Vaccination and preventive care for horses: what a plan covers

What preventive care covers

The UK charity World Horse Welfare (WHW) lists among its ten routine essentials vital signs, a daily check, vaccination, worming, monitoring weight, hooves and teeth. This article covers vaccination, parasites and record-keeping; the rest has its own articles, and the whole framework is in how to care for a horse.

Tetanus: the vaccine sources give for every horse

DEFRA says vaccinating all horses against tetanus is strongly recommended because horses are very susceptible to this fatal condition. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) also strongly recommends it for all horses, following the manufacturer's recommendations, which vary by product. The BHS counts tetanus and influenza as the minimum and adds that tetanus is not contagious but is extremely likely to be fatal.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) explains why vaccination does not depend on contact with other horses: the bacterium Clostridium tetani multiplies in puncture wounds (particularly of the foot or muscle), lacerations or surgical incisions, and its spores survive in the environment for years. The AAEP notes that the severity of a wound does not predict the risk: clinical tetanus has followed superficial wounds. Survival of infected horses is strongly associated with previous vaccination. How often and with which product is for the manufacturer's instructions and your vet to set. Whether a horse is protected after an injury is for the vet to judge; so if you cannot assess an injury, consult your vet (see the section on when to call the vet).

Equine influenza and rules for competition horses

Equine influenza is a contagious respiratory disease. BEVA says the virus spreads by the airborne route and can travel further than a typical yard. The international federation FEI stresses that vaccination cannot guarantee immunity, yet it requires it for horses at its events as a biosecurity measure. The response to a vaccine is not immediate: BEVA says at least 7 days should pass between the latest dose and mixing with other horses.

A horse that does not compete is not bound by FEI rules, but sources still put influenza in the minimum (BHS, WHW). WHW adds that competing horses may need boosters more often, so check your governing body's rules. The BHS advises anyone hosting visiting horses to ask for up-to-date vaccination, especially against influenza; a yard or organiser may set similar conditions.

For competition horses at FEI events (2026 Veterinary Regulations, Article 1003):

Horses that had their primary course before 1 January 2024 have different time limits. These are conditions for entering FEI events, not a recommendation for every horse; for others the vet sets the interval. BEVA writes that, on scientific evidence, six-monthly vaccination protects better against clinical signs of influenza than twelve-monthly, and advises following your vet because vaccination has to be tailored to each horse's risk.

"All vaccination programs should be developed in consultation with a licensed veterinarian." This is the AAEP's wording; DEFRA, BEVA and the BHS give similar advice.

Other vaccines: a decision with your vet

The AAEP separates core vaccines from risk-based ones. Core vaccines protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, highly contagious or severe, of public health significance, or required by law; the others are chosen after a risk assessment with a vet and may vary between individuals, populations and regions. In the AAEP's 2026 chart the core vaccines are tetanus, rabies, West Nile virus and EEE/WEE encephalomyelitis, with influenza among the risk-based ones; that is a US classification, not a list for Slovenia or Croatia.

Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) has no vaccine, Merck says. For a newly bought horse the BHS recommends influenza and tetanus be up to date and advises asking a vet about unvaccinated horses or lapsed vaccinations.

Parasites: egg counts and worming programmes

The DEFRA code for England says a parasite control programme should be put in place in consultation with a vet or other suitably qualified person, including appropriate faecal worm egg counts and wormers only when necessary. It strongly discourages routine worming without egg counts because it encourages resistance and wormers can become ineffective. According to the BHS, the UK now has resistance to each of the five classes of wormer and no new ones are being developed; once resistance develops in a worm population it cannot be reversed, and pasture may become unsuitable for grazing horses.

The Slovenian Regulation on the protection of farmed animals (Ur. l. RS 63/2023, as of 29 September 2026) requires, since December 2024 (Article 53.f; our calculation), regular control of internal and external parasites on the advice of a vet (original: »Skrbnik zagotavlja redno odpravljanje notranjih in zunanjih zajedavcev po nasvetu veterinarja.«); it sets no interval. It applies to farmed animals (Animal Protection Act, Article 5, point 21); if your horse is kept purely for pleasure, ask the competent authority whether it applies.

