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Seasonal Vaccines and Deworming

Posted by Lynnsy Johnson - Saddle Up on Jan 2nd 2020

Vaccines and deworming is a super important part in owning horses. It's always a good idea to keep them up to date on everything, but their needs can change depending on certain variations. Weather, location, age, showing guidelines, or what the horse is being used for can certainly affect what your horse needs. Deworming needs can also change depending on how the horse sheds. There are so many factors that play a part in this situation, so be sure to find the right match for your horse! Pregnant mares require specialized vaccines/deworming schedules. Please consult your vet for information regarding broodmares.

Seasonal Deworming Schedule (Colorado State University):

Adult Horses:

Low Shedders:

- Fecal sample prior to deworming in the spring

- Spring (March) Ivermectin (Equell, Zimectrin Gold) or moxidectin (Quest)

- Fall (October) Ivermectin with Praziquantel (Equimax, Zimectrin Gold) or Moxidectin with Praziquantel (Quest Plus)

Moderate Shedders:

- Fecal sample prior to deworming in the spring

- Spring (March) Ivermectin (Equell, Zimectrin, Rotectin, IverCare, etc.) Moxidectin (Quest)

- Late summer (July) Ivermectin

- Fall (October) Ivermectin with Praziquantel (Equimax, Zimectrin Gold) or Moxidectin with Praziquantel (Quest Plus)

High Shedders:

- Fecal sample prior to deworming in spring and fall

- Spring (March) Ivermectin (equell, Zimectrin, Rotectin, IverCare) Moxidectin (Quest)

- Summer (June) Ivermectin

- Early fall (September) Ivermectin with Praziquantel (Equimax, Zimectrin Gold)

- Late fall (November) Moxidectin

Foal Schedule:

- 2 months old - Fenbendazole/Panacur or Oxibendazole/Anthelcide

- 4 to 5 months old - Panacur or Anthelcide

- 5 months old - Ivermectin

- Ivermectin Plus Praziquantel before end of the year

- Yearling - Use Ivermectin approximately 3 times followed by 1 treatment with Moxidectin Plus Praziquantel by the end of the grazing season

Vaccine Schedule (Colorado State University):


Pregnant mares and foals require specialized vaccines. Please consult a vet to get on the right schedule for them.

VaccinePleasure HorsesPerformance Horses
Tetanus ToxoidAnnual Annual 
Eastern & Western 
Encephalomyelitis 
Annual in SpringAnnual in Spring 
West Nile Virus Annual in Spring Annual in Spring 
Equine Herpes Virus
1 and 4
Biannual in Spring and FallGive every 90 days if at risk
Equine Influenza VirusBiannual in Spring and FallBiannual in Spring and Fall
Rabies Annual Annual 
Equine Viral ArteritisOnly necessary if you have a stallionOnly necessary if you have a stallion
Strangles Every 6-12 months (based on risk assessment/consult with vet)Every 6-12 months (based on risk assessment/consult with vet)

If you have any questions on what vaccines/deworming schedule you should put your horse on, consult with your vet. Some horses may require special treatments or precautions so be sure to ask any and all questions. It is also very helpful to tell your vet about any history on your horse that you have. Thank you for reading and we hope you have a wonderful New Year! 

http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/recommended-equine-deworming-schedule.pdf

http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/equine-vaccination-guidelines.pdf

(picture credit: https://thehorse.com/110926/should-i-deworm-my-horse-in-the-winter/)