Not veterinary advice. There's no single schedule that suits every horse. Your vet will tailor vaccinations to your horse's age, location, travel and contact with other horses. Use this guide to understand the options and the questions to ask.
Agriculture Victoria's advice is short and sensible: your vet will advise what your horse should be vaccinated against and how often, which may include tetanus, strangles and viral respiratory disease [4]. What owners usually want is the shape of a typical program, so they know what's coming and can budget and set reminders. That's what this guide gives you.
The schedules below are taken from a published Australian equine hospital protocol (Barwon Equine Hospital, Victoria) [1]. Other practices may differ slightly, and product names matter, so check with your own vet.
The core two: tetanus and strangles
Tetanus is caused by bacteria in soil that get in through wounds. Horses are very susceptible, and it's often fatal. Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that spreads where horses mix. Barwon Equine Hospital's protocol recommends both for all horses [1]. In Australia these are commonly given as a combined "2 in 1" vaccine, with single tetanus and single strangles versions also available [1].
Foals
From the Barwon Equine Hospital protocol [1]:
| Age | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| 12 weeks | Tetanus + strangles (2 in 1) |
| 14 weeks | Strangles |
| 16 weeks | Tetanus + strangles (2 in 1) |
| 16 months | First booster: 2 in 1 |
| Then every 6 months | Strangles, or 2 in 1 |
| Annually | Tetanus (if only strangles was given at the 6-month booster) |
Adult horses with an unknown history
Bought a horse with no paperwork? Most vets will treat it as unvaccinated and start again. The Barwon protocol for this situation is [1]:
| When | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| First visit | Tetanus + strangles (2 in 1) |
| 2 weeks later | Strangles, or 2 in 1 |
| 2 weeks after that | 2 in 1 |
| Then every 6 months | Strangles, or 2 in 1 |
| Annually | Tetanus (if only strangles was given at the 6-month booster) |
Why "every 6 months" for strangles?
In that protocol, strangles boosters are 6-monthly while tetanus can be annual [1]. Whether your horse needs 6-monthly strangles cover depends on risk, so ask your vet. A horse that travels to shows, pony club or clinics, or lives on a busy agistment property with horses coming and going, is a different case from a retired horse on a quiet farm.
Hendra virus
Hendra is a deadly virus carried by flying foxes that can spread from horses to people. Business Queensland describes vaccinating horses as "the most effective way to help manage Hendra virus disease", and notes it also protects the people who handle horses [2].
A few key facts from the Queensland Government [2]:
- The vaccine contains no live virus, so neither you nor your horse can catch Hendra from it.
- It is not compulsory in Queensland.
- No vaccine is 100% protective. If Hendra is ever suspected, even in a vaccinated horse, use full biosecurity precautions and PPE.
- Discuss vaccination with your vet.
The Barwon Equine Hospital schedule for Hendra [1]:
- Adult horses: two doses 3–6 weeks apart, then a 6-monthly booster.
- Young horses: from 4 months of age, two doses 3–6 weeks apart, then 6-monthly boosters.
Some vets move horses to annual boosters after the initial course, depending on the product label and risk. Ask yours. Owners in Queensland and northern NSW in particular should talk to their vet about Hendra; Business Queensland's Hendra pages cover risk reduction, PPE and what to do if you suspect a case [3].
Check event and agistment rules too. Some events and agistment properties set their own vaccination requirements, so check before you go.
Equine herpes virus (EHV)
Herpes vaccination is aimed at horses at higher risk and at pregnant mares. Barwon Equine Hospital's protocol [1]:
- Adult horses: two doses 4–6 weeks apart, then every 6–12 months. Recommended for at-risk horses.
- Pregnant mares: at 5, 7 and 9 months of pregnancy. Recommended for all pregnant mares.
Putting it together: a typical adult year
For an adult horse that's already been through its primary course, a typical year under the Barwon protocol might look like this [1]:
| Month | Vaccine (example) |
|---|---|
| Month 0 | 2 in 1 (tetanus + strangles) |
| Month 6 | Strangles booster |
| Month 12 | 2 in 1 again |
| Every 6 months, if advised | Hendra booster |
| Every 6–12 months, if at risk | EHV booster |
Many owners line up vaccinations with the annual dental or a vet health check to save on call-out fees. Ask your vet whether that suits your horse.
Keep a record (you'll be asked for it)
Agriculture Victoria lists the vaccination record for tetanus, strangles and Hendra, plus dates of worming and teeth care, as something an agistment contract should include [5]. Events, studs, transporters and buyers may ask for it too.
- Keep every vaccination card or certificate.
- Log dates, products and batch numbers in our printable horse health record.
- Set booster reminders with the care planner so a missed booster doesn't mean starting the course again.
How to use these schedules
Read the tables as a conversation starter with your vet, not a prescription. The product names in the source protocol (for example "2 in 1", "S" and "T" versions) refer to specific registered vaccines, and the label sets the dose and booster interval [1]. Your vet may change the timing to suit your horse's age, pregnancy status, travel plans or local disease risk.
Costs vary by practice and region, and call-out fees can be a big part of the bill. Ask for a quote for the whole year's program so you can budget, and see our guide to how much a horse costs per year.
Questions to ask your vet
- Which vaccines does my horse need, given where it lives and how often it travels?
- Is 6-monthly strangles worth it for my horse, or is annual enough?
- Should my horse have Hendra vaccine, and how often are boosters due on the label?
- My horse's history is unknown. Do we start from scratch?
- I'm breeding. What does the mare need, and when should the foal start?
- Can we line vaccinations up with dental or other visits?
Frequently asked questions
Is Hendra vaccination compulsory? Not in Queensland, according to the Queensland Government [2]. Some events, venues and agistment properties may set their own rules, so check before you go.
Can my horse catch Hendra from the vaccine? No. The vaccine contains no live virus, only a synthetically produced protein that triggers the immune system [2].
Is a vaccinated horse fully protected? No vaccine is 100% protective. If Hendra is suspected, even in a vaccinated horse, use full biosecurity precautions and PPE and call your vet [2].
My horse missed a booster. Do we start again? It depends on how overdue it is and which vaccine. Ask your vet; sometimes a single booster is enough and sometimes the primary course needs repeating.
Do pregnant mares need anything extra? In the Barwon Equine Hospital protocol, herpes vaccine is recommended for all pregnant mares at 5, 7 and 9 months of pregnancy [1]. Your vet may also time a tetanus and strangles booster before foaling.
When should a foal start? In the Barwon protocol, tetanus and strangles start at 12 weeks, and Hendra from 4 months [1].
New Zealand note
Hendra virus has not been reported in New Zealand, and the vaccine range and schedules differ. NZ owners should ask their vet about local recommendations.
