Immunization Schedule for Horses

All horses should be vaccinated against tetanus and encephalomyelitis.
The use of other vaccinations depends on the individual risk of infection.

Disease	Foals and Weanlings	Yearlings	Performance Horses*	Pleasure Horses*	Broodmares	Comments
Tetanus	1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.	Yearly	Yearly	Yearly	Yearly, 4-6 weeks before foaling
Eastern and Western Equine Encephalo- myelitis or sleeping sickness (EEE and WEE	1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.	Yearly, in the spring	Yearly, in the spring	Yearly, in the spring	Yearly, in the spring	Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis (VEE) also recom- mended for horses in border areas of TX, NM, AZ, CA
Influenza	1st dose: 3-6 mos. 2nd dose: 4-7 mos. 3rd dose: 5-8 mos. Repeat every 3 mos.	Every 3 mos.	Every 3 mos.	Ever 6 mos. with added boosters 2-4 weeks prior to anticipated exposure	At least every 6 mos. with one booster timed 4-6 weeks before foaling	Foals from unvacci- nated mares start at 3-4 mos., foals from vaccinated mares start at 6 mos.
Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1, EHV-4)	1st dose: 2-3 mos. 2nd dose: 3-4 mos. 3rd dose: 4-5 mos. Repeat every 3 mos.	Every 3 mos.	Every 3 mos.	Optional: every 6 mos., stallions and barren mares - boosters every 6 mos.	EHV-1 during the 5th, 7th and 9th month of pregnancy (3rd month optional)	Vaccination of mares pre-breeding and 4-6 weeks before foaling with EHV-1 and EHV-4 recommended
Rabies	1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.	Yearly	Yearly	Yearly	Yearly, before breeding	Recommended in areas where wildlife rabies is a problem
Strangles	1st dose: 8-12 wks. 2nd dose: 11-15 wks. 3rd dose: 14-18 wks. (depending on prod.) 4th dose: weaning (6-8 mos.)	Every 6 mos.	Optional every 6 mos. if risk is high	Optional every 6 mos. if risk is high	Every 6 mos. with one booster timed 4-6 weeks before foaling	Recommended when risk of exposure is high
Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)	1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.	Every 6 mos. with one booster timed to precede late spring and summer months	Every 6 mos. with one booster timed to precede late spring and summer months	Every 6 mos. with one booster timed to precede late spring and summer months	Every 6 mos. with one booster timed 4-6 weeks before foaling	Recommended only in known risk areas. Foals from vaccinated mares should be vaccinated at monthly intervals up to 6 mos. old.

Disease

Foals and Weanlings

Yearlings

Performance Horses*

Pleasure Horses*

Broodmares

Comments

Tetanus

1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.

Yearly

Yearly, 4-6 weeks before foaling

Eastern and Western Equine Encephalo- myelitis or sleeping sickness (EEE and WEE

1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.

Yearly, in the spring

Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis (VEE) also recom- mended for horses in border areas of TX, NM, AZ, CA

Influenza

1st dose: 3-6 mos. 2nd dose: 4-7 mos. 3rd dose: 5-8 mos. Repeat every 3 mos.

Every 3 mos.

Ever 6 mos. with added boosters 2-4 weeks prior to anticipated exposure

At least every 6 mos. with one booster timed 4-6 weeks before foaling

Foals from unvacci- nated mares start at 3-4 mos., foals from vaccinated mares start at 6 mos.

Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1, EHV-4)

1st dose: 2-3 mos. 2nd dose: 3-4 mos. 3rd dose: 4-5 mos. Repeat every 3 mos.

Every 3 mos.

Optional: every 6 mos., stallions and barren mares - boosters every 6 mos.

EHV-1 during the 5th, 7th and 9th month of pregnancy (3rd month optional)

Vaccination of mares pre-breeding and 4-6 weeks before foaling with EHV-1 and EHV-4 recommended

Rabies

1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.

Yearly

Yearly, before breeding

Recommended in areas where wildlife rabies is a problem

Strangles

1st dose: 8-12 wks. 2nd dose: 11-15 wks. 3rd dose: 14-18 wks. (depending on prod.) 4th dose: weaning (6-8 mos.)

Every 6 mos.

Optional every 6 mos. if risk is high

Every 6 mos. with one booster timed 4-6 weeks before foaling

Recommended when risk of exposure is high

Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)

1st dose: 3-4 mos. 2nd dose: 4-5 mos.

Every 6 mos. with one booster timed to precede late spring and summer months

Every 6 mos. with one booster timed 4-6 weeks before foaling

Recommended only in known risk areas. Foals from vaccinated mares should be vaccinated at monthly intervals up to 6 mos. old.

Recommendations obtained from the UC Davis Book of Horses. The UC Davis Book of Horses can be ordered for $36.50 (includes domestic shipping and handling). Enclose a check payable to the UCD Bookstore with your shipping address to: Veterinary Medicine: Public Programs/Book of Horses, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8376

* Recommendations for performance and pleasure horses assumes the primary series was completed during foalhood; otherwise, follow label directions for primary immunization.