Vaccinations for horses serve as preventive healthcare and protect against possible diseases and their spread. Depending on what you want to do with your horse, different vaccinations are recommended and even mandatory for competition horses. All vaccinations are correctly documented by your veterinarian in the equine passport.
The immune system is a defense mechanism that our horses have just like us humans. It attacks and eliminates pathogens with the help of defense cells. This is a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, there is the innate (non-specific) immune system, which serves as the first line of defense against pathogens, and on the other hand, there is the acquired (specific) immune system. The specific immune system uses memory cells to recognize pathogens that have been encountered before, react to them, and thus prevent the onset of disease. This is precisely the principle that is exploited in vaccination.
The vaccine introduces weakened pathogens, dead pathogens, or even just individual fragments of the pathogen (=antigens) of a specific disease into your horse. The immune system reacts to these antigens by producing antibodies and also develops protection that lasts for varying lengths of time, known as "artificial" immunity. If a virus spreads in a stable, the vaccinated horse's preprogrammed immune system can react quickly. It fights off the pathogens it already knows, preventing the disease from breaking out or at least ensuring that it takes a milder course.
As a general rule, a horse must be healthy when it receives a vaccination. If the immune system is already severely weakened or fighting an infection, it should not be burdened with a vaccination. Therefore, every vaccination must be preceded by a general examination by a veterinarian.
If possible, no other medications should be administered at the same time as the vaccination. This is particularly important with regard to deworming (see relevant article). Deworming should be carried out approximately 14 days before your horse is vaccinated. Long-term medication, such as that given to Cushing's patients, should of course be continued, as the organism is accustomed to this preparation and needs it on a permanent basis.
To ensure that the memory cells can do their job properly and the immune system responds accordingly, the horse is first given a basic immunization. This is necessary for reliable vaccine protection. This is followed by regular booster vaccinations as a reminder.
The basic immunization consists of two vaccine doses given four to six weeks apart. A third vaccination after six to seven months (influenza and herpes) or twelve to 14 months (tetanus) completes the basic immunization. The exact vaccination intervals are specified by the vaccine manufacturers. All further vaccinations are referred to as booster vaccinations. The interval between regular booster vaccinations varies depending on the type of vaccine and the use of the horse, ranging from six months (herpes and influenza for competition horses) to two to three years (tetanus).
The Standing Committee on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine (StIKo Vet), a panel of experts, regularly publishes new guidelines on horse vaccination in Germany. These guidelines are not legally binding, but serve as a decision-making aid for veterinary practices.
According to the latest scientific findings, vaccinations against the following infectious diseases are recommended for all horses at all times:
Important for competition horses: The FN (German Equestrian Federation) and FEI (International Equestrian Federation) require a semi-annual influenza vaccination. In order to compete in FEI competitions, all influenza vaccinations must be carried out by veterinarians registered with the FEI and entered into the FEI HorseApp since February 3, 2025.
In addition to the vaccinations mentioned above, you can have your horse vaccinated against strangles, rabies, skin fungus, or the West Nile virus (see corresponding articles). However, horses only need to be protected against these diseases under certain conditions. Your veterinarian can advise you on the possible need for additional vaccinations.
In recent years, for example, West Nile infections have become increasingly common in parts of Germany. StIKo Vet therefore recommends vaccinating horses in these areas against the West Nile virus. The basic immunization and subsequent annual booster vaccination should be carried out before the start of the mosquito season.
Special attention should be paid to the first vaccination of foals. The immune cells of the vaccinated mare are passed on to the foal via the milk. A vaccination of the foal is only effective once the level of maternal immune cells in the foal's blood has dropped again. The first vaccination should therefore not be given before the foal is five months old.
Your vet can send you a personalized vaccination schedule for your horse via petsXL. You will then automatically receive notifications when it is time to make another appointment.
Since a vaccination is a medicine, undesirable side effects are possible. However, today's vaccines are so well developed and tested that the number of side effects in the vast majority of vaccinated horses is negligible.
Fatigue and exhaustion after vaccination are not uncommon. After all, our horse's immune system has to work at full capacity. A slight increase in body temperature may also occur.
