Fall Vaccinations

As temperatures begin to cool with the arrival of fall, now is a good time to schedule your horses for fall vaccines.  There are two categories of vaccines - core vaccinations and risk-based vaccinations.  Core vaccines include Eastern & Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE and EWE), Tetanus and West Nile Virus and should be included in vaccination programs regardless of geographical locations. Risk-based vaccines such as Botulism, Potomac Horse Fever, Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EVH-4), and Equine Influenza should be given based on the risk of disease in a herd population or geographical area.  

In North Carolina, particularly in the eastern part of the state, it is highly recommended all horses regardless of age or travel status receive a fall booster of Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis, a mosquito-born disease.  On September 16, 2021, a second and  third confirmed case of EEE was confirmed in eastern North Carolina for the year.  EEE has a high mortality rate in unvaccinated horses and treatment options are limited and often ineffective. Other fall boosters to consider include EHV-1 and EHV-4 and Influenza, particularly for horses in boarding operations of travel for shows and trail rides.  

Regardless of your location or the time of the year, any vaccination plan, should be developed with your veterinarian to ensure the best disease coverage is maintained for your horse.  The American Association of Equine Practitioners also has an very informative recommendation chart to study to become better more familiar with your options: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/2021-05/Adult_Vaccinaton_Chart.pdf

Health Checks

February is a good month to take care of some health essentials for horses.  With the trail ride and horse show season fast approaching, it is a good time to have a Coggins test done.  The Coggins test checks a horse for the presence of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies.  Of course, we want those tests to come back negative, and 99% of them do.  Those test results are important to anyone who will be taking their horses off the farm to locations where horses form several areas will be comingled – places like horse shows and trail rides. Those negative Coggins papers must accompany each horse wherever they go.  As mentioned, February is a great time to get the Coggins test done and get the results back before transporting horses.  The Coggins papers are good for one year, and the process must be repeated.

Some counties hold Coggins Clinics in cooperation with a veterinarian to help folks with just a few horses get the test done.  Check with your county’s NC Cooperative Extension center to see if any of these clinics are scheduled.  There will be two of these held in Granville County this year.  One is on Saturday, February 15, and the second will be on Friday afternoon, February 21.  Call the Granville County NC Cooperative Extension Center at (919) 603-1350 for details.

These clinics also offer vaccinations for the common equine diseases.  The ones most often made available in this area include eastern/western equine encephalitis + tetanus, rabies, West Nile Virus, flu + rhinovirus, and strangles. Check with your veterinarian to make sure that any additional vaccination needs are met as the core vaccines vary across the country.

While at a clinic, or when the veterinarian visits your farm, it is a good idea to get a routine health check for the horse. Most veterinarians will include this if done in conjunction with a Coggins test or when providing vaccinations.  They will also check teeth and make sure that there are no issues there.  If teeth need to be floated, that will likely be a separate appointment at the veterinarian’s clinic.

One last item – be sure to keep a check on your horse’s hooves.  We are experiencing a long period of mud, so be sure to check feet frequently.  Keep them cleaned out and make sure that no infections develop. Common things to check for are obsesses, thrush, fungus growing on the lower legs, heat in the hoof wall or sole, general lameness, or sensitivity.  If some work needs to be done on the feet, be sure to call the farrier sooner than later.  Before riding the trail or entering the ring at a horse show, be sure that the feet are good to go.

Fall Horse Care Tips

As temperatures start to get cooler in the fall (after having 95+ temperatures on October 1 it’s about time!), there are several items on the fall to-do list for horse owners to make sure horse health stays good.  Here are a few things to consider for fall health care and management.

First, most horse owners like to take care of internal parasites in the fall and going into winter.  Ashley Robbins did a great job in explaining the importance of fecal egg counts on this blog last week (Ever Heard of a Fecal Egg Count?, posted October 14, 2019), so I‘m not going into detail here about controlling internal parasites.  However, counting parasite eggs is not a once and done thing.  Conduct a count periodically to monitor the level of internal parasites and treat accordingly.  Remember as grass gets shorter in the fall, horses may graze nearer to manure piles in the pasture and get some parasite eggs that they may have avoided when grass was more plentiful.  The number of parasite eggs available may be higher in the summer months, but as grass supplies dwindle in fall pastures, parasite eggs may become more concentrated and easier to pick up while grazing.  

Horse owners should pay attention to changing grazing conditions in the fall.  As grass growth slows with lower temperatures, look for other plants that my still be green, but could be harmful if grazed.  This not only includes perilla mint and members of the nightshade family, but can be such things as Red Maple leaves that make be on a fallen branch.  Wilted red maple leaves or wild cherry leaves can be deadly to horses and other livestock.  Another concern is to watch for concentrations of acorns in the pasture.  Many horses can eat acorns and have no problems, but some horses can develop colic or laminitis, have diarrhea, or have loss of appetite from eating too many acorns.

