• This article has been edited and approved by Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.

Equine flu, as equine influenza is commonly known, is caused by various strains of the influenza virus that affect the upper and lower respiratory tract of horses, donkeys and mules. It is a major and economically important cause of acute respiratory disease throughout the world, with the exception of some island nations, such as Iceland and New Zealand. As H&H’s veterinary advisor Karen Coumbe has said, “equine flu rarely kills horses, but it does kill horse events”.

There has been a significant increase in cases of equine flu in the British horse population since 1 April 2026. This has led to tighter biosecurity requirements at horse shows and other places where horses come together. Six-monthly vaccinations are being recommended with horses’ passports now being checked on arrival at many venues. The increase in cases is not inline with the normal pattern, which research published in the Equine Veterinary Journal has shown typically increases in the final quarter of the calendar year.

British Equestrian (BEF) is calling for “horse owners, yard managers and vets to adopt a risk-based approach when moving horses, particularly between premises, events and regions” during this outbreak. The BEF has also stated that France is also seeing heightened equine influenza activity, particularly in the north of the country, so advises using “extreme caution when travelling horses to, from or through there”. This also applies to purchasing horses from France.

• View the latest data from the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance website

Equine flu: Signs | How it spreads | Is it serious? | Diagnosis | Treatment | Prevention | Vaccine schedule | During an outbreak

What are the signs of equine flu?

• A very high temperature of 39-41C (103-106F) which lasts for one to three days
• A frequent harsh, dry cough that can last for several weeks
• A clear, watery nasal discharge that may become thick and yellow or green
• Enlarged glands under the lower jaw
• Clear discharge from the eyes and redness around eyes
• Depression and loss of appetite
• Sometimes filling of the lower limbs, muscle stiffness and other signs such as weight loss

How do horses catch equine flu?

As with the human version, equine flu is very contagious. With an incubation period of one to five days, it spreads rapidly as the virus is released into the atmosphere by infected animals. It is mainly acquired through inhalation of virus from ill animals coughing and spluttering infected respiratory droplets. Indirect spread is also possible via buckets or grooms/handlers/nurses/vets.

Unlike strangles and some other infections, the flu virus does not linger nor survive for long outside the horse, but it can be airborne, blowing over surprisingly long distances, certainly more than 1km.

Once the virus has been inhaled, it invades the lining (epithelium) of the horse’s airway, which becomes inflamed, producing a very sore throat and a nasty cough. This damage causes patches of the membranes lining the airways to ulcerate, which disrupts the clearance of mucus and debris from the airways causing a thick discharge from the horse’s nose. Bacteria then invade the damaged areas leading to further infections.

How serious is equine flu: do I need to call the vet?

If your horse shows a raised temperature and/or any signs of equine influenza, strict hygiene and isolation procedures should be adhered to immediately and you should contact your vet.

Horses that have been in contact with an affected animal should be carefully monitored and should not attend shows or external clinics or training.

It is recommended that horses on a stable yard with an outbreak of equine flu do not leave the premises while the outbreak is ongoing.

Diagnosis of equine flu

An accurate diagnosis of equine flu can be made by:

• recognising the clinical signs and the history of rapid spread between horses
• isolation of the virus through nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs
• rising antibody levels in blood (serum) samples taken early in the course of the disease and two to three weeks later
• history of recent contact with a confirmed case of the disease

Vaccinated horses may still show signs, but these are usually much milder than those seen in unvaccinated horses.

Equine flu treatment

Basic nursing is key when treating a horse with the virus. Good stable ventilation and dust-free management is essential. Exposure to dust should be minimised, as horses with respiratory infections are more susceptible to airway irritation. It is best to switch to dust-free bedding and feed soaked hay, or better still haylage, from the floor.

If weather permits and risks to other animals are manageable, then affected horses benefit from being turned out for at least part of the day once their temperatures have returned to normal. This is especially important in the recovery stages. At the same time infected horses should be isolated.

Antibiotics have no effect against a virus, but can be useful to control secondary bacterial invasion. This is a risk in foals or elderly or otherwise unwell animals, which can succumb to fatal pneumonia. Medications to help breathing can prove beneficial.

How long does equine flu last?

Horses that catch equine flu typically start to show signs around one to five days after exposure and it may take three to six weeks before the signs pass, assuming they are receive appropriate care.

Horses with a respiratory infection should be given complete rest and not restart any strenuous exercise until at least three to four weeks after the signs have gone.

How to prevent flu in horses

Flu is difficult to control, especially in equine that are frequently transported and mixed extensively, so regular vaccination of horses is important. Equine flu outbreaks are most common when young susceptible horses are brought together at sales and shows, or for weaning and training.

Surprisingly low numbers of the UK’s horse population are vaccinated, despite the fact that vaccination is the preferred method of control and is compulsory when competing under British Horseracing Authority, FEI and affiliated governing bodies’ rules in the UK.

Whenever you attend shows or training outings away from home, you should follow strict biosecurity and hygiene methods such as:

• Do not allow horses to touch or sniff other horses
• Riders/grooms should only handle their own horses and tack
• Do not share buckets or kit with other horses/riders
• Avoid using on-site water facilities. If this is impossible, avoid placing the hose into the bucket and sanitise your hands before carrying the bucket to the horse
• Avoid hand grazing your horse at a venue
• Ensure show stables have been disinfected before and after use and all bedding removed and replaced with fresh
• Horse’s temperature should be taken before travel to an external venue
• Horses returning from external venues should be isolated if possible, with their temperature and their health closely monitored

How often are horses vaccinated for flu?

All British equine sport governing bodies require the minimum of the first two vaccines to have been given prior to attending competition.

The British Horseracing Authority introduced new flu vaccination rules on 1 January 2022 to harmonise with other racing authorities in Europe. The new rules increased the frequency of boosters from 12 months to six months and reduced the time periods between the first and second vaccines from 21-92 days to 21-60 days, and between the second and third vaccines from 150-215 days to 120-180 days.

NB: We recommend all competition riders double check the latest version of the appropriate rulebook to ensure your horse’s vaccinations comply with their governing body’s requirements.

If a horse or pony is competing in one discipline for instance, showjumping but it is attending an event at a venue, such as a racecourse, it will be required to comply with the vaccination requirements under the rules of racing, which means it must have been vaccinated within six month, but not in the previous seven days.

The British Horseracing Authority has stated that, from Wednesday 20 May 2026, only horses from licensed training yards will be allowed to enter racecourses on racedays. This means all scheduled hunter chases from 20 May have been called off and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) parades are cancelled. Racecourses are also increasing the period of time between hosting an equine event involving horses from unlicensed premises and a licensed raceday to six clear days (from three).

The vaccination record(s) in the horse’s passport, must be completed, signed and stamped line by line, by an appropriate veterinary surgeon (who is neither the owner nor the rider of the horse). The responsibility to comply with this rule lies with the owner, who should consult with their vet.

From 1 January 2026, for horses competing under FEI rules, flu vaccinations must be recorded digitally in the FEI HorseApp, as well as in the horse’s passport. Vets must enter the vaccination details on the day it is administered. There is a transition period running until 30 June 2026 during which no sanctions will be issued, but from 1 July 2026 missing or incorrect digital records may result in fines for the person responsible (this is usually the horse’s rider).

What to do during an equine flu outbreak?

If flu occurs locally, it may be advisable to give a booster vaccination to any healthy horse that has not been vaccinated in the previous six months. Consult your vet for advice.

The BEF explains that “frequent boosters ensure antibody levels remain high, which is essential for reducing both the severity of the disease and risk of the virus shedding within the wider equine population”.

You may wish to limit the situations where you expose your horse to others by reducing the competitions and training outings you attend, or choose only to visit venues that actively check the vaccination status of equines in attendance and require six-monthly boosters.

Can humans catch equine flu?

The equine influenza virus is similar to the flu virus that affects people, but is not identical, so horses cannot catch human influenza or vice versa.

References and further reading

What happened after the epidemic? Equine influenza surveillance sheds light on sources and seasonal risk in the United Kingdom Equine Veterinary Journal, 5 March 2026 

British Dressage’s equine influenza update, British Dressage website, 20 May 2026

British Showjumping’s equine influenza update, British Showjumping website, 21 May 2026

British Eventing’s equine influenza update, British Eventing website, 21 May 2026

Call for increased vigilance as number of reported equine influenza outbreaks in UK continues to rise, British Equestrian website, 12 May 2026

Annual booster vaccination and the risk of equine influenza to Thoroughbred racehorses Equine veterinary journal, 21 November 2019

British Horseracing Authority: amendments to the vaccines code, October 2021

British Riding Clubs Important Flu Vaccination Update, 21 October 2022

British Eventing vaccination update, British Eventing Facebook page, 15 December 2025

Mandatory registration of equine influenza vaccination details in the FEI HorseApp, FEI website, 12 Dec 2025

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

• This article has been edited and approved by Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.

If you aren’t sure about what vaccinations your horse needs, when they should be given and how often, then Horse & Hound’s definitive guide contains everything you need to know

There are a number of vaccinations for horses available to help protect your horse’s health. These include equine flu, tetanus, equine herpes virus (EHV) and equine rotavirus and strangles. Unfortunately a 2019 field trial of a vaccine to protect against grass sickness proved inconclusive.

Vaccinations for horses: Equine flu | Tetanus | Strangles | Equine herpes virus | Equine rotavirus | Reactions | Vet’s view

Only healthy horses should be vaccinated. If your horse is showing any signs of being unwell, discuss this with your vet prior to any vaccine being given. It is recommended that a horse is given a couple of quiet days after being vaccinated, with only light work and turnout. A horse should not be worked hard or made to sweat as they may be feeling below par or a little sore at the site of the injection.

A small percentage of horses experience a reaction after being vaccinated. If your horse appears unwell then speak to your vet for advice. If your horse has previously had a reaction then discuss it with the vet prior to any future vaccinations being given.

All vaccination records should be kept up to date in the horse’s passport document.

What vaccinations does a horse need?

The most common vaccinations given to horses in the UK are for equine flu and tetanus. Equine flu vaccination is compulsory for horses competing in affiliated competitions and is recommended for all horses. Breeding stock should also be vaccinated for equine herpes virus.

How often does a horse need vaccinations?

Most governing bodies of equestrian sports require annual equine flu vaccinations after the initial course is completed. The FEI requires more frequent boosters. It is advised that owners of leisure horses also arrange yearly boosters.

