By Vet Hamish Leslie
For many horse owners, vaccinations are often seen as something that needs to be done simply to meet competition rules.
While vaccination records are required by many governing bodies and event organisers, the primary reason for vaccination is to protect the health and welfare of your horses.
Vaccinations remain one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases, reduce illness severity, and protect the wider equine population.
Equine Influenza is causing headlines and extra concern currently due to an ongoing outbreak. Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) based at Cambridge Veterinary School reports there have been 126 separate cases, confirmed by laboratory tests, across the UK between 1 April and 2 July, with new cases continuing to occur across England and Scotland.
Equine influenza is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease that can spread rapidly between horses. Horses do not need to be competing to be at risk. The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected horses, contaminated equipment, clothing, and even as airborne particles.
Clinical signs include a high temperature, coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, and reduced appetite. Although most horses recover, infection can result in several weeks of lost training and performance. In young, elderly, or immunocompromised horses, infections can be much worse.
Outbreaks of equine influenza, such as the current one, continue to occur throughout the UK despite the availability of effective vaccines. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of infection and, importantly, helps reduce the amount of virus shed by infected horses, limiting transmission to others.
Unlike influenza, tetanus is not spread between horses. It is caused by a toxin produced by bacteria commonly found in soil and manure. The bacteria gain access to the body through wounds, big or small, surgical sites, or even minor injuries that may go unnoticed.
Tetanus affects the nervous system and causes progressive muscle stiffness, difficulty eating and drinking, and severe muscle spasms. Unfortunately, the disease carries a high mortality rate, even with intensive veterinary treatment.
However, tetanus is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. Because the bacteria are widespread in the environment, every horse is at risk regardless of age, breed, discipline, or how they are kept.
Vaccination is not just about protecting individual horses. When a high proportion of horses within a yard or local population are vaccinated, disease spread becomes much more difficult. This is called herd immunity, which helps protect vulnerable horses such as foals, elderly horses, and those unable to have a strong immune response.
Therefore, all horse owners play a role in reducing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks within the equine population by vaccinating their horse.
Vets are commonly asked whether booster vaccinations are necessary. The immunity generated by vaccines naturally decreases over time. Booster vaccinations stimulate the immune system to remember the disease and help maintain long-term protection.
Allowing vaccination schedules to lapse may leave horses vulnerable as their immunity decreases and can also cause problems if owners wish to compete, travel, or attend training events.
Your vet can advise on the current required vaccination schedules.
Vaccination visits also provide an excellent opportunity for a routine health check. During these visits, your vet can perform a general clinical examination, discuss any concerns regarding behaviour, performance, or management, and identify potential issues before they become more significant problems.
Vaccinations are about far more than meeting competition regulations. They are a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting horses against potentially serious diseases such as influenza and tetanus. By maintaining up-to-date vaccinations, horse owners are investing not only in their own horse's health but also in the well-being of the wider equine community.