How often do you....?

Question

How often do you:

Get your horse vaccinated (and against what?)

Have the dentist visit your horse?

Have the 'backman' visit your horse?

Have the farrier visit your horse?

And any other routine check ups?! It just seems everyone has different ideas about what is right, I'm wondering how often everyone has their horse's checked over etc.

Answer 1

I have my horse trainer do all of this for my horse because I am leasing him for her. So all I do is pay the board for him basically.

hope i helped!!

Answer 2

well my tb recently had all her jabs (flu etc) up-to-date as she impaled her bottom on a gate hook! (not the brightest of the bunch, lol, love her really) but we haven't got them done since we had her (nearly 3 yrs ago)

farrier, about every 5-6 weeks, but it varies.

teeth and back? well i would like to get them done about once a year, but i cant afford it! unless she was in pain (which she isn't!) i would get them done about every year. but there really isn't any point unless they are in a pain, how do you think they coped in the olden days? its the same for jabs.

I'm not saying you shouldn't get ll these things done regularly, as a top eventer horse should, as the work load the horse is having would but a lot of stress on its back etc, but as I'm only hacking and maybe hunting locally, there isn't any point!

Answer 3

We're all on annual vaccinations, same as you.  The backman comes every six months for a general checkup, and any time in between that he's needed.  The dentist also comes every six months.  The farrier comes to the yard twice a month - we've got a few ridden ponies at the moment and they don't all get done at the same time!  My most frequent (a Highland, who you'd think would have feet like iron - he doesn't, they're rubbish!) is done every four weeks.  Worming is every 13 weeks, and I send samples to Westgate Labs to check their counts every six months, just to be on the safe side  :)

Answer 4

every horse is a individual some need to see a vet more often than others the same for the farrier dentist back man etc etc you can reduce the worm burden in your paddock by poo picking as always you will get conflicting advise only you know your horses and you will do what you think is necessary regardless of all the advice your given   hope this helps

Answer 5

Vaccinations every 3 yrs for all my dogs, cats and horses (I don't believe in over vaccination, and also with all the DVM book and Dr.s I worked for they don't either)  This is once they are adults-follow same with myself:)

Dentist yearly

Backman, never

Farrier every 3 months in spring, ride alot and she's barefoot and in winter every 2 months or more.

Worming every other month

Answer 6

Vac annually against Tetnus, EI wasn't being vaccinated against in Aus mainstream unless compeating internationlly which is prob why we had an outbreak last year and the whole equine industry came to a standstill for quite some time. I believe now they are making vac against EI more available to the general public and competition horses.

Dentist is every 6mths at the moment, only because she has a tooth the dentist wants to keep an eye on once that's sorted she will be annualy.

Backman is annualy unless needed.

Farrier 5-6 weeks.

Worming every 12 weeks  

My current girl has a vet check 6mthly as she was very underweight when I first got her so just making sure that she's progressed OK and not having any problems. After the next visit we won't have anymore unless needed.

Answer 7

Vaccinations:   Once a year for rabies; Flu, Rhino, West Nile, etc. is twice a year:  Most vets follow the manufacturers recommendations-he is the best source of advice for you.  So it is really important to choose the right vet-someone you trust.

Dentist:  Horses 5 yrs old or less:  every 6 months;  Over 5 yrs is once a year.

Farrier is every 6 to 8 weeks.

I worm my horses every 2 months and rotate the medication.  You can purchase a yearly supply which includes a printed schedule and 3 different types of medications to rotate.  Check out Country Supply at www.horse.com.  The cost is approx. $35 for the yearly supply.

As you can see, most of the responses are similar as far as timeframe.  You have to taylor the schedule to meet your individual horses needs.  I applaud you for your commitment to being so responsible.  Good luck and ride safe!!

Answer 8

My horses are vaccinated in spring and fall...twice a year.

They are examined and if any tests are needed, it is determined at the twice yearly visit for vaccines.

What they receive is determined by the vet according to the current conditions and the risks to my horses.

I don't use a dentist...my vet removes the tartar and floats.  When an equine dentist worked on my horse, it took a month for him to recover, he bled profusely and developed an infection...I've never used one again.

If you mean chiropractor when you say backman, never.

My farrier comes every 4 to 6 weeks as needed.

I call my vet anytime a medical issue occurs and I need a definitive diagnosis before treatment can be determined.  Any colic, no matter how mild, and I call the vet and our phone dialogue determines whether she comes or not.

