Spring vaccinations are an important part of keeping your horse healthy. The routine spring vaccine includes protection for:

• Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (also called “Sleeping Sickness”)
• Influenza (“Flu”)
• Rhinopneumonitis (also called “Equine Herpes”, EHV)
• Tetanus
• West Nile Virus
• Rabies

These are diseases that are commonly encountered in horses. Here in Colorado, the highest risks of exposure are for West Nile virus and Rabies, as well as the respiratory viruses. We immunize for these in the spring because the encephalitis and West Nile viruses are spread via mosquito bites. Protection persists through the entire mosquito season. If your horse travels to the deep south or the coasts, a second encephalitis booster is recommended in the fall to provide year round protection for these diseases. Rabies vaccine should be boosted once yearly in the horse.