Vaccinations for horses

[notsoluckyhorseshoes]

Hi! So I don't have a horse yet but I'm unsure on what vaccines I would need for a horse.
Some people have told me to get the equine flu, Tetanus, Equine Flu, Rabies, WEE, Nile Flu and a few more but I don't know if everybody does all of these?? It seems like quite alot but I really don't know.

So what vaccines does your horse have and when are boosters usually? Thank you!

 

[teapot]

For the UK - flu and tet are the main two

Everything else would be your choice (do people jab for rabies in the UK?!)

 

[notsoluckyhorseshoes]

Okay thank you!! And I know somebody who does which confuses me ?

 

[Cortez]

Why don't you ask your vet? I'm sure he/she will know what is required.

 

[notsoluckyhorseshoes]

I don't have a vet or a horse to begin with ?

 

[ihatework]

Flu & Tet.
If breeding EHV too

 

[paddy555]

tetanus only for mine.

 

[Esmae]

Ring a local vet practice. They will give you the definitive answer

 

[eggs]

I don't have a vet or a horse to begin with ?

Once you've got your horse (which should hopefully be up to date with vaccinations) you can ask your vet. You will probably want to get yourself registered with a practice in any case as you will want to get your prospective new horse vetted

 

[PeterNatt]

Get your horse vaccinated every 6 months for flu as after this period the effect reduces dramatically.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I vaccinate flu every year and tetanus every 2nd year.
I vaccinate in spring so I'm covered for riding club activities for 6 months.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Get your horse vaccinated every 6 months for flu as after this period the effect reduces dramatically.

This is not necessary unless you are competing at FEI level.
BRC have already gone back to annual following the primary course.

 

[Winters100]

I vaccinate for flu every 6 months, the tetanus booster is given periodically in the same injection (there is a product which combines the 2 to save injecting twice). Never heard of anyone giving Rabies vaccine and would not have thought it necessary.

 

[Rowreach]

Good grief, even within 10 replies you've had conflicting (and dubious) advice.

OP, hopefully your new horse will be up to date with its vaccinations (flu and tet being the baseline) but if not, getting the vetting vet to advise you would be a good plan.

 

[PeterNatt]

If you value your horse then it is necesary to have a flue injection every 6 months as after this time it looses its effectiveness.

 

[Mary3050]

I do mine for flu and tet. My vets would advise if they need anything else . I do 6 month vaccines as I was advised it was best to protect one of mine with lots of conditions

 

[Equi]

Assuming you are from the UK you will only consider vaccinations for equine influenza and tetanus. The timing on these will depend on your potential livery yards wishes and your own show wishes (some need flu 6 monthly, some yearly) Tet is usually yearly as it comes as a premixed flu/tet jab but tet technically can be given less frequently (humans are only allowed a certain amount of tetanus vaccines in their life) If you plan to breed you may consider EHV (herpes) also, but its not needed for a non-breeding horse. If you plan to go international for shows etc you will need to consider others like the west nile/rabies etc but they are not commonly given here for a normal everday horse.

 

[Rowreach]

If you value your horse then it is necesary to have a flue injection every 6 months as after this time it looses its effectiveness.

Wow.

Flu vaccines, following the initial course, are advised to be given annually (just look at the websites of a random selection of equine vets) unless required every 6 months by a governing body like the FEI.

Tetanus vaccines, following the initial course, are given every two years.

 

[Arzada]

If you value your horse then it is necesary to have a flue injection every 6 months as after this time it looses its effectiveness.

I value my horse, mid 20s now and not had a flu jab for at least 20 years. It isn't necessary to have one. Tetanus only for us.

 

[spotty_pony]

Flu every year and tetanus every other.

 

[Rowreach]

I value my horse, mid 20s now and not had a flu jab for at least 20 years. It isn't necessary to have one. Tetanus only for us.

I have owned lots of horses that have only had tetanus jabs. It totally depends on the circumstances, not how much you value your horse.

 

[ycbm]

If you value your horse then it is necesary to have a flue injection every 6 months as after this time it looses its effectiveness.

If no horses visit your yard and you never take your horse within a few metres of another one, it isn't necessary to have a flu jab at all, as there is no way that your horse could catch it.
.

 

[teddypops]

If you value your horse then it is necesary to have a flue injection every 6 months as after this time it looses its effectiveness.

Nonsense. Nothing to do with how much you value your horse!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Some livery yards expect your horse to have a strangles jab too.

 

[Peglo]

If you value your horse then it is necesary to have a flue injection every 6 months as after this time it looses its effectiveness.

my oldies are long retired and don’t go anywhere. I spend an absolute fortune on them to keep them as happy and healthy in their old years as possible. They are worthless to anyone but me but I value them more than any of the things I own that’s worth anything. I don’t vaccinate them for flu.

 

[PeterNatt]

My horse did not come in contact with any other horses yet he sadly still contracted the flue virus and became very seriously ill. The vet was here 3 times a day and luckily he made a full recovery. After that I consulted one of the senior veterinaries at Rossdales Newmarket and he advised me that the flue vaccinae rapidly looses effect after 6 months so that is why I now routinely ensure that he has a flue vacination every 6 months. To me it is not worth the risk.

 

[mini_b]

This is not necessary unless you are competing at FEI level.
BRC have already gone back to annual following the primary course.

came to confirm if this is still the case. I have a 6 monthly booster booked but I’m thinking I might leave it to annual. My RC’s check passports but we aren’t competing aff at the moment.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

came to confirm if this is still the case. I have a 6 monthly booster booked but I’m thinking I might leave it to annual. My RC’s check passports but we aren’t competing aff at the moment.

This is still annual for BRC, the only time it might not be will be completely down to the venue.
That said, all our local venues are annual again, Merrist, Parwood, Munsted, Tweseldown etc

 

[GreyDot]

This is not necessary unless you are competing at FEI level.
BRC have already gone back to annual following the primary course.

Unfortunately, if you are wanting to compete affiliated with BD it does need to be every 6 months, and from Intro upwards, not just FEI level.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Unfortunately, if you are wanting to compete affiliated with BD it does need to be every 6 months, and from Intro upwards, not just FEI level.

Thank you, I don't compete BD, was answering the BRC question.
Good to know though.
BS and BE are annual.