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. The disease is often fatal and there is no real treatment; 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 close together, then a booster according to the vaccine's package insert | Often once every two years |
| Influenza | Three shots: the second 21 to 60 days after the first, the third 120 days to 6 months and 21 days after the second (basic series since April 1, 2024) | Annually (KNHS competitions); within 6 months and 21 days for FEI international |
The exact intervals differ by vaccine and by situation. For tetanus, the American Merck Veterinary Manual names an annual booster, while in the Netherlands it is often thought that every two years is enough. According to the Utrecht University Veterinary Hospital (UDI), there is no scientific proof for that yet. 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. A vaccination must also have been given at least seven days before the competition. 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. The Leidraad Paard en Parasieten (Guideline Horse and Parasites) of the KNMvD (Royal Dutch Veterinary Association) and Royal GD (Dutch animal health service, October 2024), a handbook for veterinarians, says the same.
In practice, that comes down to:
- A fecal egg count (counting worm eggs in a manure sample): in the first year three times, before the grazing season, in summer, and in September. If the result stays low, it can be done less often afterward. Many horses carry few worms: only about a third of adult horses shed so many eggs that treatment is worthwhile.
- Deworming only when the count gives reason to. The Guideline names a result above 200 eggs per gram of manure in an individual sample.
- Tapeworm is shown with a saliva test and treated only when an infection is proven or strongly suspected. A bot fly usually needs no treatment; removing the yellow eggs from the legs helps.
The veterinarian determines which product and dose fit, based on weight and the worm species found. Don't improvise here yourself: a wrong dose can be harmful, with some products especially for foals and thin horses. A treatment in fall or winter can also trigger a serious intestinal inflammation itself, so only deworm then on your veterinarian's advice. Always combine this with pasture hygiene: regularly removing manure from the field lowers the worm burden considerably, so you need to deworm less often. How that works is covered in Worm-Free Pasture.
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. For a normal set of teeth, the KNHS says an annual check is enough, during which those edges are smoothed down (floating or filing). That check 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 an equine dental technician. A dental technician who isn't a veterinarian may float and file, but may not extract teeth or sedate the horse: only a veterinarian may do that. In the Netherlands, the profession of dental technician isn't protected, so the government doesn't check whether someone has been trained. Ask about training and experience. If the horse has an abnormal bite, a check every six months is better. In young horses (about 2.5 to 5 years), checking more often is worthwhile, because the permanent teeth are coming in and the milk teeth are being shed.
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.
Sources (verified September 2, 2026, vaccinations, deworming, and dental care November 2, 2026): KNHS: Which vaccinations does my horse need for competitions? · FEI: Vaccinations · Utrecht University Veterinary Hospital: Tetanus · Utrecht University Veterinary Hospital: Tetanus, does it still exist? · Merck Veterinary Manual: Tetanus in Animals · Merck Veterinary Manual: Vaccination Program for Horses · KNMvD and Royal GD: Leidraad Paard en Parasieten, extended version October 21, 2024 · KNHS: More about your horse's dental care · Sectorraad Paarden (Dutch Horse Sector Council): NVWA publishes overview of veterinary authority · NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority): What authority do I have as a veterinary practitioner? · Merck Veterinary Manual: Dental Disorders of Horses · 2026 price levels of Dutch providers (indicative, not official rates)
See also: Which insurance you need · What horse riding costs · Level: Considering Your Own Horse