Vaccines against tetanus are typically given to horses every other year.

The primary vaccination course for equine herpes virus in non-pregnant horses involves two vaccinations four to six weeks apart, followed by booster vaccines every six months. Pregnant mares are typically vaccinated at five, seven and nine months of gestation to reduce the risk of abortion associated with EHV.

Why you should vaccinate your horse?

“Equine vaccinations are important to prevent your horse from contracting nasty diseases, particularly contagious diseases such as equine flu,” explains Wolverhampton vet Sue Taylor.

“Horse owners often say that their horse doesn’t go anywhere and so doesn’t need to be vaccinated, but if your horse is on a stable yard alongside horses who do compete, there is a chance that those competition horses could bring back a virus.

“Herd immunity is a concept that owners should be aware of too. If there is a yard full of vaccinated horses, it provides a kind of ‘wall’ to flu and other viruses. It can’t pass on very successfully as vaccinated horses limit the amount of virus that is shed. Whereas if your horse is unvaccinated, they’ll catch it and snot virulent virus all over the place, making it more likely to be caught by other horses — even vaccinated horses can present with mild signs. The higher the vaccination percentage in the overall population, the less opportunities there are to infect horses.

“Also, owners of competition horses should be aware that an up-to-date vaccination record is a requirement of many sporting governing bodies for horses competing under their rules.”

Equine flu (influenza) vaccination for horses

What is equine flu?

Influenza is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system resulting in a high fever, runny nose and coughing. Though rarely fatal, it can be a very debilitating disease that can take a considerable amount of time for horses to recover from. A major outbreak occurred in the UK during 2019 mainly affected unvaccinated animals, although some vaccinated horses also showed clinical signs.

Which horses need a flu vaccination?

Every horse should be vaccinated against equine flu. It is a requirement for competition horses to have up-to-date protection under the rules of most governing bodies.

Equine flu vaccination schedule

The first one is typically given around five months old, second one about four weeks later (21-60 days), then again around six months (120-180 days), followed by an annual booster. If you miss the window for these vaccinations or an annual booster, you will likely have to start the course again to comply with affiliated competition rules (check the rules of your governing body).

British Dressage, British Showjumping, British Eventing and British Riding Clubs require annual boosters. Horses competing under FEI rules must have been vaccinated within six months, plus up to 21 days, of a competition, but cannot have been vaccinated within seven days of arriving at a competition venue.

The flu vaccine is the only one that the FEI insists all horses taking part in international competitions have. From 1 January 2026, flu vaccinations must be recorded digitally in the FEI HorseApp, as well as in the horse’s passport. Vets must enter the vaccination details on the day it is administered. There is a transition period running until 30 June 2026 during which no sanctions will be issued, but from 1 July 2026 missing or incorrect digital records may result in fines.

The British Horseracing Authority’s windows between the first, second and third vaccines are 21-60 days, then 120-180 days, followed by six monthly boosters. In all cases, horses should not attend competitions within seven days of receiving a vaccine.

Other relevant info

Only healthy horses should be vaccinated for flu. If your horse has a temperature, cough or is unwell in any way, make your vet aware before he vaccinates your horse with flu, as the vaccine could make him more ill.

Tetanus vaccination for horses

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by the production of endotoxins by the bacteria Clostridium tetani and is often fatal in horses. The spores of the bacteria are found in soil and enters the tissues via wounds. Deep puncture wounds are particularly dangerous as they provide an ideal site for infection.

Which horses need the tetanus vaccination?

Every horse is susceptible to tetanus due to the nature of the disease.

Tetanus vaccination schedule

A primary course of two vaccinations given four to six weeks apart, followed by a booster 12 months later. Subsequent vaccinations can be given at two yearly intervals. Foals will receive antibodies from their mother’s colostrum, but many are also given tetanus anti-toxin shortly after birth too.

Vaccination for tetanus is usually started at five months old and is often given as a combination vaccine with equine flu.

Other relevant info

You can get lumps or unwell horses occasionally after vaccination, but it is usually from a combined flu/tetanus vaccination rather than a sole tetanus injection.

Equine herpes virus (EHV) vaccination for horses

What is equine herpes virus?

There are five types of equine herpes virus, but EHV-1 and EHV-4 are the most clinically important and they are the only types that can be vaccinated against. EHV-1 and EHV-4 can cause a flu-like respiratory infection in horses, but may also cause abortion in pregnant mares and severe neurological disease. The effectiveness of the EHV vaccine against the neurological form of the disease is unclear.

Which horses need an EHV vaccine?

Any horse can have the herpes vaccine, but it is particularly important for breeding mares — many big studs will insist a mare is vaccinated before being allowed to foal there.

EHV vaccination schedule

The first vaccine can be given at five months old with the second vaccine at four to six weeks later, followed by a booster every six months. To provide effective immunity against abortion caused by EHV-1 and EHV-4 a course of three vaccinations should be given to a mare during her fifth, seventh and ninth months of pregnancy.

Other relevant info

There is a lot of virus shed in the aborted foetus’s fluid so surrounding mares can potentially catch the disease from breathing in the virus. The vaccine doesn’t always prevent the mare from aborting, but it can limit the amount of the virus that she passes when giving birth.

Equine rotavirus vaccination for horses

Pregnant mares are vaccinated against equine rotavirus to protect their foals from suffering diarrhoea or illness caused by the virus. Vaccines are given in the eighth, ninth, and 10th months of pregnancy in order that the antibodies can be transferred to the foal via the mare’s colostrum (first milk). Please contact your vet for more information.

New strangles vaccine

In 2004, a strangles vaccine called Equilis StrepE was launched, but unfortunately, three years later, it was withdrawn due to “quality control issues”.

Over a decade later, and a new protein-based strangles vaccine Strangvac has been developed by a group of scientists from the Animal Health Trust (AHT), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Karolinska Institute and Intervacc AB, to prevent equines from contracting the highly contagious disease.

Trials were carried out on 16 horses, 13 of which were protected from strangles after being given the vaccine, and none showed signs of adverse reactions. The vaccine was made available to vets in the UK in 2022.

Strangles is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi, which causes large pus-filled abscesses in a horse’s throat and neck. An estimated 600 outbreaks of strangles occur each year in the UK alone, so the development of the new vaccine will benefit horse health world-wide. Please contact your vet for more information.

Reactions to vaccines

“Some horses can have a reaction to their vaccination,” says Sue Taylor. “In some cases it is the injection itself that causes the reaction, not the vaccine. Vets shouldn’t swab the area of the vaccine injection because there is a risk that the antiseptic can deactivate the virus. If you have a very dirty horse, there is the risk that the needle will take bacteria in with it, causing an infection and abscess.

“I usually inject vaccines into the brisket (chest) which is often a cleaner part of the horse and if they do react, it drains well. A lot of people inject in the neck but if the horse reacts, it is a difficult area for the fluid to drain from, and the horse can find it difficult to put its neck down to eat and drink, and certainly can’t be ridden.

“If you have a very hairy horse, it might be advisable to clip a patch of hair with clippers or scissors to minimise the risk of dirt being taken in with the needle, or ensure the horse is clean in the area he is being injected.

“If they have a history of reactions, speak to your vet about placing the injection in his chest, and discuss the vaccine itself. In some cases, it is the carrier of the vaccine that causes a reaction, although this is much less likely now with modern vaccine technology. If you know that your horse is prone to reacting to a certain vaccine, tell your vet so that he can organise an alternative next time.”

Additional reporting by Stephanie Bateman

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

Equine flu: what horse owners need to know during the current outbreak in Britain

Equine herpes virus – all you need to know right now

Strangles: what is it, how to spot the signs, plus a new vaccine to help protect your horse

Tetanus in horses: what every owner needs to know

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Horses and ponies competing in British Eventing (BE) national competitions next year will no longer need to have a six-monthly flu vaccination, as the organisation moves back to annual boosters.

On 15 December BE announced that six-monthly vaccinations would no longer be required from 1 January 2026. The move brings BE in line with other British governing bodies including British Showjumping (BS), British Dressage (BD) and British Riding Clubs, which all require 12-month boosters.

“The decision to move to annual vaccinations for national competitions followed careful discussion with our owners and riders, alongside guidance from our veterinary team,” BE chief executive Rosie Williams told H&H.

“We also reviewed approaches taken by other governing bodies, including BD and BS, to ensure our rules remain appropriate, consistent and evidence-led. Horse welfare remains at the heart of everything we do, and this change reflects a balanced approach that supports both equine health and our members.”

The 2026 eventing season begins on the weekend of 7-8 March at Poplar Park. BE members have been reminded that regular vaccination checks will take place at events, and sanctions may apply if vaccination records are not compliant.

“Please ensure your horse’s vaccination record is up to date before competing,” said a BE spokesperson.

For those competing in international competitions and/or stabling in FEI stables, six-monthly vaccinations still apply under FEI rules; a booster must have been given no more than six months and 21 days prior to competing. A vaccination should not have been given within seven days of the competition or entry into FEI stables.

In February 2019 BE was among the governing bodies to implement six-monthly vaccinations during a major UK equine flu outbreak which led to the cancellation of some competitions and racing fixtures. At the time the Animal Health Trust reported a new strain of flu had caused the outbreak, which continued to cause problems throughout the year.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Equine flu: what horse owners need to know during the current outbreak in Britain

Horse & Hound’s definitive guide to equine vaccinations

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

• This article has been edited and approved by Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.

Tetanus in horses is a bacterial infection, where the toxins produced attack the horse’s nervous system. The condition is also known as lockjaw because as the disease progresses, the mouth clamps shut so the animal cannot eat or drink. It is usually fatal. Once a horse is recumbent because of the disease, it is reported that almost 80% of these cases will die. Certainly, it is a far easier disease to prevent by vaccination than it to treat.

At least three different types of deadly toxins are released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani to cause tetanus. Spores of this bacterium are widespread and can be found in dust, manure and soil. These spores enter a wound and given the appropriate conditions, they will germinate into bacteria.

Perhaps surprisingly, a large, cleanish cut is a lower tetanus risk than a small puncture wound. The biggest danger is a deep, festering wound with dead tissue and pus, which is not exposed to fresh air.

Horses and ponies are the most susceptible domestic animal to tetanus. They are readily exposed to the spores while grazing and their predilection for wounds such as lacerations and punctures make them prime candidates for acquiring tetanus.

