Equine Vaccination Protocol

Responsible horse owners are scrupulous about vaccinating their animals against the diseases to which they are susceptible and for which vaccines exist. Vaccines are available at horse supply and tack stores and online for those who are comfortable giving the shots themselves. Others will want to have their vet administer the vaccines. The protocol below is for adult (over one year old) horses that have never been vaccinated before or for which a vaccination record is not available. Other schedules apply to broodmares and to horses that did receive their first vaccines before they were a year old.

  1. Tetanus

    • Tetanus vaccine is given in a two-dose series, with the second dose administered 4 to 6 weeks after the first. Annual revaccination is required.

    Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)

    • Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis vaccine is also given in a two-dose series, with the second dose given 4 to 6 weeks after the first. The horse must be revaccinated at the beginning of each mosquito season.

    West Nile Virus (WNV)

    • The vaccine for West Nile virus is available in three forms. The inactivated virus vaccine should be give in two doses, the second 4 to 6 weeks after the first. The recombinant canary pox vaccine is given according to the same schedule as the inactivated virus, while the flavivirus chimera vaccine is given in one dose. Whichever vaccine is given, the horse must be revaccinated annually before mosquito season.

    Rabies

    • The rabies vaccine is given in one dose and is readministered annually.

    Risk-Based Vaccines

    • The vaccines listed above are core vaccines and are recommended for all horses. Risk-based vaccines are given only when necessary depending on the individual, population, and/or geographic regions. Wisdom would have a horse owner consult with a local veterinarian to find out which vaccines she recommends for your horse. The risk-based vaccines are anthrax (three-dose series), botulism (three-dose series), equine herpes virus (three-dose series), equine viralarteritis (single dose), influenza (three different vaccines available), Potomac horse fever (two-dose series), and strangles (three different vaccines available). With the exception of the equine herpes virus and equine viral arteritis vaccines, the risk-based vaccines must be renewed semi-annually or annually.