The BHS describes test-led worming like this: an egg count shows how many eggs the horse is passing onto the pasture, and a vet or other authorised prescriber advises on treatment. After treatment, a repeat count 10-14 days later checks that the wormer worked, which reveals developing resistance. Egg counts have limits: the BHS says they are unreliable for tapeworm (saliva or blood tests are used). The AAEP says egg counts must not be used to diagnose disease.

So the sources differ: UK bodies advise treating after tests, the AAEP a baseline treatment for all horses with more for high egg shedders, and ESCCAP describes selective and strategic approaches, the latter generally treating all animals of an age group according to age-specific schemes. DEFRA and the BHS give wormers only when needed, ESCCAP recommends keeping treatment frequency to the minimum possible, and the BHS, AAEP and ESCCAP all mention checking that treatments work. Do not copy a programme from the table; agree it with your vet.

Teeth, hooves and weight: checks that belong to prevention

Among its ten routine essentials WHW lists teeth (a check at least once a year by a vet or, in the UK, a qualified equine dental technician), hooves (a qualified farrier) and weight and condition (weigh tape or weighbridge, fat scoring). Details are in the articles on teeth, the farrier and what horses eat. WHW says it helps to know your horse's normal temperature, pulse and respiration, and the BHS says a raised temperature could indicate illness; approximate temperature values are in the pillar article on care.

The passport and vaccination records

FEI requires influenza vaccinations to be recorded in the horse's passport, signed and stamped by the vet. Under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963 (as of 29 September 2026) a standard identification document (ID) has sections I to III and an extended one sections I to X; VII (influenza) and VIII (other diseases) are for vaccination records, IX for laboratory tests. The vet enters a vaccination there where the rules of a competition or racing organisation or authority require it. The Slovenian veterinary administration (UVHVVR) names the same sections. Who issues the ID and what to ask about a horse's history at purchase are in what you need before buying your first horse.

It makes sense to keep the dates of vaccinations, egg counts, dental checks and farrier visits in one place. WHW puts vaccination and worming in its annual health plan.

Slovenia and Croatia: what the official texts say

As of 29 September 2026. In the official texts below we found no general obligation to vaccinate horses against influenza or tetanus; conditions may be set by competition organisations (such as the FEI), yards and others. Rules change, so check with your vet and the competent authority before deciding.

The Slovenian order was issued for 2026. Article 10 of the Croatian order says compulsory anthrax vaccination, anthrax districts and control measures are set by an Anthrax Control Programme (class 322-02/22-01/46); we did not review it or whether it concerns equidae. Nor did we review the Article 11 surveillance programme (class 322-02/22-01/47); the latest version of the order we found dates from July 2025.

When to call the vet

Frequently asked questions

Which vaccinations does a horse need?

Tetanus and influenza are the basics: UK sources (BHS, WHW) give both, and DEFRA singles out tetanus. Everything else, from herpesvirus to strangles and West Nile virus, is chosen by the vet according to age, use and location. In the Slovenian and Croatian official texts covered here we found no general obligation to vaccinate horses against tetanus or influenza.

How often should a horse be vaccinated against influenza?

There is no single answer. For competition horses the FEI sets the intervals in its regulations (boosters at most 12 months apart, the last within 6 months and 21 days before arrival at an event), and these figures apply to FEI events only. For a horse that does not compete, the interval is agreed with the vet according to risk.

Does a leisure horse need an influenza vaccination?

UK sources count influenza as part of the basics even for horses that do not compete. Because the virus spreads through the air, a yard or event organiser may require it; the BHS advises this for anyone hosting visiting horses. FEI rules concern FEI events only, and the rest is agreed with your vet.

When should a horse be wormed?

When and how often is for your vet to decide after an egg count. The sources differ: the DEFRA code for England strongly discourages worming without an egg count because of resistance, while the AAEP advises baseline worming of all horses. After treatment the BHS advises a repeat count 10-14 days later to check that the wormer worked.

Where are vaccinations recorded?

In sections VII (influenza) and VIII (other diseases) of an extended ID, completed by the vet; the EU rules require this entry where a competition or racing organisation requires the vaccination. A horse with a standard ID has no such sections: ask your vet or the issuing body. For FEI horses, HorseApp entry has been required since 1 February 2025.

Can I vaccinate my horse myself?

We did not find this answered for Slovenia or Croatia in the sources used, so ask your vet. The FEI requires vaccination by a licensed vet for its horses, and the AAEP leaves the vaccination programme to a vet. For FEI horses the vet also signs and stamps the passport entry.