Tetanus in horses: Signs | Diagnosis | Treatment | Prevention

High-risk situations that are most likely to lead to a horse suffering from a tetanus infection include:

• Puncture wounds contaminated with soil, e.g. kicks
• Stake wounds, because they are often deep and heavily contaminated
• Umbilical infections in the foal
• Castration wounds
• Infections at foaling

Once the tetanus infection takes hold, the deadly toxins migrate along the peripheral nerves to the brain affecting the nervous system.

The incubation period depends on the distance the toxins have to travel from the wound to the brain and ranges from three days to several weeks. The clinical signs usually become apparent within one to two weeks. The shorter the incubation period, the more serious the tetanus infection is. Tetanus is not contagious, so it cannot be passed between horses or between horses and humans. However, the bacteria can infect humans directly.

Signs of tetanus in horses

The signs of this distressing disease are characterised by extreme sensitivity to stimuli, increasing stiffness and muscle spasms.

Early signs of tetanus include:

• Abnormal sensitivity to sound or touch
• A stiff gait
• Prolapse of the third eyelid, which may cover half the eye
• Very rigid ears that stick up
• The top of the tail sticks out
• A worried expression, with retraction of the eyelids and flared nostrils due to muscle spasm
• Inability to open the mouth due to spasm of the masseter (powerful chewing) muscles
• Regurgitation of food and water from the nostrils and drooling of saliva from the mouth as swallowing becomes more difficult
• Partially chewed hay may be held in the mouth
• Colic

As the disease progresses, increasingly distressing muscle spasms and convulsions can be seen. These eventually lead to death from respiratory failure and dehydration.

How is tetanus diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made on the history and the clinical signs. Sometimes additional conditions such as colic, pneumonia and laminitis can confuse the picture, but it is frequently all too obvious, with a visible dirty wound on an unvaccinated animal.

How do you treat tetanus in horses?

If you see any signs that point towards tetanus, call your vet straight away. Cases that are caught early will have the best chance of survival. Intensive and expensive treatment including large doses of tetanus antitoxin along with antibiotics, sedatives and muscle relaxants will be required (see tetanus case study). If a tetanus case is unable to stand, it is kindest for the horse to be euthanised, since the chance of recovery is remote.

Prevention of tetanus in horses

Tetanus can be easily prevented by a safe, effective and inexpensive equine vaccination that is readily available. Make sure all your horses and ponies are vaccinated following your vet’s advice. Humans should also be vaccinated.

The primary vaccination course of tetanus toxoid includes two doses given four to six weeks apart. Regular boosters are given thereafter. The exact schedule may vary slightly according to the recommendations of different vaccine manufacturers and whether it is combined with vaccination against equine influenza. Your vet can advise you.

Booster vaccinations in horses are usually administered only every two or three years, whereas most people only need booster immunisations every 10 years or even longer. Tetanus is more common in certain areas of the country, where it may be advisable to have more regular boosters.

Vaccinated pregnant mares should have a tetanus toxoid booster four to six weeks prior to foaling. This ensures the foal receives maximum protection from the antibodies in the colostrum (first milk). Foals usually begin their vaccination programme at approximately four months. Foals of unvaccinated mares or those who do not receive adequate colostrum for any reason should be given tetanus antitoxin at birth.

Horses who are unvaccinated or are of doubtful vaccination status should be given tetanus antitoxin if they have a wound or require surgery, although this antitoxin which provided rapid protection is more costly. A vaccination programme should be started straight away, as well as administering the antitoxin that provides immediate temporary protection for three to four weeks. Tetanus vaccinations should be recorded in the horse’s passport.

References:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1994.tb03210.x – Tetanus in the horse: a review of 20 cases (1970 to 1990).

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) is pushing for animal vaccination to be a post-pandemic priority as part of its inoculation campaign.

The #VaccinesWork campaign was launched today (20 April), to tie in with World Animal Vaccination Day.

The campaign focuses on the importance of innovation to produce new vaccines and education on how the animal industry and owners can work together to improve the uptake of those already available to protect UK animals.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the importance of vaccination in helping to protect us from disease and to reduce the transmission of infection,” said NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard.

“It has shown how industry can work alongside others to address threats from emerging diseases – it has undoubtedly helped improve public understanding of the importance of vaccination.

“Our industry can respond to emerging animal diseases, helping slow or even halt their transmission, including through the development of new, innovative vaccines.”

She said a forthcoming review of the UK veterinary regulatory process this year is an opportunity to ensure the country “can incentivise innovation, product research and development, including for novel vaccines”.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Horse & Hound’s definitive guide to equine vaccinations

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Should I vaccinate my horse against EHV right now? H&H finds out…

Following concerns raised on social media, H&H sought guidance from the British Equine Veterinary Association on whether owners should be

“But we already have access to a wide range of vaccines to tackle existing endemic diseases, for both farm animals and pets,” she added.

“Vaccines have already changed the face of disease prevention like no other discovery. Despite people’s awareness of benefits, not every animal is protected, and we will be working to help increase the number of animals that are, to improve their welfare and quality of life.

“As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, it is right that animal vaccination should be a priority in the UK and globally. Because after all, #VaccinesWork.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In April 2020, Dr Wijnendaele discovered a Belgian horse’s passport contained his name and stamp, although he had left Belgium in 2005. H&H finds out the facts of the FEI Tribunal case involving a leading figure in endurance

A SENIOR figure in endurance who falsified horse passports has been suspended for 20 months.

The FEI Tribunal found Pierre Arnould, former Belgian endurance national team leader and member of the FEI endurance committee, used FEI vet Peter Wijnendaele’s old stamp and added a forged signature to four horses’ FEI passports; “undoubtedly amounting” to fraud and bringing the FEI and/or equestrian sport into disrepute.

In April 2020, Dr Wijnendaele discovered a Belgian horse’s passport contained his name and stamp, although he had left Belgium in 2005. He found further instances of his stamp being used, and informed the FEI. In October 2020 Arnould was told of FEI disciplinary proceedings relating to four endurance horses.

The FEI’s case was that the horses were trained by Arnould and in his care at the time of the vaccinations, which were validated by the same stamp and signature, and the passports did not contain vial labels. The FEI said Arnould’s conduct was “very serious”, breaching important FEI rules. Dr Wijnendaele told the FEI he recognised the writing in the four cases as Arnould’s.

One of the horses, Sonschein, participated in four international competitions, including the 2018 World Equestrian Games, with a passport vaccination entry of 21 April. Arnould said, as with many horses in his stable, this horse would “in general” be vaccinated by vet Stefan Midgen – but would not stay long since the arrangement was to return the horse to its owner for rest periods. He said this horse was vaccinated as it competed and nobody “raised any issue” in relation to the vaccinations.

The FEI stated the passports were “unlikely” to be the only ones falsified, and the organisation had evidence of further cases. The FEI said failure to vaccinate is an offence for “obvious health and biosecurity reasons”, adding that forging passports also risked undermining the credibility of FEI procedures.

Arnould said Dr Wijnendaele “voluntarily” gave him the stamp in the presence of witnesses, and told him that “in case he needed to arrange a vaccination passport, the stamp could help him”. Arnould added this could not be considered fraud as he had Dr Wijnendaele’s permission to use it and added because the horses were vaccinated, there was no mistreatment of them. He testified he used the stamp in December 2012 “five or six times”, told Dr Wijnendaele via telephone beforehand, and the stamp was used for “convenience or emergency”. Arnould confirmed when he used the stamp, the horses were duly vaccinated. Dr Wijnendaele said he had never given any stamps to Arnould and had not given anyone permission to use his stamps.

One of Arnould’s four witnesses, Dr Midgen, confirmed he performs vaccinations at Arnould’s stable. He said he does not keep records of horses he has vaccinated and had no recollection, for example of having vaccinated one of the horses in the case, but said its name was familiar to him. Dr Midgen said whenever he vaccinates, he checks the passport, sticks the vial label in, dates and signs it.

Arnould submitted he had never been subject to any sanction during his equestrian career. He was a member of the FEI endurance task force from 2007 to 2009, and in 2020 was put forward by the Belgian national federation for the FEI endurance committee chair position. He argued the case against him was “driven by people motivated by jealousy of his achievements”.

The Tribunal said Arnould is not a vet, so had no legitimate use for the stamp and there was no other credible explanation than the passport entries were made by Arnould to fraudulently claim the horses had received vaccinations from an FEI vet. The panel considered Arnould’s involvement as a leader and official in the sport, and that he is held in high regard by the Belgian national federation. He was suspended for 20 months and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,917) and must pay 7,000 francs (£5,485) toward FEI legal costs.

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A study into a new vaccination against strangles provides positive evidence, while separate research looks into the efficacy of a certain type of strangles testing. H&H looks at the research and gets the experts’ views.

A new strangles vaccine offers fresh hope of better protecting horses from the disease.

A study into the effectiveness of Strangvac, published in the peer-reviewed journal Vaccine, found “strong evidence” in support of the intramuscular vaccination.

The research team was made up of experts from the Animal Health Trust, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Karolinska Institutet and biotechnology company Intervacc, which develops vaccines.

They concluded the vaccine is a “valuable tool with which to protect horses from strangles, particularly during high-risk periods, while maintaining the mobility of horse populations as required by the global equine industry”.

They found it was “safe, immunogenic and effective” and did not cross-react with ELISA testing, which identifies horses that have been exposed to the disease, so it was possible to differentiate those from vaccinated animals.

The researchers added it is “particularly noteworthy” that immune memory cells persist over “at least a year, justifying a booster at any time during this period, in previously primed horses, at a situation where the risk of exposure is enhanced”.

David Rendle, a member of the British Equine Veterinary Association’s health and medicines committee, told H&H any progress in tackling the disease is welcome.

“The bacteria that causes strangles, Streptococcus equi, does not survive for long outside the horse and, unlike some other infections such as flu, or even coronavirus in people, it is an infection that could be relatively easily controlled if infected horses were all treated effectively and prevented from mixing until infection had been eliminated,” he said.

“Regrettably, not everyone is prepared to follow the appropriate steps for identifying and eliminating infection and carrier horses circulate in the equine population, spreading infection.