With the drought conditions we have had until recently, grass has been short, and the hay supply is short going into the winter.  This would be a good time for horse owners to make sure they have enough supplemental forage going into the feeding season.  When purchasing hay, get a forage analysis done so plans can be made to meet the nutritional needs of the various classes of horses on the farm.

Remember that exercise levels tend to be reduced during the winter months, so make any needed adjustments to the ration.  Less work or exercise means less energy and protein will be needed.  Feeding the summer ration, which is when most horses are most active, during the winter can lead to a fat horse by spring!  If there are pregnant mares on the farm, pay attention to their nutritional needs.  The later into gestation, the higher the nutritional needs as the foal develops.  Pay attention to both the nutrients supplied by the ration and to the mineral needs during gestation.

Make plans for annual vaccinations and to get any boosters needed.  Consult your veterinarian to make sure that horses are protected against the major disease threats in your area, including rabies.  Many horse owners will get the annual vaccinations at the time that horses are tested for Equine Infectious Anemia.  Knowing that the Coggin’s test is due can serve as a good reminder that annual vaccinations are also due.  However, some vaccines require a booster in order to be most effective.  Again, talk to your veterinarian and set up a vaccination schedule that includes giving any needed boosters.

Now is also a good time to take care of the miscellaneous chores that tend to get put off.   Take care of any dental needs that may have been noted but delayed for one reason or another.  Also, inspect barns and shelters to make sure they are ready for winter weather.  While most horses don’t require a lot of shelter, having a place to get out of wind and weather can help keep horses healthy by reducing weather related stress.  Check fences and make any needed repairs.  Check the barn and stall doors to make sure they are in good working order.  Oiling the hinges now and then makes them last longer and makes it easier to swing open and shut.

Make a chore list to be sure that fall health care is taken care of.  Note any issues that may need follow at t later date, and be sure to talk to the veterinarian about any health-related issues.  This will prepare the horses for colder weather, which will be with us in the near future.

Getting ready for Farrier and Vet Visits

Veterinarians and farriers are some of the busiest people I’ve ever met in my whole life.  That’s why it is so important for you to do everything in your power to be ready for their farm visit.  Being ready will help to make the time they spend on your farm as quick as possible.

Of course, you can’t control someone else being late because of emergency calls, but you can make sure that you are ready.  When you know someone is coming to examine your horse, make sure to get him in the barn early.  Half an hour early normally gives you enough time to get settled in case issues come up.  Your horse should have its halter on its head and the lead line ready and close at hand to attach it too.  Getting your horse in the barn may take the longest time, so once that is done, you can move on to getting other things ready.  If you are struggling to get them in there, you may want to drop a little feed in their bucket and then shut the door on the stall after they go in.  A vet or farrier should never have to wait while you struggle to catch your horses.  Keeping them running free in the pasture until they arrive is unacceptable!  Even worse, your vet or farrier should never have to catch your horse for you.  They are professionals and need to focus on the job they are called out there for.  They may not ever return to your farm, if it is a struggle to catch horses every time. 

You want to make sure that your farm is ready.  Unlock your gate and open it if that is possible.  Make sure you have enough space for the vet or farrier to turn around or pull-through with their large truck.  You may need to move other vehicles or objects, so they can get in and out quickly.  Is your annoying dog that continually jumps on people or gets in the way penned up?  A lot of times horses are scared of dogs and your dog running around them while they are being examined may create undue stress.  Dogs like to eat hooves that the farrier cuts off and will get under your horse or between their legs to get it.

You may need to brush your horse before the visit, if your horse is covered in hair or dirt.  This will allow your vet to be able to see your horse easier and help to keep their clothes clean.  It’s good to go ahead and spray fly spray on any horses getting examined or worked on if there are numerous flies or gnats flying around.  Flying and biting insects only serve to distract your horse.  It’s also good to make sure there are bright lights in the barn and a place where they can get out of driving rain if needed.

Make sure all your horses have good manners, even young ones.  Your horses should be able to receive injections, medications, and oral exams.  You and other people should be able to pick up and touch feet and legs, as well as ears and head.  Horses need to learn at a young age how to walk on a lead line.  You should never let your horse eat grass or be given treats while being worked on.  This is distracting to the horse and teaches bad manners.  Giving them treats after the visit is always the best option, so they remember the visit as a positive experience.

It’s good to be able to tell your vet any changes in your horse’s condition.  Knowing the temperature, pulse, and respiration rate can help them diagnose problems.  It’s really important not to wait until a small problem becomes a big one.  If you are not sure about a problem, with most vets and farriers, you can take a picture of it and text it to them for advice.  If they need to come out, they will have a good idea about what equipment and meds they need to bring along.  Many vets get complaints when an animal dies and the client still has to pay a bill, however, if the vet had been called earlier when it was a small problem, they might have been able to save the animal.  A vet must still bill for his expenses and travel whether the animal recovers or not.  So, the sooner you get help, the better!

Planning ahead for your vet and farrier visits will make for a positive experience for you, your horse, and your professional.