Conference noted::equitation

    Our vet advised us to do any of the horses who were leaving the
    property for shows, etc.  So we thought it best to do them all.
    In addition the vet who services the training farm where my gelding
    is also recommended it.
    There were no side effects to any of the kids and they range in
    age from 2 years to 29 years.  At the training barn the yearlings
    were done as well as the pregnant mares...again with no side effects
    in these cases.  As a matter of fact my gelding had his in the morning
    and I rode him that night.
    It really is up to each individual.
    

    we did all our horses...
    
    that and strangles was the worst shot...
    
    my mare was so sore she wanted to roll so bad but couldnt, so she
    would push and rub up against me, til i poured dirt on her..
    
    i also had to use hay nets this year..
    
    different batches sometimes cuase these things..
    no vet gave them this time, so it wasnt me! ;*}
    
    

    
    Everyone I ride with (about 30 horses in all, with the babies and
    retired horses) got the PHF shots.  there were no problems.
    
    We also got the flu series, which made them very sluggish.
    

My horse had a terrible reaction to the shot although he never takes shots real 
well, so I was expecting it.

The first shot was given in the neck.  Two days later he wasn't eating and was 
stumbling around like he was drunk.  He even fell down a couple of times. I had 
given him bute but he wasn't responding to it.  The vet came out and injected 
him with a pain killer and gave me some medicine to apply directly to 
his neck.  He also had me continue with the bute.  A week later he was better.

I dreaded having to give him the 2nd shot a month later but knew I had no 
choice.  This time he was given a shot in his hind quarters so that he could 
still eat and I was told to ride him immediately after and start the bute right 
away.  I rode him that day and the day after but he still got real stiff in the 
hind end and literally dragged the leg that the shot was given in. He wouldn't 
even walk to his grain, hay and water in the paddock so I had to put everything 
next to him.  I swear he didn't budge from that spot all day.  I went through 
3 bottles of liniment and continued with the bute.  A week later he was 
better.

Would I do it again?  Yes, a week of pain to my horse is well worth not risking 
his life.  Although, it was torture for me seeing him go through it.

If anyone out there has any suggestions on how to make next years shots easier
let me know.  Atleast, next year he will only have to have one Potomac 
shot.

Regards,

Susan
    
 

    We had no problems last year or this year with the PHF shots.  Our
    horses do tend to get stiff from rhino so we do that one in the
    hindquarters so they can eat (neck is too stiff if done in the neck).
    
    Also once they have the two PHF shots the first year, then they only
    need a one shot booster from then on.
    
    						Jan

    My vet also recommended the Potomic shots. So needless to say, poor
    Jasper and the rest of his stable "friends" were shot with 5 or 6
    different vacines. Add to that the worming and a visit to the
    dentist.... what a life!
    
    		Cindy
    

    I had a little trouble with PHF - disoriented and some muscle soreness
    where the shot was - nothing major.  Just took a few days.  I do think
    it's a good idea, especially if some of the horses at your farm will
    be travelling a lot.
    
    Amy
    

    I also had the Potomac shots with no reactions at all to my three
    horses.  I don;t know if this is the same case but a horse did die
    last year of Potomac, this horse was located at Hop-Up Farm in Upton,
    right on the Hopkinton line, that is about 1/2 mile from my house.
    It took them quite a while to confirm this case but my Vet from
    Tufts did say the end result was Potomac.  They are all strongly
    recommending the vacine....
    
    

    I don't understand why everyone keeps saying "if your horse is
    traveling"?  Potomoc is spread by the mosquito.  Your horse doesn't
    have to go anywhere to get it.  That is why one horse in a barn
    can get it and no one else.  My horses got the vaccine and had no
    reactions (that I know of).  All vets are recommending it this year
    because of reported cases in Mass.  
    
    

    I agree with .9, please vaccinate.  The reason they are saying this
    is because they don't know how it is spread!!  It hasn't been verified
    that it is spread by insects.

    I have just purchased the shots for my babies and was told that
    they will need them every 4 - 6 months.  But .5 says once a year...
    
    The receptionist at Dr. Gill's said 4 - 6 months because they figure
    that way you'll get them done approx. every 5 months.  Planning
    for our nature to procrastinate I presume.
    
    Anyone know why they are needed every 6 months?  Thought I'd heard
    it was going to to yearly?