“A vaccine that provided robust and sustained immunity would be an invaluable tool in the control of strangles, which would not only enable responsible horse owners to protect their own horses from the severe forms of the disease, but would also help to reduce the risk of onward transmission to other horses.

“Further work needs to be done with this vaccine as other strangles vaccines in the past have shown initial promise and have then been disappointing when used in the field. If this vaccine is effective then it could be a significant step forward in tackling this horrible disease.”

Nic de Brauwere, head of welfare and behaviour at charity Redwings, which has a long-running strangles campaign, told H&H they feel it will be a “huge asset” to help combat the disease, alongside enhanced biosecurity practices and testing.

“Vaccination will also make it possible for owners to help protect their horses and continue with activities that involve travel or mixing with unfamiliar horses at events where other owners may not be as cautious about reducing the risk of strangles,” he said.

“The ability to restore a horse’s optimal immunity after a booster, within the 12-month window, should also give owners confidence that they can protect their horses in high risk situations at shorter notice than for example is possible with the equine influenza vaccine.”

Blood test questions raised

A separate study, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, advised caution over relying on the use of certain blood (serological) tests for strangles antibodies.

The research by Andy Durham and Jeremy Kemp-Symonds found limitations in serological testing for certain antibodies in order to discount the possibility of a horse being a chronic carrier of the bacteria in his guttural pouch.

Mr de Brauwere told H&H the study is a “valuable reminder of the complexity of strangles” and raises further questions.

“In our experience, blood tests have been enormously helpful in narrowing down the search for carriers,” he said.

“But guttural pouch endoscopy and PCR testing has long been the gold standard for detecting carriers at Redwings, also allowing visual assessment and the treatment of infected pouches, which is what cures horses from being carriers. For blood tests to continue to contribute to screening with confidence, we need further research and development of improved tests.

“For us, the most important way to prevent strangles from spreading is the application of enhanced biosecurity practices, and we would like to see a bigger focus on preventing horses becoming carriers in the first place by scoping and treating all horses recovering from the disease.”

Vet Malcolm Morley told H&H the research is something for owners to be aware of and to speak with their vets about tests and options to come up with an appropriate plan for their yard and new arrivals.

He added that is not to say these blood tests are not useful, but rather there are limitations to be aware of when considering the context of whether it is going to be the appropriate test.

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Equestrian sport’s governing bodies are to look at a “transition period” on six-monthly flu vaccines once the coronavirus pandemic restrictions are lifted, as racing moves to annual boosters.

In a statement today (2 April) the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), in conjunction with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said it has approved a proposal regarding the vaccination schedule for equine flu in competition horses competing under its member bodies.

“The move has been made in order to help riders, owners and vets tackle the significant logistical challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and provide clarity for all,” the statement read.

“All competitive disciplines under the BEF umbrella currently operate a requirement for an annual booster every 12 months after an initial course of two injections and the first booster injection. This will remain the case throughout 2020, which means that any horse who goes beyond its annual renewal date will be required to start again.”

The statement added initial vaccination intervals for primary and booster vaccinations will also remain in place as normal.

“Those member bodies who have rules in place for six-monthly booster injections before competing will look to implement a transition period to allow riders to bring vaccinations up to date, once the current suspension of activity is lifted,” continued the statement.

“This will be communicated to the members of each governing body in due course, when it becomes clearer when competition activity is able to resume.”

The BHA has moved to a 12-month booster vaccination requirement, an increase on nine months, to cover horses racing in the UK for the remainder of 2020.

Interim BEF chief executive Iain Graham said the length of the coronavirus pandemic is unknown, but the BEF wanted to provide those who competed with its member bodies “some clarity” on the organisation’s current position.

“Equine vets are under strict guidance to carry out emergency work only at present – and as booster vaccinations are classified as routine injections, they will not be carried out,” he said.

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“We appreciate some owners will fall outside the required 12-month period and will therefore need to start again, which is unfortunate. However, we cannot allow vaccinations to go beyond 12 months as the efficacy of the vaccine cannot be guaranteed beyond that date.”

Mr Graham added each member body will be outlining its six-monthly booster requirements ahead of competition restarting.

“I’d like to thank our colleagues in BEVA and BHA for their collaboration on this so that much of the equine industry is aligned,” he said.

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Peter Green MRCVS shares news of an encouraging development in the battle against African horse sickness

African horse sickness (AHS) is a serious, often fatal virus disease of horses in the southern hemisphere, which may well spread to Europe as a result of climate change.

The current live vaccine against AHS is not risk-free: it can revert to its dangerous state and it can cause deformities in foals if pregnant mares are vaccinated. In addition, there is currently no way to distinguish between horses infected with the disease and those that have been vaccinated.

However, scientists in South Africa, where AHS is endemic, have been working hard on this problem with the help of tobacco plants and have just reported some encouraging results.

Plants and animals can suffer diseases caused by the same kinds of germs, since both are composed of cells that share many of the same internal structures. This similarity can be used to great advantage when it comes to tackling animal diseases, such as AHS.

The AHS virus itself is not a complicated structure: it has a core of proteins and several layers of protein capsule. These compounds can be separated.

The scientists took just a few of the proteins and introduced them into a well-known and well-studied plant virus before infecting tobacco plants with this virus. They then harvested the tobacco leaves and were able to extract the AHS proteins, which the plant virus had manufactured as it infected the leaves.

The researchers had used proteins from several strains of AHS and were able to bundle all these up together into what they called ‘virus-like particles’. These were purified, made into a vaccine and tested on horses.

The plant-derived vaccine generated a detectable immunity to AHS in the horses and there were no side effects. This is really encouraging because these virus-like particles are dead proteins and so cannot cause disease.

Although the research is in the early stages, using plants to produce a safe animal vaccine is an exciting prospect.

Reference: Plant-produced chimeric virus-like particles – a new generation vaccine against African horse sickness Rutkowska et al. BMC Veterinary Research (2019) 15:432-447

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Following the news of a recent outbreak of equine herpes virus in England, including a case of the neurological form of the disease, here is some useful information for all horse owners

The equine herpes virus has two major strains that cause disease, from the nine that exist: EHV1, which can cause respiratory problems, abortion in pregnant mares and, in rare cases, neurological problems leading to paralysis; and EHV4, which most commonly causes respiratory problems and very occasionally abortion in pregnant mares.

Early signs of the respiratory form of equine herpes include:

• Increased temperature
• Coughing
• Nasal discharge
• Lack of interest in food

Early signs of the neurological form of the virus include:

• A lack of energy
• Wobbly hind limbs
• Being unable to lift the tail
• Slight head tilt

A horse showing these signs should ideally be isolated and a vet should be called. To prevent the spread of the disease, all horses who have come in contact with an equine that may be carrying any infectious disease should remain on the yard until the vet has confirmed diagnosis.

Under the Horserace Betting Levy Board codes of practice it is recommended there is no equine movement in or out of a yard with an outbreak for 28 days from the date the last case was identified.

A horse can carry the equine herpes virus without showing any signs and it is believed that most older horses have been exposed to it at some point. Blood tests taken a couple of weeks apart can be used to see if a horse has recently been exposed to the virus, along with nasal swabs.

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Equine herpes virus vaccinations

There are vaccines currently available that work against both strains of EHV. However, although the vaccines are effective against the respiratory effects of the virus, they are not registered for use against the paralytic form.

The Animal Health Trust has previously advised that only healthy horses be vaccinated, and that horses which might have been exposed to the virus should not be vaccinated during an on-going outbreak of EHV. This is to reduce the chance of a horse, which is currently incubating the virus, receiving the vaccine.

If you are unsure whether or not to vaccinate your horse, then your vet is best placed to advise you.

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A promising vaccine said to work “really well” against strangles is expected in 2020.

Protein-based Strangvac is due to be released in the UK next year following successful trials. 

Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology research at the Animal Health Trust, said the vaccine had taken a long time to develop and while there is “still room for improvement” to get the equine industry to embrace it, it will be a “real help” for people worried about the disease, of which 600 outbreaks are estimated in the UK each year.

“Where the vaccine comes in, is with naïve horses who haven’t had strangles – it reduces the number of horses who become carriers, and then we can gradually make a difference over time,” said Dr Waller. “The catch is the vaccine only has a short duration of two months’ immunity.”

Dr Waller said the vaccine can have an important role at “high risk” events despite the short duration of immunity.

“If your horse is going to a competition, for example, you can vaccinate and it will be protected really well and be much less likely to bring strangles back to the yard which will be really useful,” said Dr Waller. “Although the horse isn’t fully protected for the 10 months after their first course, they should be less susceptible for that period.”

Unlike the current vaccine, equilis strep E – which is not widely used – Strangvac is safe for intramuscular injection and will allow blood tests to differentiate between a vaccinated horse and an infected horse. 

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Dr Waller said it would be possible to “eradicate” the disease in the future if more horses were identified as carriers.

“It’s very easy during an outbreak to say my horse didn’t have strangles and not get it checked out but actually those horses could be the carriers who then trigger the next outbreak. If we were screening horses before they moved around to identify and treat carriers we could knock strangles on the head but it’s not happening and part of the reason for that is it isn’t being recognised as a serious problem,” he said.

“It’s important horses can move around and that’s where vaccination can play a really important role in improving herd immunity and reducing the number of cases we have in the future.”

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Equine vaccination rates in the UK remain dangerously low. It is estimated that fewer than half (approximately 48%) of the 250,000 or so horses based here are adequately protected against the highly contagious equine influenza virus or the frequently fatal tetanus.

Following the recent equine flu outbreak in the racing world, the topic of vaccination has come to the forefront of many horse owners’ minds. Immunisation for both flu and tetanus can cost as little as £50, so why are so many choosing to skip this safe and affordable prevention measure? According to a recent online survey (see box, below), most of the reasons for non-compliance with a national vaccination programme appear to be due to a lack of understanding about disease risk and misconceptions surrounding the vaccines themselves.

Nearly 40% of the 1,649 owners who responded said they chose not to vaccinate because their horses never leave home or come into contact with other horses. But unless you live on a remote island, your horse is in direct contact with other horses — through the movement of people and pets from neighbouring farms, fields and yards.

Equine flu can spread rapidly between unvaccinated individuals, while the virus has the potential to travel up to five kilometres under favourable weather conditions. Even those horses on isolated premises remain at risk.

