I thought everyone vaccinated...

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smellydogjack

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Today after chatting with a lady at the yard I am left wondering. She said she had never had her horses vaccinated since she had owned them. Which I didn't realise people did- Like the title. do you all vaccinate? I always have done and will continue. But I am wondering some people choose not to vaccinate their children so the same must also apply to horses. I am just curious to know why; is it a cost thing? Or are there studies proving otherwise not beneficial? I am merely curious.
 
All of mine are done for tetanus. You'd be stupid not to do that. However those ones I just jab myself (with vax bought from vet). The ones which are competing are done for flu as well, by the vet.
 
I can't see why anyone wouldn't. The lady in question won't be able to take part in any riding club team events or similar.
 
I do, flue, tetnaus amd strangles.
I was surprised to find a colleague, who is at a bhs yard, didn't even know you should. She does after my lecture.
 
Ps mine are on the EGS vaccine trial so half will be done with the trial vaccine but I don't know which half. I didn't really know you could vax for strangles!
 
I only vaccinate for Tetanus, so many strains of flu seems a bit pointless as it's not that dangerous a disease and vaccine for strangles isn't that fantastic and it's only generally really dangerous in the young and old and I have neither.
 
We only vaccinate for flu for those out competing for whom it is essential at certain venues. I definitely wouldn't bother with flu vaccine for something that stayed at home.
As far as I am aware the efficacy of the strangles vaccine is debatable so definitely wouldn't be throwing money away on that one.
In my opinion the only vaccine essential for a stay at home/hacking horse is tetanus.
 
Dare I write the words... but we only got onto the subject of vaccinations and my and her horse are the only two horses on the yard not to have had to call the vet out. My Duke is a teeth an vaccinations patient and I drive him there. Let's hope I don't jinx it .
 
Mine are done for tetanus, only because one regulary self harms, I would protect a baby, but as they get older they develop an immunity, a vet told me that regarding a dog and boosters, the same should apply to any animal or person, you only need so many tetanus jabs to cover you for life, so now I don't
 
Alf is flu and tet vaccinated, as he is out and about more. Jim is just tet'd, as he lives in my privately rented field, and doesnt go out at all
 
There are definitely no studies that suggest vaccines are harmful. I think it's a cost thing. You have to weigh it up - if a horse is likely to get something, you should vaccinate it - especially if it's something life-threatening. But if there's only a very small chance/it's not that dangerous, then the cost may not be worth it. Something I'll say though is that if you own a horse that is around youngsters that are at higher risk, it should still be vaccinated - even if it'll be fine if it catches whatever's in question - as it otherwise puts the youngsters at greater risk.
 
Ours are all done for tetanus. A friend lost her homebred youngster to tetanus and it was horrid. I only flu vac those who are likely to go on racecourses. I'm terrible at remembering though - I think we've restarted Felixs three time because we're incompetent, and he's only five!
 
My mare has a nasty reaction to any vaccines (talking huge swollen areas, flu symptoms and with the tet vaccine - unable to move her neck for a few days after) so unless it was necessary for shows etc. No i don't.

We are on a private yard though!
Eta - no outside horses can get near either!
 
I don't vaccinate either. My horses dont go anywhere that requires it to be done. If they ever do have to then I will vacc them. I don't really see the point!

My grand mother has 4 horses. 3 in their late 20's and have never ever been vaccinated. 1 in his teens who has always been vacc'd as a racehorse and she kept it up in his retirement. Which one got flu? The vacc'd one! The other 3 thay were living with him never even so much as coughed once!
 
It's extremely irresponsible not to vaccinate for tetanus but for the rest it's a choice .
Mine do have flu and herpes except J because the herpes jab makes him to ill to be worth it .
I tried the strangles vacc it was a big disaster made the horses far to poorly .
 
I don't vaccinate for flu unless I'm going out off the yard alot but as we don't compete at the min I think couple of mine are overdue.

That's reminded me actually, the vet is coming to the yard this morning think I'll take passports down and get some vaccinations re started.
 
I'd always vaccinate for tetanus after a story one of the old farmers told me when I was young. When he was working on the land with heavy horses they had a lot that died from tetanus. This was before you could have them vaccinated. There were some fields where youngstock were kept and as they reached the age where they were about to start work a lot of them died. It turned out that the cause was that there was a lot of the toxin in the soil and when the horses shed their baby teeth they got infected through the wounds in their gums. I've never left one of my youngsters unvaccinated since then. I always make sure I'm up to date with mine too.
 
i dont, obviously they have all the jabs as babies but after that i dont, a friend who shares my yard (private rented between the two of us) does and there is always something wrong with hers litterally she has the vet out to at least one every mnth! whereas ive so far in 30yrs never had a sick horse yet! should one get injured vet would be called immediatly and do tet jab anyway. I know lots of other people who dnt vaccinate either
 
I would ALWAYS vaccinate for tetanus, no question about it. As it happens, mine are all done for flu as well.
 
I'm not sure if you've seen tetanus you'd want to take the risk not to! We don't vaccinate for EHV though, even though that has a similar form!
 
Mine two horses have flu and tet although no longer competing.

I didn't flu vac my old ponies - they were on a private yard, didn't go out etc. but one still got flu and was poorly. His companion didn't get it.
 
I only vaccinate for tetanus. My old mare used to get flu when she was out competing (also it was yard rules when I had her on full livery for a few years) but she hasn't been done for about the last 5/6 years. My youngster only gets tetanus as well as she isn't leaving the yard.
 
flirtygerty said:
Mine are done for tetanus, only because one regulary self harms, I would protect a baby, but as they get older they develop an immunity, a vet told me that regarding a dog and boosters, the same should apply to any animal or person, you only need so many tetanus jabs to cover you for life, so now I don't
Click to expand...

Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus, so should have regular vaccinations throughout their lives.
 
I only vaccinate one of mine. I haven't vaccinated my old boy since the tetnus jab kicked off his EMND. Probably a massive coincidence but both vet and I decided against it 16 years ago. Haven't Vaccinated him since but little coblet I do
 
Apart from Tetanus, it makes sense to approach the other vaccs based on use and risk. It's required for competition, pony club etc, so you must, but a horse which doesn't come into contact with many new horses or travel in shared transport is unlikely to pick up flu, strangles etc.
 
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