>>> What vaccinations do you give and how often?
It depends on the age of the horse, and what illnesses are in my area at the time. For instance, we gave Potomac Horse Fever for a few years, many years ago, because a horse not too far away had it. No other horses came down with it, so he probably got it while away at a show. We haven't given it in years now, but I'd consider it if there was a reason. I give WNV, EEE, WEE and tetanus regularly; WEE and EEE once a year, and WNV twice a year, since the vet feels that's appropriate for the length of our mosquito season. A also give rabies annually. I suspect that's more often than necessary, but rabies is the oldest and safest vaccine known, and if you skip it, the possibilities are unbearable - theoretically, they COULD make you put unvaccinated horses down if they were exposed to a known rabid animal. At minimum, they'd have to be quarantined for something like 7-12 months. When Svertla was quarantined, it was barely an inconvenience, since she alone was affected. All of my others were vaccinated, so they could move about freely, to shows, clinics, trail rides, whatever we chose. I also give the babies their shots per the vet's instructions. That means they get flu and rhino too - and probably something else that I'm forgetting this early in the am. I like to make sure they get a baseline immunity for life. Karen Thomas, NC