Tetanus is caused by the spore-forming bacteria Clostridium tetani, which can survive for long periods of time within soil. Unvaccinated horses, ponies and donkeys of all ages and types are therefore vulnerable, even if they never leave the field.

One in five owners expressed concern about the safety of vaccines. In my opinion, this stems from historic, unsubstantiated reports within the field of human vaccines and also from the occasional cases where a horse experiences a reaction. In reality, rates of severe reaction are low: of the several thousand vaccinations given every year at our practice, I can count the affected horses on one hand — with digits to spare.

While it is relatively common to see localised muscular swelling or soreness after vaccination, or transient, self-limiting signs that include fever, anorexia and lethargy, reaction rarely becomes life-threatening.

Some owners believe there is no disease in their area, so choose not to vaccinate. It is true that we rarely hear of outbreaks unless there are widespread health implications, yet few people realise that there is always a low incidence of certain infectious diseases within the UK.

These cases are usually sporadic and are controlled with local veterinary intervention and national monitoring. Even though clinical disease can become an issue, the isolated nature of these outbreaks does create a worrying complacency over the need for routine vaccination.

Diluting the risk

Vaccination protocols set out by vets and governing bodies aim to minimise the risk to individual horses and also the equine population at large.

All horses should be vaccinated in accordance with the vaccine manufacturer’s guidelines. These guidelines do change, however. This is often because governing bodies such as the World Organisation for Animal Health, and monitoring entities such as the Animal Health Trust, modify recommendations in accordance with data collected — not only within the UK, but globally.

It is important to understand that no vaccine is 100% effective. There are different types of vaccine and methods of administration, yet they are all designed to prime the horse’s system to provide some degree of immunity. If a vaccinated horse comes into contact with the pathogen (the bacteria or virus), clinical symptoms will be lessened and the horse is likely to recover with minimal intervention.

Another key point with contagious diseases such as equine flu is the concept of herd immunity. Vaccination of the majority of horses “dilutes” the risk of exposure of unvaccinated individuals to the causal agent of disease — which works in local yard set-ups and at a national level involving the whole UK herd. But herd immunity is only possible when at least 70% of the population is vaccinated, otherwise the incidence of clinical disease becomes more prevalent.

Some owners might argue that a case of equine flu is no big deal. Bear in mind that a previously fit, healthy horse affected by the virus may not be back in full work for six weeks. An older horse with concurrent health issues may take longer to recover and is at additional risk of complications. Consider, too, the practical issues and economic impact: one case at a large yard may mean no hacking or competing for anyone else.

With tetanus, herd immunity does not apply. Neither is it true with equines that “five for life” will leave you covered, as is thought to be the case with human tetanus vaccination. Going out in a field and just being a horse means that the level of exposure to tetanus infection is higher. The smallest scratch or puncture wound is sufficient to allow bacterial entry, so vaccination over the course of a horse’s lifetime is vital to establish protection.

A deadly disease

It is unusual as an equine vet to encounter more than a handful of tetanus cases throughout a career. Our practice has recently seen two cases in unvaccinated horses within a month of one another. One survived, with considerable medical intervention (see case study, below), but the other horse died — highlighting the potentially fatal nature of the disease.

There are currently several different diseases we can vaccinate our horses against, so your vet can suggest an appropriate immunisation programme based on an individual’s age, health and exposure risk. My advice would be to vaccinate all horses for equine flu and tetanus, at least. As these particular owners can now testify, vaccination has the potential to save huge amounts of time, money and heartache.

Case study: surviving against the odds — how Star survived tetanus

The toxins produced by the tetanus bacteria can have a devastating effect on a horse’s nervous system.

When nine-year-old mare Star appeared to choke on a piece of carrot, her owners called us at Farr and Pursey Equine Veterinary Services. Difficulty in swallowing and opening the mouth is, in fact, a typical sign of tetanus and the reason why the disease is sometimes referred to as “lockjaw”. Star also had the classic “rocking horse” stance and raised tail, and was transferred immediately to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

“The aim of treatment is to bind any loose tetanus toxins, so Star was given high doses of the tetanus anti-toxin,” says Dr Bettina Dunkel of the RVC. “She also received intra-muscular penicillin, in case there was still any active infection, and intravenous fluid therapy with supplementary glucose because she was finding it difficult to eat and drink. As tetanus affects the nerves, we put cotton wool in her ears to decrease any stimulation from noise.

“We think that Star may have been vaccinated in the past, which provided some underlying immunity, but she was extremely lucky to pull through,” adds Bettina. “The survival rate for tetanus is around 30%. Prognosis is very poor if the horse has already gone down, while further complications can include aspiration pneumonia caused by breathing problems.

“After a week of treatment, Star was stable enough to return home to recover further. Long-term prognosis is good once the toxins have left the system.”

About the author: Ricky Farr, B.Sc (Hons), B.V.Sc, MRCVS, owner and directory of Farr & Pursey Equine, based in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. Prior to setting up Farr & Pursey Equine in 2015, Rick qualified from Liverpool University in 2006 and worked in equine first opinion practice, alongside Cambridge University and Bishop Burton College. Prior to qualifying as a vet, Ricky completed an Equine Science and Physiology degree at Hull University and has worked within the equine industry acquiring a wealth of equine experience. He is also a qualified BHSAI and NVQ Level 3 assessor.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 14 March 2019

The owner of a pony who was given about a 1% chance of surviving after she contracted tetanus said it was “like winning the lottery” to learn she would pull through.

Katy Payne’s daughter Bonnie was given six-year-old 14.1hh Connemara Star for Christmas. Within two weeks, on the day the family returned from holiday, they saw something was wrong.

“My daughter said her tail looked funny and I said that’s just because she hadn’t seen her for a while,” Katy told H&H.

“But then we tried to give her a carrot and she wasn’t interested, which is unusual. But she must have had a bit because then she started to choke on it.”

Katy called her vet to the apparent case of choke, caused by the first visible signs of the tetanus bacteria’s effects, but the diagnosis was not made immediately.

“She hadn’t been really poorly; she’d had her breakfast that day and the people at the yard are so good, they’d have realised,” Katy said. “It must have come on really quickly.

“The lockjaw was the first symptom and the yard owner suspected what it was and said: ‘Please god it’s not tetanus’. I’m not horsey but everyone else’s reaction was scary.”

When tetanus was diagnosed, one of Katy’s attending vets gave Star a one in 100 chance of survival.

“They said ‘it’s going to be bad and she’ll go downhill quickly’,” Katy said.

“We knew if we could get to the end of that week, she’d be ok, and we had to try because my little girl was heartbroken.

“Star was in hospital having lots of fluids and antibiotics, she couldn’t eat; she looked horrendous. I was willing the end of the week to come and every day that went by was good.”

Eventually, the family was told Star was out of the woods, although with a long convalescence ahead.

“It was like winning the lottery,” Katy said. “Bonnie hadn’t slept for a week and although I’m not horsey, I’d fallen in love with Star too; we’re changing her name, from Wishing Star to Lucky Star.

“She’s almost back to normal now; Bonnie’s been able to ride her this week – and now she’s vaccinated for everything you can possibly think of.”

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Katy’s vet Ricky Farr, of Hertfordshire-based equine practice Farr & Pursey, told H&H that having seen one case of tetanus in 13 years, Star was one of two he had treated in a fortnight.

And although Star survived, the other horse, who was found collapsed, had to be put down six hours later.

“You don’t see tetanus that often but when you do see it, it’s dramatic, and the survival rate is about 35%,” Mr Farr said, urging owners to ensure their horses are vaccinated.

“I don’t think people realise. In humans, they say ‘five for life’, so you have five jabs and you’re protected but it’s not like that for horses, who are eating from the ground, out in the mud – they’re at a significantly higher risk.

“You don’t see it often, and with people trying to save money, vaccines are often the first things to go. But if it’s a case of a £30 vaccine or a £3,000 bill – or potentially losing your horse – it’s a no-brainer.”

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Eventer Matthew Wright has been found guilty of two equine passport falsifications relating to vaccinations and fined CHF1,500 (£1,133) by an FEI tribunal.

The decision, published on 11 May, related to an incident at Osberton International Horse Trials on 28 Sept – 2 Oct 2016, where Matthew had two horses entered, The Artist Almost Famous and MHS Twenty Twenty.

Anomalies were spotted in the vaccination records of both of his entries by the event’s veterinary delegate Alison (Ali) Butler. She noticed that the passport of MHS Twenty Twenty used the stamp of veterinary practice Hall and Lawrence, which was no longer in existence in that name.

There was no vaccination batch number noted, and the name of the vet was crossed out.

The entry was also signed “Ali Butler” — the same name as the veterinary delegate — though she confirmed it was not her signature.

The Artist Almost Famous’ passport was described as in a “very poor state” and the vaccination also had no batch number or veterinary stamp.

While Matthew was later able to provide a letter and a printout of clinical records to confirm that MHS Twenty Twenty had been vaccinated, he was not able to provide records for The Artist Almost Famous, the FEI Tribunal report stated.

According to the report, Matthew “admitted at the time of the event to have written the details in the passports in a meeting with Alison Butler (veterinary delegate), Howard Newitt (assistant veterinary delegate) and Simon Bere (technical delegate)”, but later changed his explanation.

In a submission to the FEI on 13 June 2017, Matthew — who withdrew his horses from the event — claimed that his groom Lukasz Orywal had been responsible for the falsification.

The FEI did not consider this to be a valid defence, however, as the rider is considered the person responsible (PR) for their horses at all times.

“The PR is responsible for the documentation of his horses and also for his support personnel and it is the PR’s responsibility to provide the correct documentation for the horses he competes,” the report explained.

“This case was a bit particular since firstly, Matthew admitted that he falsified the passports in a meeting with the FEI officials. After the notification of alleged falsification of the passports, he came back with explanations that the falsifications actually were made by his groom Lukasz Orywal.

“There are two different versions of how it came about. This makes it difficult to provide strong evidence to impose a sanction. Mainly since the groom is not registered with the FEI and it would therefore be difficult to impose a sanction on the groom.”

Continued below…

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The tribunal, which was presided over by one-man panel Dr Armand Leone, concluded that there were “still two falsifications of passports regardless of who did it,” and that the responsibility lay with the rider.

• Read the FEI Tribunal report in full [PDF]

The minimum sanction that can be applied under FEI rules is a CHF1,000 fine. Having agreed that there were two falsifications, Matthew accepted a fine of CHF1,500.