My horses are on daily wormer, and I paste 4 times a year.

I don't medicate my horses without input from the vet first, because I am an RN and know what these decisions entail.

Answer 9

I don't bother with vaccinations unless I am competing affiliated when it is requirment. Tetanus and flu are now rare and I keep my ponies on a very tight budget.

I have the dentist annually. I think 6 monthly is an excuse to line the dentist's pocket. My vet has advised me and concurs on this point.

I only have  a physio (backman) if I consider there is a problem. Too many people look for trouble that isn't there.

I worm roughly 4 times a year with the new wormers that are supposed to need doing less frequently. I think that with  modern management systems, horses are generally less prone to heavy worm burdens but I have bought horses in poor condition and I worm those more frequently because I don't want to pay for expensive feed when the horse is feeding the worms! Plus the horse won't pick up as quickly.

I have the farrier every 6-8 weeks.

Answer 10

Daily!!!

Answer 11

Vacs- Once a year (tetanus and flu)

Teeth- Once/twice a year

Farrier- Every 5/6 weeks with shoes, 8 weeks without shoes.

Worming- Every 2 months or so it depends on the programme.

Back- As necessary.

Answer 12

We have several horses and the answers are different for each of them.  Vaccinations are routine.  Those are basically 1 - 2x per year depending on the vaccine.  As far as the farrier, we have some that get shod every 4 weeks.  Another is every 5 etc. It all depends on how the horse grows foot.  Teeth is another dependent upon.  Babies may need their teeth done more as they have teeth that have to be pulled.  The older horses we generally do 1x per year.  I'm assuming by "backman" you are referring to a horse chiropractor or masseuse, I have had horses that have gotten this treatment, but don't do it as a matter of routine maintenance with all of them.  If you mean the vet, it depends on how hard the horse is working etc.  

Answer 13

I vaccinate my horses annually. (Once a year). (Flues, rhino viruses, west nile, etc etc etc. You just buy a 6-way shot)

Typically you want to have their teeth floated and filed every two years.

Backman? No idea.

The farrier visits my horses every two months or as needed.

I worm my hoses every four months for various parasites, and I cycle my worming medication so they don't become tolerate or immune to any particular chemical.

Answer 14

How often do you:

Get your horse vaccinated (and against what?) Never

Have the dentist visit your horse? never

Have the 'backman' visit your horse? no

Have the farrier visit your horse? no

I do not have a horse and I have never had a horse.

Answer 15

Many Horses are different.  I recommend talking with your local vet about establishing the right vaccination program for you.  Throughout the US there are different things to vaccinate for, a local vet will know what a local horse needs.  Now if you show all over the US and beyond also discuss this with your vet.  I do a 4-way once a year.  And follow up with the vet about any other shots that might be needed.  

We worm three times per year and exactly 3 weeks (21 days) apart.  This kills all the nasty little bugs.  If I get a new horse durring this time they are kept apart until they are also worm free (3 weeks) and in a SEPARATE pasture.  if in the same pasture then the horses can get reinfected with worm.  After 3 weeks we have no worms.  We change wormer every year to reduce immunity.  Also use natural wormers supplements.  These irrate the bowel a little causeing the worms to release their hold and come out naturally with out wormers.

My vet is my dentist so he is here once a year to check everything over.  He checks to see how they are moving, sounding, and eating.  If the horse is dribbling food while it eats then the teeth need floated.  

My farrier comes every 6-8 weeks and we schedule ahead of time for the next visit.  If there is a problem I call him in between.  My horse also go barefoot, so it is easier for them to keep them worn naturally.  

My horses have never needed a massage, they have no back problems or bad habits when ridden.  I think that is personal preference and if a horse is having back issues it is a great idea to get done before having to medicate.  I think a lot of horses are being over medicated when there are some great natural alternatives.

Answer 16

for my horse i have him vaccinated once a year (flu and bi-annually a tetnus at the same time).

The dentist comes every six months (he has a tendancy to have sharp teeth so needs to be done more regularly than most)

the back man has only ever come out to my horse once in the last nine years when he started to stiffen up and something was going wrong - unfortunately it want his back but it was still worth a check!!!

The farrier comes every 8 weeks or as close to that as we can schedule him for.

He is wormed every 6 - 12 weeks depedning on the variety of wormer from april to october.  

at my work it is run rather differently as there are a large number of horses there.