Don't Hesitate - Vaccinate! An estimated 600,000 horses and ponies are not protected against equine flu, or the killer disease tetanus. If yours is one of them, now is the time to act. It is incredibly important to vaccinate your horse or pony against both these diseases, not only to protect your horse but also those with which your horse will come in to contact. Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus, which is almost always fatal in untreated animals. The organism which causes tetanus, Clostridium tetani, lives in the soil and can infect horses through even the smallest puncture wound, such as a nail or thorn prick. It is important to remember that even a horse or pony that does not leave home is at risk of picking up infection, with many potentially fatal tetanus infections being picked up in the field at home. So whether you have an active sports horse, a companion pony, or a retired hunter in the back paddock, keeping up to date with tetanus vaccinations is a must for the health of your horse.   You should also protect your horse from equine flu. It is extremely contagious and outbreaks can have a devastating impact. Although ‘flu vaccination is compulsory for all competition horses, many owners still fail to regularly inoculate against the disease. In a poll of those working in the thoroughbred industry, from vets through to owners and trainers, three quarters believed that poor vaccination compliance amongst the riding community could be exposing horses to infection.¹ If you are concerned that you horse is not vaccinated or has missed its booster date please contact the surgery immediately on 01376 513369 and we will arrange an appointment with one of our vets. ¹ Survey of 71 vets, trainers and breeders at the Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Seminar 2008