A healthy horse mainly sees the veterinarian for routine care, not emergencies. Three things recur every year: vaccinating, deworming, and the dental check. Below is what that involves and when to call.
Vaccinations: Tetanus and Influenza as the Basics
Virtually every horse in the Netherlands gets two basic vaccinations. Tetanus (lockjaw) is a bacterial infection that enters through small wounds and is almost always fatal; protection is therefore not a luxury. Influenza (equine flu) is contagious and spreads quickly at stables and competitions.
A commonly used rhythm looks like this:
| Vaccine | Initial Series | Booster Afterward |
|---|---|---|
| Tetanus | Two shots, then a third after a few months | Usually every 2–3 years |
| Influenza | Two shots, a few weeks apart | Annually, sometimes every six months |
The exact intervals differ by vaccine and by situation. Anyone competing under KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation) rules deals with mandatory influenza vaccination and strict deadlines that must be recorded in the passport; if the deadline lapses, you can't start. Check the current requirement at knhs.nl, since it can change.
Besides the basics, vaccinations also exist against, among others, rhinopneumonitis (EHV) and strangles. Whether these make sense depends on your stable situation and whether pregnant mares are present. That's a conversation with your veterinarian, not a standard choice.
Deworming: Testing Instead of Deworming Blind
Advice has shifted in recent years. In the past you'd deworm every horse on a fixed schedule; now the starting point is deworming based on testing. Routine deworming drives up worms' resistance to the medication, and that's a growing problem.
In practice, that comes down to:
- A few times a year, a fecal egg count (counting worm eggs in a manure sample). Many horses carry few worms and don't need to be dewormed.
- Deworming only when the count or a blood test gives reason to.
- At a fixed point, often around winter, treating specifically for worm species that a standard egg count doesn't detect (such as tapeworm or bot fly larvae).
The veterinarian determines which product and dose fit, based on weight and the worm species found. Don't improvise here yourself: dosing too low encourages resistance, dosing too high can be harmful. Always combine this with pasture hygiene — regularly removing manure from the field breaks the worm cycle more effectively than any product.
Dental Care: Have It Checked Once a Year
Horses' teeth keep growing throughout their life and wear down through chewing. Because the upper and lower jaw don't align perfectly, sharp edges (hooks) form that injure the cheek or tongue. An annual check, during which those edges are smoothed down (floating or filing), is therefore part of the routine.
Signs that the teeth need attention:
- Half-chewed feed falling out of the mouth (quidding) or undigested grain in the manure.
- The horse holds its head tilted, tosses its head, or reacts differently to the bit.
- Bad breath, weight loss, or refusing concentrate feed.
Have the floating done by a veterinarian or a certified equine dental technician, not by someone without training — floating done wrong causes more damage than it fixes. In young horses (up to around age five), checking more often is worthwhile, because the milk teeth are still coming out.
What a Routine Year Roughly Costs
Figures vary by region and practice, but as a guideline for a healthy horse:
| Item | Estimate per Year |
|---|---|
| Vaccinations | roughly €50–€120 |
| Fecal egg count + targeted deworming | roughly €40–€90 |
| Dental check and floating | roughly €70–€150 |
Budget for a base of a few hundred euros a year in routine care, separate from unexpected costs. Many veterinary practices work with a health plan or a yard visit where they see several horses at one stable in a single trip; that reduces the call-out fee. Ask about this if your horse is at a boarding stable.
When You Don't Wait for Routine Care
Routine can be planned; some things can't. Call the veterinarian immediately for signs of colic (rolling, pawing at the belly, refusing to eat, no manure), sudden lameness, a deep or heavily bleeding wound, rapid breathing at rest, or a horse that's dull and not drinking. When in doubt: call sooner rather than later. A phone assessment costs nothing, and the veterinarian decides whether a visit is needed.
In Short
- Vaccinating against tetanus and influenza is the basics; competition riders follow KNHS deadlines strictly and keep the passport up to date.
- Deworm based on fecal egg counts, not blindly on a schedule, and keep the pasture clean.
- Have the teeth checked annually and watch for quidding, head tilting, or weight loss.
- Plan the routine, but recognize the emergency signs and call right away.
The terms above are explained in the glossary overview. For the exact, current vaccination requirements and deworming advice, your own veterinarian remains the source — this overview helps you prepare for that conversation.
See also: Which insurance you need · What horse riding costs · Level: Considering Your Own Horse