Vaccination is an essential part of keeping horses healthy. Vaccines protect against a range of diseases, lessening the chances of a horse getting sick and minimizing the severity if they do.
Vaccines work by triggering a horse’s immune system to produce antibodies, which fight off specific diseases. It’s important to work with your veterinarian to create a vaccination plan customized for each horse.
Below, we’ll discuss the core vaccines every horse should receive, as well as risk-based vaccines that may be recommended depending on your horse’s lifestyle and location.
Core vaccinations for horses
Core vaccines are those considered essential for all horses, no matter where they live or how they’re used. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends that horses be vaccinated against these diseases because they’re widespread, pose a significant public health risk, are legally required, or are likely to cause serious illness.
Here are the core vaccines recommended for horses in the United States:
- Rabies. Rabies is always fatal in horses, and it can spread from animals to people.
- Tetanus. Tetanus is caused by bacteria in the soil that enter the horse’s body through a wound. It’s fatal about 75% of the time.
- Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE). These mosquito-borne diseases are devastating. EEE is fatal in 90% of horses who contract it, and WEE is fatal in about half of equine cases.
- West Nile Virus. This is another mosquito-borne illness. About a third of horses who get West Nile Virus die from it.
Risk-Based Vaccinations for Horses
Not all vaccines are essential for all horses. Risk-based vaccines are those that are recommended based on factors such as how often the horse travels, where the horse lives, its exposure risk, and its general lifestyle.
Your veterinarian will weigh the risks and benefits to figure out whether these vaccines are appropriate for your horse.
The decision to give risk-based vaccines is ultimately up to your veterinarian and should be based on your individual horse’s needs.
Here are a few common risk-based vaccines:
- Equine Influenza: This respiratory disease is common in places where horses are in close contact, such as shows and barns.
- Equine Herpesvirus (EHV): EHV can cause respiratory disease, neurological problems, and miscarriages in pregnant mares.
- Strangles: This is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection.
- Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause kidney failure and miscarriages.
Developing a vaccination schedule
It’s important to work with your veterinarian to come up with a vaccination schedule that’s right for your horse. Vaccination schedules will vary, depending on whether the horse is an adult, a foal, or a broodmare, and on the horse’s vaccination history.
During your horse’s annual check-up, your vet can create a complete preventive healthcare plan that includes diet, dental exams, and other elements, in addition to vaccinations.
Timing and administration of vaccines
Spring vaccinations are particularly crucial, as they’ll protect your horse from mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile and Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE).
It takes a few weeks for a vaccine to become fully effective, so it’s important to plan your vaccinations accordingly. And it’s best if vaccines are administered by a veterinarian or under their direct supervision.
In Conclusion
If you own a horse, you already know that vaccination is a key component of good health and biosecurity.
Core vaccines offer protection from diseases that are widespread, serious, and pose a risk to horses across the country. Risk-based vaccines offer protection from diseases your horse may be exposed to depending on where you live, how you travel, and how often your horse comes into contact with other horses.
Work with your veterinarian to develop a vaccination program that meets your horse’s individual needs.