Organisers - start raising this point.
 
my mare never left my (private) yard, but she was always kept up to date with all vaccinations.

the horse im currently riding for a friend is very behind on his vaccinations and the owner is still taking him out and about to comps, i agree there needs to be tougher rules on this.

dont most yards insist on up to date vaccs?
 
It's hugely frustrating that these things aren't checked - we went to the largest agricultural show in scotland (which happens to be on this weekend!) 1st year we took our section a, and came back with a cough, 2nd year we took our hunter filly and came back with strangles
shocked.gif
, last year the show ponies came back with mites. Finally learnt our lesson and didn't stable at the show this year. Not once did anyone check passports, vaccs or indeed the horse to make sure it obviously wasn't carrying anything. Indeed the first year we went, the section a hadn't had all her jabs and we were told by our vet not to worry as they're never checked.

I appreciate that to get these things checked would take extra manpower, time and persistence to overcome the inevitable stroppiness shown by some members of the equestrian community who think they are above being policed. Ultimately though, it's the welfare of the horses that is at stake and it should be paramount.
 
One of mine only has tetanus - she has had 2 really bad reactions to two different flu vaccinations and on the advice of the vets who treated her she will not have another one. They said the reaction was more likely to kill her than flu. I only take her to places that don't ask for flu vaccs.
 
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It's hugely frustrating that these things aren't checked - we went to the largest agricultural show in scotland (which happens to be on this weekend!) 1st year we took our section a, and came back with a cough, 2nd year we took our hunter filly and came back with strangles
shocked.gif
, last year the show ponies came back with mites. Finally learnt our lesson and didn't stable at the show this year. Not once did anyone check passports, vaccs or indeed the horse to make sure it obviously wasn't carrying anything.

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Think I know which show you're talking about! Nobody checked our passport for vaccs either when we went on Friday. Although, they do make you sign a form saying you're horse hasnt' had strangles etc. lately - however, nobody actually asked for mine in the end!!
 
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