Spring is here.  Summer is close.  Many horse related activities are beginning in our area. Now is a good time to update your horse vaccinations if you haven’t already done so. Vaccinations are a vital part of health maintenance for your horse. They provide an active immunity to protect the horse against diseases they are intended for. Giving vaccinations does not keep your horse from getting a disease, but it gives your horse’s immune system a head start in fighting off the disease which usually results in less symptoms, if any at all.  It is recommended to vaccinate your horse before you showing/rodeoing or co-mingling with other outside horses.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends that all horses be vaccinated for a core set of vaccines. They include Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE respectively), Rabies, Tetanus, and West Nile Virus. Other vaccines are available and considered to be risked-based depending on the activities of the horse and/or location. For example, horses that are frequently exposed to other horses and/or travel should be vaccinated for Influenza (Flu) and Equine herpesvirus (Rhinopneumonitis), type 1 (EHV-1) and type 4 (EHV-4). Your local veterinarian should be consulted for type and frequency of vaccinations needed for your area and situation.

Each vaccination has specific guidelines although most require an annual booster. Typically those booster vaccinations are administered in the spring before the onset of vector season. Certain horse diseases are spread by vectors such as mosquitos and flies. Vaccinations for diseases that are spread from horse to horse should be timed according to highest exposure or travel and might require more frequent boosting than annually. Specific AAEP guidelines for each vaccination are available at http:// www.aaep.org/custdocs/AdultVaccinationChart.pdf.  Most horse owners opt to get their vaccinations from their veterinarian, although some of the core vaccines are also available at feed stores/animal supply stores.

In general, you want to purchase vaccinations from a reputable source. Poor handling can lead to ineffective vaccines. Correct administration of vaccines is also paramount and should only be performed by an experienced individual like your veterinarian. Vaccines have become very convenient and are often offered in single doses that include multiple vaccines. A 5-way typically contains EEE, WEE, Tetanus, Flu, and Rhino. A 6-way has the 5-way plus West Nile Virus. Always check the label or ask questions to ensure you are vaccinating for what is recommended. Rabies is not available over the counter and must be administered by a veterinarian in a solitary dose. Start planning your horse’s vaccinations now. Some veterinary practices offer low-cost vaccine clinics in the spring to provide convenience and savings for the horse owner. You’ll want to vaccinate at least four weeks in advance of vector season to give your horse optimal protection. For parts of Texas, that could be as early as the beginning of March. Foals and young horses usually have a slightly different vaccination protocol than mature using/pleasure horses.  Brood mares also have a different vaccination protocol.  There is also an equine rattlesnake vaccination available now.

Again it is best to consult your veterinarian before administering equine vaccinations. More information about health management, disease control and vaccinations is available at http://animalscience.tamu.edu/livestock-species/equine/publications/ under “Best Management

Practices for Equine Disease Prevention.”