Matthew declined to comment for this news story, but said he would comment in his blog on the H&H website in due course.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

In this week’s edition, out on 24 May, don’t miss our “cob special”, including how to find the perfect cob, meet champion cob Our Cashel Blue and more.

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An “extremely exciting” vaccine against strangles could be on the market within two years.

Scientists from the Animal Health Trust (AHT), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Karolinska Institute and Intervacc AB, have developed protein-based vaccine Strangvac, to prevent equines contracting the highly contagious disease.

The group trialled the vaccine on 16 horses and its findings were published in scientific journal Vaccine.

Strangvac protected 13 of the equines from strangles. They were exposed to the infection and then monitored twice daily for the onset of clinical signs of disease and temperatures were recorded daily as the primary indicator of infection.

None of the animals developed adverse reactions to the vaccination.

“We are delighted to have shown that our Strangvac vaccine protected over 80% of horses from this dreadful disease,” said Professor Jan-Ingmar Flock, chief executuve of Intervacc AB, the company that produced the vaccine.

“Strangles is a scourge of the equine world and the development of Strangvac has the potential to prevent many thousands of horses from falling ill each year.”

Strangles is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus equi, which causes horses to suffer from large pus-filled abscesses in their throat and neck.

With an estimated 600 outbreaks of strangles each year in the UK alone, the development of the vaccine is hoped to have benefits to the health of horses around the world.

“Strangvac is an extremely exciting vaccine,” added Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT.

“The vaccine was designed using information from sequencing the DNA of streptococcus equi and highlights the potential that the genome-era heralds for improving the health of animals and people.

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“Improving the health of horses is a core aim of the AHT and we are proud to have helped make this vaccine a reality towards finally breaking the hold this disease currently has on our horses.”

Professor Flock anticipates that Strangvac will be available for use in 2020.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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Sometimes only a major disease outbreak is enough to remind owners how important it is to vaccinate horses, an expert has warned.

Dr Richard Newton, head of epidemiology and disease surveillance at the Animal Health Trust, asked “can we do things differently?” during a meeting on equine biosecurity at Defra headquarters on Wednesday (26 October).

Representatives of bodies from across the equine industry met to discuss disease control, and how it could be improved.

“We probably do need to do things differently,” Dr Newton said.

“It’s easy to say prevention’s better than cure, which is our premise. It’s a concept I assume is widely accepted. I try to promote vaccination, while quarantine should be used as a form of insurance by horse owners.

“But do owners put their money where their mouths are?”

Dr Newton used equine flu as an example because it has “the potential for large epidemics, but is within the power of horse-owners to do something about”.

He explained that the disease is highly contagious, has no latent or carrier state and relies on contact between horses, and that although it mainly occurs in non-vaccinated animals, it is possible for a vaccinated horse to develop it.

“But do we need to vaccinate all animals in a population to get herd immunity?” he asked.

“When a significantly large proportion of a population is vaccinated, it prevents transmission to the others.”

The “critical threshold” necessary for national herd immunity to equine flu in the UK is between 75 and 90% of the horse population.

“Overall, the coverage is much lower than needed – less than 40%, based on sales of vaccinations.” Dr Newton said. “It may even be less than 30%.

“Horse owners need to understand the importance of equine flu vaccination and herd immunity.”

Dr Newton said many more equestrian events, including those in the unaffiliated and non-competitive sectors, should require horses to be vaccinated, and that “vets need to step up their game”, adding: “Are they doing enough to sell the concept of equine preventative medicine to clients?”

Related articles:

• Vets warn a major flu outbreak could bring equine sport to a halt
• Equine flu: what you need to know
• Equine flu: why you need to be vigilant *H&H VIP*

He added: “One of our biggest problems is that to some extent, we’re victims of the success of vaccination.

“The vaccination paradox: when a disease is there and causing problems, we call for a vaccination but if it comes and is effective, vets and owners lose sight of the condition and worry more about possible side-effects of the jab.

“Despite our best efforts, sometimes only an outbreak of disease will remind us why we were vaccinating in the first place.

“I’d like to think we can avoid that, but it might be the only way to re-focus.”

Liphook Equine vet Andy Durham has previously told H&H that “multiple small outbreaks occur every year in the UK, and major outbreaks have occurred before and may well occur again”.

“Should it happen, equine sport will grind to a halt and the economic consequences will be potentially huge,” he added.

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Vets and horse owners are calling for more action to help combat equine flu after an increase in recorded cases this year. Sixty percent of Britain’s 900,000 horses are unvaccinated. Fellow owners are urging those who are complacent to protect their horse to stop the spread of the infection.

Since September there have been 24 outbreaks of flu in England and Scotland. The highly infectious virus is spread via coughing and nasal discharge.

However, it is possible that the disease is not more common than in past years — but that vets are now better at picking it up.

“We expect to see small outbreaks each year because it is endemic; however there has been an increased number of outbreaks this year compared to 2013,” said Debra Elton, head of virology at the Animal Health Trust (AHT).

“We are not yet sure whether this increase in reported outbreaks is due to enhanced activity or enhanced surveillance, although there have not been large numbers of horses affected and no mass breakdown in vaccination.”

Passport checks

“Some of the outbreaks have been linked to horses that travelled from Ireland. Despite this, there has been no evidence to confirm that the virus originated in Ireland,” added Debra.

“Most of the outbreaks in the UK are, however, linked with horse movement.”

Although under some competition rules vaccinations are mandatory, many events do not always check passports.

Julie Magnus of Julie Magnus Racehorse Transport told H&H she wants passport checks to be made “more stringent” and that she fears “thousands of owners are still unaware” of the dangers when travelling.

“Many people are making the decision not to inoculate whether due to costs or other reasons,” she said.

“Transporters are required to carry only the passports and although we would advise inoculation at all times we are not required to check if their horses’ jabs are up to date.

“We disinfect the lorry immediately if unvaccinated horses have been travelling,” she said.

“By travelling unvaccinated horses with companies that don’t check passports, owners could end up with vet bills for not only their horse, but also other liveries’ horses that may be affected,” she added.

Flu is is not a notifiable disease, which means that precautions such as quarantine are not mandatory.

H&H vet Karen Coumbe added: “If a new horse arrives at a yard it is always best to isolate it until you are confident it is healthy.

“I agree that transporters should be making checks as shared airspace and close contact — such as at shows or travelling — is when horses are at risk of being infected, like people on a plane or train.”

Vaccinate your horse

According to the AHT, nearly all of the outbreaks this year have affected horses that were either not vaccinated or whose vaccinations were not up to date.

“We want to make sure that people are aware that flu is present and encourage people to be vigilant — this means keeping up to date with vaccinations,” added Debra.

A new vaccine which includes the Clade 2 strain of the virus — which is prevalent this year — will be available shortly, having been developed over the past four years.

Richard Newton from the AHT added: “Equine flu, like the human and avian versions, is continually evolving and while we have perfectly good vaccines out there, some are becoming out of date.

“This year there is an increased amount of flu going around and when any new product comes on to the market it is a good step forward.”

➤ If you’re concerned that your horse might have flu, talk to your vet — they can take a swab which can be tested for the virus free of charge through the AHT’s equine influenza surveillance programme, which is funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

Ref: Horse & Hound (4 December 2014)

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Vets are urging horse owners to vaccinate their horses against equine flu following recent outbreaks in the UK.

It is estimated by vets that 38% of horses are currently vaccinated with outdated strains of the virus, while the remainder are not vaccinated at all.

Two outbreaks of flu have been confirmed in West Sussex and Cornwall. However, the Animal Health Trust (AHT) is advising horse owners “not to panic”.

“We have recently seen a small flurry of outbreaks in unvaccinated animals, which does highlight the important of vaccinating your horse or pony against equine flu, and ensuring that you keep vaccinations up-to-date,” said Dr Debra Elton from the AHT.

“Your horse or pony would be at highest risk when being moved from yard to yard, if a new horse or pony is moved to your yard, or when mixing at events. To keep up-to-date with where the latest flu outbreaks are happening you can follow @equiflunet on twitter or visit www.equiflunet.org.uk”

Vet Karen Coumbe added: “I agree there is absolutely no need to panic; however, this highlights the need for vigilance for horse owners in the area,” said. “We advise you to watch out for any signs of respiratory disease in your horses and if worried call your vet.

“If you are concerned that your horse might be infected, your vet can check your horse and take swabs to test for the disease. These swabs are tested free of charge by the AHT.”

Equine flu is highly contagious, both via coughing horses — and the discharge produced — and also via buckets, clothing and handlers. Signs include a raised temperature, depression, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, coughing and swollen lymph glands.

This news story was originally published in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday 9 October, 2014

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Measles is not the only disease for which Britain is inadequately inoculated. New figures reveal we are also putting our horses’ health at risk by failing — or forgetting — to vaccinate.

Statistics from the Blue Cross show that last year, 65% of the horses taken into the charity’s care were either unvaccinated for influenza and tetanus or had lapsed vaccinations. This is an 11% increase from 2011.

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) president Keith Chandler MRCVS told H&H it was cause for concern.

“If owners are opting to avoid the tetanus vaccination, that is worrying, especially as tetanus is probably the one infectious disease that kills horses that we can vaccinate against,” he said.

Mr Chandler also warned that if not enough horses are inoculated against flu, it could increase the chances of an outbreak.

“This would have a direct effect on horse owners who compete, with events being stopped, racing yards shut down [and so on].”

While the problem of not vaccinating is common in welfare cases, the charity said that more than half (54%) of horses and ponies being signed over to its care by their owners were also affected.

To gain a more accurate picture, the charity is calling on horse owners to take part in its forthcoming National Equine Health Survey (NEHS).

The Equine Health Survey (NEHS) runs from 5-11 May 2013. To take part, visit www.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (2 May 2013)

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An equine veterinary practice in the south-west has launched a new outreach clinic to help owners struggling with the cost of keeping their horse or pony.

EqWest is holding the weekly clinic at Penewin Stables near Trerulefoot, Cornwall to save owners a vet call out charge.

And to celebrate the opening, the practice is donating one tetanus vaccination to charity South West Equine Protection (SWEP) for every new client registration.

SWEP protects moorland ponies on Dartmoor and Bodmin moor and increasingly takes in abandoned ponies from people who can’t afford to keep them.

