General
Competition horse owners should ensure that their horse or pony is vaccinated for equine influenza in accordance with the rules of the appropriate sporting governing bodies under which they are competing (e.g. FEI, British Eventing, British Dressage, British Showjumping, Pony Club, BHA etc). Vaccination rules differ between these organisations. Compulsory vaccination for EHV is also required for certain jurisdictions.
Your passport may be requested and checked at any time during events. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to ensure that your horse or pony’s vaccinations are up to date and comply with requirements. Any lapse in the vaccination history, even by a few days, will be considered by the sport’s governing body to be a breach of its rules. This may result in your horse being unable to compete or penalties being imposed. Our office team and vets are happy to offer advice and check your horse’s vaccination record prior to a competition.
Tetanus
All horses and donkeys should be vaccinated against tetanus, which is usually a fatal condition in the horse. Tetanus is caused by production of endotoxins by the bacteria, Clostridium tetani.
Vaccination is often given as a combination vaccine with equine influenza. A primary course of two vaccinations is given 4-6 weeks apart, followed by a booster in 12 months. Subsequent vaccinations are usually given every 2 years. Many foals are given tetanus anti-toxin shortly after birth as extra protection to the antibodies they have received from the mare via her colostrum.
Primary vaccinations are usually started in horses over the age of 5 months but tetanus vaccination may be recommended in younger animals in some cases. If your horse sustains a wound and is not vaccinated or its vaccinations have lapsed, it is essential that your vet gives an tetanus anti-toxin injection as quickly as possible to prevent tetanus infection. Your horse should start a primary course thereafter as this will only provide cover for up to 3 weeks.
Equine Influenza (Flu)
Equine influenza is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system resulting in a high fever, runny nose and coughing. It usually affects young horses. Although rarely fatal, it can be a very debilitating disease and is highly contagious. A number of disease outbreaks have occurred amongst unvaccinated animals over the last few years. You are advised to check the requirements of your particular discipline before starting a course of vaccinations.
The guidance from vaccine manufacturers differs from the sporting bodies and will depend on the vaccine used. For pleasure horses, we recommend that manufacturer’s guidance is followed as an absolute minimum. Six monthly boosters are widely recommended following a large outbreak only a few years ago.
Current (Nov 2023) BHA rules state that the first two vaccines of a primary course must be given 21 days to 60 days apart, followed by a third vaccine between 120 and 180 days after the second vaccination. Thereafter, boosters must be given every 6 months. See details here.
Equine Flu Vaccination Rule Changes from 1st January 2024
From 1st January 2024, vaccination rules for Equine Flu changed for many of the equestrian disciplines in accordance with advice from British Equestrian (BEF).
Vaccination intervals after 1st January have reduced date ranges between the first two vaccinations in a primary course and the first booster. Any horse restarting flu vaccinations or receiving a new primary course from 1st January will be affected by the changes. Vaccinations that are up-to-date and correct will not be affected.
Competition horse owners should ensure that their horse or pony is vaccinated for Equine Flu in accordance with the rules of the appropriate sporting governing bodies under which they are competing (e.g. FEI, British Eventing, British Dressage, British Showjumping, The Pony Club, British Riding Clubs, etc).
Equine Flu vaccination Intervals for many governing bodies from 1st January 2024 are as follows*:
| Intervals before 1 January 2024 | Intervals from 1st January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Vaccination (V1) | ||
| 2nd Vaccination (V2) | 21-92 | 21-60 days |
| 3rd Vaccination (V3) | 150-215 days | 120-180 days |
| Booster | Within 6 months or 12 months (depending on governing body) | Within 6 months or 12 months (depending on governing body) |
*Please note: VACCINATION RULES DIFFER BETWEEN ORGANISATIONS. It is your responsibility to ensure that your horse or pony’s vaccinations are up to date and comply with requirements.
Regardless of whether your horse is competing in BEF member bodies affiliated sports or not, we advise that you follow the BEF advice, which is supported by research evidence and complies with the recommendations of vaccine manufacturers.
Equine Herpes Virus (EHV)
Equine herpes virus (EHV) is a common virus that occurs in horse populations worldwide. The two most common herpes viruses are EHV-1 and EHV-4. EHV-1 causes respiratory disease in young horses, abortion in pregnant mares and paralysis in horses of any age. EHV-4 usually causes a low-grade respiratory disease but can also cause abortion. Infection can occur without causing obvious symptoms but many horses become silent ‘carriers’ and these animals are a source of infection for others, becoming ill and/or shedding infectious virus when stressed by events such as travel, competition, pregnancy or other illness.
There was a significant outbreak of EHV-1 neurological disease in Europe in 2021 that originated in showjumpers at an international competition in Spain but spread to several other countries. Almost 20 horses died, so this is not a disease to be disregarded.
Vaccines are available and vaccination is recommended for all competition horses. A primary course of 2 vaccinations given approximately 1 month apart should be followed by regular booster vaccinations ( usually 6 monthly) to maintain a level of protection. In-foal mares should be vaccinated at 5,7 and 9 months of pregnancy. For more information on EHV, please see the HBLB International Codes of Practice.