We strongly advise that all horses and ponies are vaccinated for Influenza and Tetanus. For some of you it will be a requirement for competition. The society with whom you compete will state in their rules which regulations they follow.
For up to date Jockey Club, FEI regulations and further information about vaccinations please check our website www.riversidevetsequine.co.uk
Jockey Club Regulations For Equine Influenza
1st Equine Influenza vaccination.
2nd vaccination after 21 to 92 days from 1st vaccination.
3rd vaccination after 150 to 215 days from 2nd vaccination.
Thereafter annually, with the last permissible day being the same date as the previous year’s vaccination.
Horses may not compete until the 8th day after the day of vaccination.
Pony and Riding Club’s also abide strictly by these rules.
From 1 January 2005 onwards, Influenza vaccination for all horses competing in FEI competitions requires a vaccination within six months + 21 days of the competition.
All horses intending to participate in FEI competition must have at least received an initial primary course of two vaccinations, given between 21 and 92 days apart. Thereafter, a third dose (referred to as the first booster) must be given within 6 months + 21 days after the date of administration of the second primary dose, with at least annual boosters given subsequently (i.e. within 365 days of the last dose).
If the horse is scheduled to take part in an FEI competition, the last booster must have been given within 6 calendar months + 21 days of arrival at the FEI event. (The 21-day window has been provided to enable vaccination requirements to fit in with the competition schedule).
No vaccination shall be given within 7 days of the day of arrival at the FEI event.
All horses that were certified as correctly vaccinated under the previous FEI Equine Influenza vaccination rule prior to 1st January 2005, do not need to start a primary course again provided that they have complied with the previous rule of primary course and annual re-vaccinations and the new rule of a booster vaccination within 6 calendar months + 21 days of the day of arrival at the FEI event.
Your horse must have received a primary course of 2 vaccinations against Tetanus 4-6 weeks apart, and then a booster vaccination every 2 years. This can be given as a joint vaccination with the Flu vaccine, or on its own if you’ve chosen not to vaccinate against Flu.
Riverside aims to send out booster reminders to registered horses that have received vaccinations with us. However, computer recall is not infallible, and ultimately it is the owner or trainer’s responsibility to ensure that the horse’s vaccination records comply with the regulations. We recommend that you write your horses vaccination on your year planner at the commencement of the New Year.
Equine Herpes Virus causes three distinct disease syndromes
Respiratory Disease.
Abortion.
Neurological/Paralytic Form.
The most common form is the respiratory disease, which most horses and ponies are likely to suffer from at some point in their life. The symptoms include a raised temperature, nasal discharge, cough and poor performance.
EHV 1,4 is one of the most common infectious cause of abortion in the horse in the UK.
Mares can become infected with EHV 1,4 up to 100 days before an abortion may occur. Thus in a stud situation, by the time the first abortion occurs, all the mares on the stud may have already been infected. The neurological form is relatively rare. The clinical signs usually start with a weakness or progressive paralysis of the hindlimbs. This may progress to the forelimbs, and lead to recumbency and death.
There are two vaccination schemes. The first protects against the respiratory/poor performance syndrome; the second protects mares against the abortion syndrome. Owners should consider vaccinating with this schedule if their horse is regularly mixing with others e.g. competing. This vaccination scheme does give protection against the respiratory form but it is unclear if it will provide protection against the neurological form.
1st EHV 1,4 Vaccination
Followed by
2nd EHV 1,4 Vaccination after 4 to 6 weeks
Followed by
Booster vaccinations every 6 months
1st Injection in the 5th month of pregnancy
Followed by
2nd Injection in the 7th month of pregnancy
Followed by
3rd Injection in the 9th month of pregnancy