“Vaccination is the only proven method of protection against this potentially fatal disease, so offering a tetanus vaccination to SWEP seemed very sensible,” said EqWest’s Jeremy Hyde.

“We hope that our new clinic will help owners in that area to make savings on their vet call out charge and enable us to vaccinate more ponies for SWEP.”

The clinic will be for routine care such as flu and tetanus vaccinations, dental care and initial lameness assessments. Clients will be referred to the main EqWest clinic near Tavistock for more specialist services.

For more information about EqWest and SWEP’s work visit www.eqwest.co.uk and www.swep.org.uk

Are you looking for an equine vet?

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Pfizer Animal Health’s Duvaxyn and Artervac equine vaccines have been rebranded as part of the pharmaceutical company’s range of Equip equine vaccines.

Equine herpes virus (vaccine Duvaxyn EHV 1,4 has been rebranded Equip EHV 1,4; equine rotavirus vaccine Duvaxyn R has been rebranded Equip Rotavirus, the West Nile Virus vaccine Duvaxyn WNV has been rebranded Equip WNV and equine arteritis vaccine Artervac has been rebranded Equip Artervac.

These products join Pfizer’s flu and tetanus vaccines Equip F, Equip FT and Equip T.

Ben Lacey, Pfizer’s equine business unit manager said: “This move demonstrates our commitment to the equine industry as we strive to become the equine veterinarian’s company of choice for products and services.”

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Discounted vaccinations are being offered to owners this month as part of the fight against equine disease.

More than 2,000 vet practices across the country are taking part in National Vaccination Month, which runs until Tuesday, 31 May, and is funded by pharmaceutical companies Intervet and Schering.

By downloading vouchers online and taking them to the nearest participating vet, owners can get reductions of around £30 on tetanus and influenza vaccines, although the discount does depend on the fees charged by the individual vet. To take part, equines must be more than 12 months old and either unvaccinated or at least three months overdue for a booster.

For each vaccination given, equine charity World Horse Welfare will receive a £1 donation.

Charity deputy chief executive Tony Tyler said: “It is important that horse owners take appropriate precautions to ensure their horses are protected against what can be life-threatening diseases.

“We ensure that all animals passing through World Horse Welfare’s gates are vaccinated as a matter of course and urge horse owners to do the same.”

The launch of National Vaccination Month comes on the back of a YouGov poll of over 2,000 pet keepers, including horse owners, which suggested that the cost of vaccinations is prompting many owners to overlook them. Almost 40% admitted not keeping their vaccinations up to date and it is feared there are more than 500,000 unvaccinated horses in the UK.

H&H veterinary consultant Karen Coumbe said: “Tetanus can be fatal and, in my view, all horses should be protected by vaccination against tetanus without question.

“Horses are unlikely to die of equine flu, but it remains a serious infection that can spread rapidly with devastating consequences. Vaccination reduces the risks enormously.”

To find your nearest participating vet and download the discount vouchers, visit www.nvmonline.co.uk.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (12 May, 2011)

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News that a new strangles vaccination is to go on sale in October has been cautiously welcomed by vets and charities.

Equilis StrepE is a new version of the jab withdrawn in 2007.

But some experts have warned that eradication of the highly infectious respiratory disease, rather than learning to live with it, should be the aim.

Epidemiologist Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust said: “There are two ways of dealing with strangles. One is zero tolerance, where you identify the carriers and make sure they don’t mix with other horses, and the other is living with the problem, which is where this vaccine takes us.

“The vaccine has its place and deals with the end result of the problem, but not the root cause.”

He said that although chances of eliminating strangles from the UK horse population were remote, strangles can be eradicated on a premises, by isolation of incoming horses.

Read the full story, including comments from BEVA and World Horse Welfare, about this latest development, in the current issue of Horse & Hound (10 June, 2010)

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Organisers of the Royal Festival of the Horse have relaxed rules on equine flu vaccinations for event, which is being held at Stoneleigh Park to replace The Royal Show.

They hope the rule change will encourage more late entries, but not everyone supports their decision.

Get opinion from Dr Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust, H&H’s veterinary consultant Karen Coumbe and showing producers Robert Bell and Nigel Hollings, in this week’s Horse & Hound (20 May, 2010) on sale now

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A vet certified that two horses on Michael Whitaker’s yard were fully vaccinated so they could take part in the 2007 Horse of the Year Show, despite him having been banned from practising the previous day, a tribunal heard on 7 January.

Robert Morris of Brants Broughton, near Lincoln, has continued to treat animals for more than two years, despite being barred from practising by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in 2007 (news, 11 October 2007).

Mr Whitaker told H&H he had not known Morris was banned at the time.

“He was my vet, but we moved practice when we heard he was banned,” said Mr Whitaker. “But it was just a routine thing. He vaccinated them six months previously.”

The RCVS turned down an application by Mr Morris to be restored to the veterinary register, which would have enabled him to practise again.

In evidence on 7 January, the RCVS disciplinary committee heard how the vet had been convicted at Grantham Magistrates Court on 1 November 2007 for buying unlicensed drugs from Russia and had continued to treat animals while barred.

Chairman of the RCVS disciplinary committee Alison Bruce said: “We consider there is a risk to the future welfare of animals in the event of Mr Morris being restored.

“A member [of the RCVS] who has been removed [from the register] must refrain from examining animals, making diagnoses or performing treatments, even under the direction of another vet.”

Evidence was given by the owners of a horse and a dog treated by Mr Morris in September and October 2009.

Mr Morris told the tribunal that he had been acting as an agent for another vet, but the committee discounted this.

H&H forum member “Jackanory” claims Mr Morris examined her horse for lameness last summer and charged her £60.

“I paid full whack for the advice and treatment of a qualified vet, not one who had been struck off,” she wrote.

Mr Morris’s original ban related to a pre-purchase vetting where he failed to record that the horse had a respiratory roar at exercise. A complaint was made by the buyer to the RCVS.

Mr Morris declined to comment to H&H.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (28 January, ’10)

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Vets are calling on the public to stop asking vets to backdate vaccination certificates after a practitioner was banned by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for falsifying information on a horse passport.

Chris House, president of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), told H&H: “The pressure on veterinary surgeons in this area is unreasonable.

“We cannot condone backdating of vaccination records. Owners should ensure vaccinations are done on time.”

The call comes after Norwich vet Andrew Illing was struck off for six months by the RCVS on Thursday (16 July) for backdating the passports. of two horses.

Mr Illing, senior vet at Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership, admitted backdating the records to read that the equine flu injections had been given six days before they actually were after a request from the horses’ owners.

His case follows that of Eleri Wyn Jones of The Vet Practice in Dolgellau, who was reprimanded by the RCVS for being “reckless” about the date on which a horse had been vaccinated (news, 2 July).

Her colleague, Iwan Wyn Parry, was suspended for a month in January over a similar allegation.

Nick Skelton’s vet, John Brennand Williams of the Avondale practice, Banbury, was struck off in November 2007 for certifying the show jumper’s horses were fit to travel, although the results of mandatory medical tests had not been returned (news, 19 June 2008).

And Hook Norton vet Dr Alan Walker was also struck off (news, 8 February 2007) for backdating vaccinations on racehorse passports. He appealed and was allowed to return to work.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (30 July, ’09)

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A North Wales vet has been reprimanded by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for falsifying a horse passport.

At a disciplinary hearing on 18 June, the RCVS was told that Eleri Wyn Jones, 25, had been working at The Veterinary Practice, Dolgellau, near Gwynedd, for a year when she signed gelding Aberhosan Bobby’s passport.

Ms Jones, who had been out of Liverpool University for a year, did not know if an equine flu jab had been administered, but signed the passport stating the vaccination had been given on 30 September 2007.

Graeme McPherson QC, representing Ms Jones, said it was a fateful misjudgement on a single occasion and that Ms Jones had suffered from a lack of guidance at the practice.

Earlier this year, Iwan Wyn Parry, vet practice principal, received a one-month suspension from the veterinary register for false certification of an equine passport.

Both Ms Jones and Mr Parry failed to return H&H’s calls.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (2 July, ’09)

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An updated vaccine offering specific protection against the latest known circulating strains of equine flu (EI) has just been launched by Merial.

ProteqFlu is the first and only European vaccine to meet recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health expert surveillance panel. It has been developed following EI international surveillance programmes.

Director of Merial equine biologic projects, Dr Jules Minke, said: “EI is a major threat with circulating strains evolving and spreading rapidly.”

ProteqFlu was used extensively in Australia to control last year’s crippling 11 month EI outbreak. On Monday night, final restrictions on movement of horses across the country were lifted.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (3 July, ’08)

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Horse owners in central Scotland are being warned to keep their horses’ flu vaccinations up to date following an increased number of cases in the area.

The British Horse Society (BHS) and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science are reminding horse owners of the importance of vaccinating their horses after an increase in the number of equine flu cases in central Scotland being reported.

Helen Mauchlen from the BHS said: “We’ve had a timely ‘heads up’ from the Animal Health Trust that equine flu is being diagnosed in Scotland at the moment, with the latest outbreak being near Edinburgh.

“Influenza vaccination does offer effective protection and, with horses mixing regularly at the peak of our competition circuit, it is vital that owners take precautions to prevent equine flu from spreading.”

Professor Bruce McGorum from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science advised owners to keep their horse’s vaccinations up to date and to arrange vaccination of any unvaccinated horses.

“Influenza can spread rapidly through a horse population, causing lethargy, fever, nasal discharge and coughing. The Animal Health Trust has notified us of a recent increase in the number of cases of equine influenza in Scotland predominantly, but not exclusively, involving unvaccinated animals.

“Influenza vaccination is recommended not only because it prevents development of the clinical disease or reduces the severity and duration of flu symptoms, but also because it reduces the spread of infection through the horse population.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Organisers of the appeal set up to support a vet struck off for backdating vaccination entries on racehorse passports have been stunned by the positive reaction to their cause.

Dr Alan Walker was struck off by the disciplinary panel of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (news, 8 February) and afterwards told H&H that he intended to appeal to the government’s Privy Council.

In response, his supporters established the Alan Walker Appeal Fund (AWAF) to assist with the costs of appearing before the Privy Council.

In less than a month, more than £17,000 has been donated to the AWAF from nboth vets and the public.

AWAF chairman Richard Jones said: “It’s not just the money that counts. As an expression of support it is every bit as welcome.”