Possible local changes include swelling and muscle hardening at the injection site. In rare cases, this swelling can become inflamed and lead to abscess formation. In such serious cases, please always contact your veterinarian.
After your horse has been vaccinated, you should rest it for one to three days. As its immune system is now busy, you should keep your horse as stress-free as possible. Light riding at a walk, grazing, a walk—your horse can be exercised in a way that is appropriate for the external conditions.
Summer eczema is a recurring allergic skin disease in horses that manifests itself in severe itching and hairless, open patches of skin. The disease can occur in horses of all breeds, although Icelandic horses, Norwegian horses, Shetland ponies, and Haflingers are significantly more commonly affected, while warmbloods tend to be affected less frequently.
Corneal ulcer, also known as corneal ulceration, is one of the most common eye diseases in horses. It is not a growth, but rather a tissue defect that does not heal chronically and can vary in severity. The treatment of a corneal ulcer can be very frustrating, and untreated or incorrectly treated corneal ulcers can lead to serious visual impairment or even loss of the eye.
Twice a year, our horses have a strenuous job to do: when they shed their coats, they need to perform at their best because their metabolism is working overtime. Some older or sick horses struggle with this. As a horse owner, you can help your horse get through the coat change more relaxed.
Dummkoller, formerly known as star gazer disease, is an incurable brain disease characteristic of horses, which fortunately is rarely seen today. Until 2002, this disease, which severely impairs consciousness, was one of the main defects that allowed a horse to be returned within 14 days of purchase.
Bitless riding simply means riding without a bit in the horse's mouth. There are many different reasons and just as many ways to ride a horse without a bit. Of course, there are always disadvantages as well as advantages. Think about which bitless bridle suits you, your horse, and your riding style in advance. And finally, practice makes perfect.
Sebadenitis is a progressive inflammatory change in the sebaceous glands of the skin in dogs and cats, which ultimately leads to their irreversible destruction. The disease was first described in dogs in 1986.
Taking in a foal and choosing the long road to happiness on horseback is a real adventure! It is an opportunity to form a bond that can mature over many years and to watch a foal grow into a horse. But it also requires commitment on your part.
Doesn't every rider dream of an unforgettable ride on their four-legged favorite? Whether over hill and dale, along the coast, or simply from place to place. The feeling of sitting relaxed on your horse with the wind in your hair is amazing. Exploring nature together, perhaps racing neck and neck in a riding group or bravely riding into a lake to swim – you probably have all these images and stories of wonderful riding trips with happy horse-rider pairs in your head right now. We all know that it's not always sunshine and roses on four hooves and that some riders work up quite a sweat when riding through unfamiliar terrain. But with a little preparation and a few precautions, you can create the right conditions for returning from your ride full of enthusiasm and wonderful memories.
As a general rule, every dog needs a certain amount of grooming, some more than others. For some dogs, it is even worth taking them to a professional groomer. As a dog owner, you can also do some grooming yourself at home.
Almost all of us are familiar with asthma in humans. But chronic respiratory diseases are also becoming increasingly common among our horses. Over the past few years, various terms have been established to describe a similar complex of diseases. In English-speaking countries, the umbrella term "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" (COPD) was used for a long time, as it was assumed that the changes affected not only the bronchi but the entire lungs. In German, the term "chronische obstruktive Bronchitis" (COB) was mostly used. Although these terms are still often used today, in veterinary medicine for horses, a distinction is now only made between "RAO: Recurrent Airway Obstruction" and "IAO: Inflammatory Airway Disease." The central component of all terms is always the obstruction or narrowing of the small bronchi, which leads to breathing difficulties and coughing. The precursor to these chronic diseases is usually acute bronchitis.
This rapidly progressing muscle disease, also known as grass disease, has only been known since the beginning of the last century and is feared by horse owners because most of the horses affected die from it and the causes were unclear for a long time. It primarily affects young, well-fed horses that graze on rather unkempt, nutrient-poor pastures.
Heart disease is also relatively common in our four-legged friends, affecting almost one in ten dogs. Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood into the circulatory system, meaning that the body is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen.
