Ensure your horses are ready to hit the road when trail riding and horse show season arrives this spring is important for horse owners! Take advantage of our annual Halifax Clinic with NC Mobile Vet on February 7, 2026 at the 4-H Horse & Livestock Complex.

By law, any horse transported on the road is required to have a negative test for Equine Infectious Anemia dated within the past twelve months.  Known as the "Coggins" test, it is rare to have a positive test but there are a few each year, so testing allows this highly infectious and deadly disease to be well-controlled.

As for what vaccines to give your horse, the American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends guidelines periodically based on information they have gathered from equine veterinarians across the United States.  Core vaccinations are Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Rabies, Tetanus and West Nile Virus, the annual vaccines recommended to be given to horses no matter their location.  Risk-based vaccinations are those that may not necessarily be given to all horses everywhere, but it is important to discuss with your veterinarian whether or not you should be using some of these in your program.  There are numerous risk-based vaccines, but they include familiar ones such as botulism, rhinopneumonitis, and equine influenza, and less familiar ones such as anthrax and even snake bite. To learn more about the AAEP recommendations, visit their WEBSITE.  It is also important to have a relationship with a local veterinarian who is more familiar with which risk-based vaccines your horses may need.