Dr Walker remains in practice until the appeal — for which a date is yet to be set — is heard.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (26 April, ’07)

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A well-known equine vet was found guilty of “disgraceful professional misconduct” and struck off by the disciplinary panel of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) last week for backdating vaccination entries on three racehorse passports.

John Walker, 60, who is known as Alan and practises at Hook Norton Veterinary Surgery, told H&H he believed he was harshly treated on his first disciplinary charge in a 26-year career.

“The Royal College gave me a very fair hearing,” he said, “and I understand that it needs to maintain the integrity of the profession, but I feel I have been made an example of.”

The complaint against Dr Walker was lodged by Mr and Mrs Odell, the owners of racehorses Ryton Run, Moorlands Again and Six Clerks.

Nicole Curtis, for the RCVS, explained that Moorlands Again was vaccinated against equine influenza and tetanus on 26 September 2003, but that Dr Walker entered the date in the gelding’s passport as 10 September 2003. It is a breach of Jockey Club rules for horses to run without being vaccinated against equine influenza, although Moorlands Again did not run under Rules between March 2003 and October 2004.

The disciplinary panel heard than similar wrong entries were discovered for the other two horses and, although they rules that the mistake on Ryton Run’s passport was a genuine clerical error, Dr Walker was found guilty of professional misconduct in the other two cases.

“I can’t explain how it happened, I just made a mistake,” said Dr Walker. “All three horses were fully covered and no harm came to them.”

Dr Walker has 28 days from the date of the ruling (30 January, ’07) to appeal. If he decided not to, he can apply to be reinstated as a registered vet in 10 months’ time.

Read this news story in full in today’s issue of Horse & Hound (8 February, ’07)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Injections are such a routine part of health care that it can be a shock if things go wrong. Problems fall into two main categories: reactions at injection sites and reactions to either the medication injected or the adjuvant, the medium in which it is mixed or dissolved.

Reactions at the site are the most common and can range from slight swelling to severe stiffness and even injection abscesses; they are usually short-lasting, though if an abscess forms it will need to be treated.

Less frequently, a horse may react violently to penicillin, which puts it and anyone near it in a confined space at risk. Occasionally, an animal may become unsteady for a short time after intravenous bute has been administered.

“Although violent reactions are not common in general, penicillin is the most frequent cause,” says Dr Polly Taylor MRCVS, European specialist in veterinary anaesthesia.

“The reaction is usually short-term and the biggest risk is that the horse can damage itself while it’s happening.”

However, penicillin is so effective and reactions so rare that the risks are felt to be acceptable. But it is vital that any vet treating a horse known to have suffered a reaction is told, so alternative medication can be used.

Is it safe to inject?

All medicines and vaccines have to meet stringent safety criteria, and contraindications for use are listed. For instance, some treatments should not be

used if a horse has certain pre-existing conditions, such as kidney problems, and vets also need to check that different medicines are compatible when more than one is used at the same time.

Dr Taylor emphasises that vaccination against the killer disease tetanus is essential, while the vaccination against flu may also be life-saving, as well as being mandatory for competition. She says even animals who do not compete should be protected, as the risks from disease are far greater than those associated with injection.

“A high proportion of the whole horse population needs to be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak,” she says.

Most vets now don’t swab the skin before vaccinating, which some owners worry about. The reason is that swabbing, as opposed to trying to achieve a sterile site, can cause more problems than it prevents.

“To sterilise the skin properly, you need to clip the area and make sure the sterilising solution is in contact with the skin for several minutes,” explains Dr Taylor. “If there’s even slight damage to the skin it can cause problems.

“Swabbing stirs everything up on the surface, so there’s a risk of taking in a solution of dirt on the needle. Even when you don’t swab, it’s possible for a tiny particle of dirt from the coat or skin to get in.”

When an unvaccinated horse arrives in a new home, tetanus protection should be given immediately. However, if it is suspected that the horse could be incubating a virus such as flu, a vet may suggest checking it over and perhaps taking a blood sample to check the white cell count before giving certain treatments or vaccination.

Unfortunately, in most cases, it is impossible to tell if a horse is going to react before it actually does so. The horse may appear perfectly normal beforehand.

“A vaccine won’t work as well if a horse is ill because the immune system won’t be working properly,” says Dr Taylor. “And if it has one disease and you’re giving it a tiny dose of another, even though it’s in a safe form, it can make the horse worse.”

Recent FEI rule changes mean some horses may need more frequent vaccinations. Dr Taylor, a horse owner with a particular interest in eventing, advises allowing a few easy days afterwards.

“Some competition regulations say vaccinations must be given at least seven days prior to an event, but even if this doesn’t affect you, it’s better to try to vaccinate when you’re not going to be hunting or competing during the next few days,” she says.

• This veterinary feature was first published in Horse & Hound (20 July, ’06)

Q: Most competition organisers insist on full vaccination certificates atevents. I know these rules are to prevent the spread of infection, but why are horses that are vaccinated just a day late excluded from entry? Surely the drug’s efficacy is unaffected by it being administered only one or two days after the due date? Also, can vaccinated horses still carry an infection without being affected by it themselves?

Jo Holmes MRCVS replies: The Jockey Club was responsible for first introducing rules for the equine influenza vaccine more than 20 years ago, and other organisations followed suit.

You are right to assume that in most cases, a vaccine provides immunity beyond the 365 day deadline, but drug companies must test products rigorously for efficacy and safety, and will notguarantee immunity beyond the recommended vaccination protocol. The rules were formulated not to inconvenience people, but to ensure protection and fairness to all.

Vaccinated horses can still catch a milder form of influenza, and may show few symptoms. Therefore, in an outbreak, all “in-contact” animals need to be isolated as well as those with obvious clinical signs. However, they are unlikely to remain carriers, as the virus runs its natural course and the horse’s immune system should overcome it in four to six weeks.I sympathise with your frustration, but the rules are reasonable, and it is predominantly the correct and blanket usage of vaccine in the UK that ensures there are so few outbreaks of influenza in our equine population.

Q. I have been advised by a horseowning friend to get my seven-year-old 16hh cob mare vaccinated for equine influenza but I’ve heard horses can suffer adverse reactions. Is this true?

Also, if my horse does get flu, are there any alternative therapies which would aid recovery?

Tim Couzens MRCVS replies: Horseowners are now looking at vaccines more critically, especially since recent publicity has highlighted some of the potentially adverse effects of vaccination in dogs.

Vaccines have, of course, been around for many years and are constantly undergoing development, refinement and monitoring to produce a better and safer product. Their efficacy in protecting against the equine flu viruses and tetanus has been proven over the course of time. In addition, all vaccine manufacturers have to put their products through rigorous testing and safety procedures before their products are allowed on the market. This is to minimise any unwarranted andunwelcome side effects and to maximise the protection offered by the vaccine.

Nevertheless vaccines do cause reactions in some horses. These fall into two broad categories:

• Reactions which manufacturers recognise as a problem and which occur in a small number of horses
• Reactions which homoeopaths recognise as upsetting the body at a deeper level, leading to ill-health.Reactions to vaccinesThe types of reactions which fall into the first group are recognisable by many horseowners:
• The most common of these is a local reaction around the site of the injection. This appears as a lump or swelling which may be painful or feel hot and lead to the neck becoming stiff. The cause can be either a reaction to the components of the vaccine itself or due to an infection introduced at the time of the injection. Usually local reactions will pass off in a few days. In a few cases an abscess can form as the result of an infection in which case you will need to call your vet back.
• Some horses will develop reactions which have a more overall or systemic effect. These animals will appear off-colour for a few days with vague symptoms, often slight lethargy or occasionally a lack of stamina for a week or two. Normally these signs pass quite quickly.
• Finally there are horses which develop signs of obvious ill-health following vaccination. This is thought to be caused by the animal having a sub-clinical illness, which means they were unwell at the time of the infection but had no obvious symptoms.The vaccination stresses the immune system causing disease symptoms to appear. This may account for those animals which appear to develop flu shortly after being vaccinated.Veterinary surgeons involved with natural medicine will also be aware of reactions which occur in the second category, including those which are much less well-defined and more difficult to prove.Reactions of this type have a more profound and long-lasting effect on health. The underlying reason is the way in which vaccines appear to be able to affect or alter the immune system leading to a condition generally referred to as vaccinosis. This term is applied to any long-term health problem arising after a vaccination. Vaccinosis problems seen in horses include the development of COPD, mud fever, skin allergies and loss of performance.Making the decisionThe ultimate decision whether to vaccinate or not is a very personal one. Conventional vaccines have a proven track record and are well tried and tested. Other than this, the level of protection they offer can be measured by a blood test if need be. However, a small number of horses will react to vaccination either with short-term reversible problems or by developing much more serious health consequences which are linked to vaccinosis.If you plan to avoid using conventional vaccines then there are one or two points that you should consider. While equine flu can be serious, the risk of not vaccinating against tetanus can have even more serious consequences. Other than this, failure to vaccinate may mean you won’t be allowedto compete at a number of events where vaccination is mandatory.Looking at alternativesIf, after careful thought, you decide not to vaccinate your horse, then homoeopathy can offer an alternative by the use of homoeopathic remedies known as nosodes. This method is referred to as ‘homoeopathic vaccination’.Nosodes are made from the equine flu virus and tetanus toxin/bacteria in much the same way as other homoeopathic remedies are made by a process of specialdilution. The mechanism by which they offer protection has not yet been proven and certainly there is nothing measurable in the blood to confirm that the animals are protected. Nonetheless, in as much as homoeopathy works, nosodes do seem to have some effect upon the body and may well offer some form of protection.Other than the use of nosodes there are ways to improve your horse’s immune system and help him fight against flu, indlucing natural remedies:
• Herbal remedies are ideal for boosting your horse’s natural defences, including garlic, echinacea and cleavers. And, if your horse is unlucky enough to catch flu, these remedies will be useful during the recovery phase.
• Homoeopathic remedies can also be used to help your horse recover from a bout of flu but the exact choice of remedy will depend on the horse’s symptoms. Remedies Arsenicum album, Arsenicum iodatum, Kali bich, Pulsatilla, Silica and Natrum muriaticum.If you are considering using nosodes you should discuss the situation with your usual vet first and then ask for a referral to a homoeopathic vet. He/she would be qualified to offer you the specialist advice you’re going to need.