To decide which vaccinations to give your horse, it is important to know the environment in which your horses live. There are three equine lifestyles:

OPEN HERD: These are horses that travel frequently to horse shows or events in which they come in contact with unfamiliar horses.
SEMI-OPEN HERD: All of the horses in a particular herd are vaccinated, and any new horses introduced are immediately vaccinated.
CLOSED-HERD: These horses live in an extremely controlled environment, and have rare interaction with unfamiliar horses.

These are the common diseases which horses are exposed to, and the recommended frequency of vaccines:

TETANUS TOXOID: Acute infestation, which opens through open wounds. This vaccination is recommended for all herd types. Horses should receive the vaccination yearly, with a booster if horses receive an open wound.

RABIES: A viral disease which affects the central nervous system and results in death. This disease has been becoming more common and is considered a severe health problem. All herd types should receive this vaccine yearly.

WEST NILE VIRUS Encephelomyelitis: This is a viral disease, spread by mosquitoes. It is also known as sleeping sickness. All herd types should be vaccinated yearly in the spring, before the insect season begins. In areas where there are two insect hatching periods, horses should be given a second vaccination before the second insect season. There is now a single-dose vaccination available; it is 95% effective and safe on foals as young as four months.

INFLUENZA: Open herd vaccination every four months; Semi-open herd every six months; Closed-herd every six months, with booster two to four weeks before an anticipated show or long haul. This is an intra-nasal vaccination, but for those horses that are balky, there is also a shot.

RHINOPNEUMONITIS: This is a viral respiratory disease. It can also cause abortion and central nervous system damage that may cause paralysis. For open-herd horses, vaccination should be given every other month; for Semi-open herd, every four months; and for closed-herd every six months, although this is optional.

PNEUMONIA: A highly contagious viral disease which affects the upper-respiratory tract, characterized by fever, increased respiratory and heart rates, respiratory distress, and death. There is no vaccine for this disease.

STRANGLES: A contagious bacterial disease. This affects the upper respiratory tract, with abcessation in the lymph nodes, particularly in the neck and throat. All horses should receive an initial vaccine, followed by a booster at three and six weeks. Horses should be vaccinated annually thereafter.

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