Horse Health and Vet Care: Vaccinations, Worming, Farrier and Teeth

A horse has more routine, scheduled care than most backyard animals on this site — farrier visits, dental checks and testing-based worming, on top of the usual vaccinations and vet checkups. This guide sets out what animal welfare guidance says, and is clear about what it doesn't cover.

Vaccination: equine influenza and tetanus

The RSPCA names two diseases specifically: at the very least, horses should be vaccinated against equine influenza and tetanus, with boosters as advised by your vet. It doesn't give a fixed interval beyond that, so let your vet set the actual schedule. RSPCA, horse health.

Worming: test first, treat only if needed

Rather than a fixed calendar interval, the RSPCA recommends a deworming programme based on regular testing, treating only when the test shows it's actually needed. A vet should determine the specific programme for your horse rather than following a generic schedule — this is a genuinely different approach from the fixed intervals some other species' worming guidance uses.

Farrier: around every six weeks, shod or not

The RSPCA is specific here: a horse should be seen by a farrier registered with the Farriers Registration Council around every six weeks, even if the horse is unshod. It notes this interval can vary depending on season, workload and type of work. Daily hoof inspection — picking out the underside of the foot — is also recommended between farrier visits, not as a substitute for them.

Dental checks: at least once a year

The RSPCA recommends a horse's teeth be checked at least once a year, by an equine vet or a qualified dental technician. Left unchecked, horses' teeth can develop hooks and sharp edges that cause painful injuries inside the mouth — a problem that isn't always obvious from a horse's outward behaviour until it's fairly advanced.

What to watch for day to day

The RSPCA advises contacting a vet as soon as you suspect a horse is in pain, ill or injured, and notes that a change in the way a horse behaves can be an early sign that something's wrong — worth taking seriously even before a more obvious physical symptom appears.

What this guide doesn't cover

This is general information from a single welfare-body source, not veterinary advice, and it doesn't replace a vet, farrier or dental technician who knows your own horse. For routine cost figures — including farrier and vet care — see our cost guide, and enter your own vet's quote into the cost of keeping calculator.

Source: RSPCA, “Horse Health & Welfare Checks”: rspca.org.uk. Sources checked: September 2026. General information, not veterinary advice.

Common questions

What vaccinations do horses need?

The RSPCA says horses should, at the very least, be vaccinated against equine influenza and tetanus, with boosters as advised by your vet. It doesn't give a fixed interval beyond that, so ask your vet what schedule fits your horse.

How often does a horse need a farrier?

The RSPCA says a horse should be seen by a farrier registered with the Farriers Registration Council around every six weeks, even if the horse is unshod — though this can vary depending on season, workload and type of work.

How often do horses need worming?

The RSPCA recommends a deworming programme based on regular testing, administering dewormers only when testing shows it's needed, rather than a fixed calendar interval. A vet should set the specific schedule.

How often should a horse's teeth be checked?

At least once a year, by an equine vet or a qualified dental technician, per the RSPCA. Horses' teeth can develop hooks and sharp edges that cause painful injuries inside the mouth if left unchecked.